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The internet has become a digital space where people not only share information and news, but write about a myriad of topics including lifestyle, mental health, and food. Blogs are one of the most popular and widely-consumed media formats on the net. The most popular blogging platform records more than 409 millionLinks to an external site. people who view over 20 billion pages every month. With user-friendly blogging tools such as Wordpress hosting platforms, blogging remains popular and is a common tool used by digital marketers to promote businesses. Creating a blog is an enjoyable and fun process that gives you a place to share what you like with the world. Here are 5 reasons why you should start a blog:

1. Pick Up Some New Skills 

Writing is a fantastic way to improve your writing skills, which can also be a good method to relieve stress. You can write about anything you can conceive of, making blogging the perfect way to publish content about what you like or what matters to you. Moreover, there are many other skills that you can pick up when running a blog. You can learn about building a website and website design when you are setting up your blog. If you are interested in generating higher web traffic, you can read up about Search Engine OptimizationLinks to an external site. (SEO) and even digital marketing strategies. An added benefit is that these transferable skills and knowledge are important to pick up if you are thinking of working in the field of marketing. 

2. Stretch Your Creativity 

Blogging is a great way to get your creative juices flowing. You will be pushed to the limits of your creativity in your quest to find innovative ways to present your content. Putting out fresh content that is engaging, relevant and speaks to your target audience is no easy feat! In fact, many successful content creators have a team working behind them to monitor trends, manage partnerships and generate interesting content. It will be a fun and interesting challenge when you are starting out to define the theme of your blog and your target audience, establishing your online presence, and deciding where to go from there. 

3. Write Anywhere 

One major perk about publishing online content is that you do not have to be in a specific physical location all the time. There is no need to go into the office at all! If you feel more productive at a cafe, go ahead and grab a coffee while you write. If your creative juices ooze out when you are in a park, bring along your laptop and write there. 

If your blog generates sufficient income for you to convert it into a full-time job, you would even be able to work from anywhere in the world. Many bloggers start travelling with the money earned off their blogs, and fit their travel experiences into their blog content. 

4. Expand Your Circle and Seize Opportunities 

Blogging may seem like a lonely task if you are the only person running your website. However, many bloggers tend to have a network of blogger friends to whom they seek advice from and collaborate with. It helps to have a circle of friends who work in the same field as you do and with whom you can bounce ideas off. If the opportunity arises, you could even write a special post to be featured on someone else’s blog to promote your own. 

You may also have the opportunity to turn your blog into a different project. For example, author Allie Brosh first started a blog posting webcomics that she drew using Microsoft Paint to avoid studying for her college exams. After garnering immense popularity, Brosh signed with a publisher and has written two books that are in the same format as her blog. With so much of the world shifting towards an online presence, countless opportunities lie ahead of how you can leverage your blog content. You may even find your passions through blogging.

5. Just Have Fun!

Your blog is whatever you choose to make out of it. You might choose to write periodically or only when you have extra time. You can set a theme for your blog and structure your content around the chosen theme, or write about your thoughts and feelings whenever you feel like it. You may wish to use your blog to generate an income stream or you may choose to keep it as a hobby. The important thing is that you have sole ownership of your blog, and you get to make all decisions involving it. Have fun experimenting with what you like!

Blogging is a fun way to pick up new skills and create any content that you are interested in. It is a fun and creative way to have your own project for which you decide your own rules.