Benefits of Blogging

I have been blogging for nearly five years and I've enjoyed every minute of it, though it can be a little stressful at times, but writing about that topic would take a separate post.

Why did I start blogging?

Well, I've been a book lover my entire life. I had a small book community on MSN Groups, but MSN eliminated all the groups, so I turned to blogging to share my love of reading. At first my blog was just an outlet for me to talk about my recent reads, but as I began following other blogs, I learned blogging has many benefits.

I never thought blogging could lead to actually making money, but you can get paid to write on your blog through sponsored posts, pre-written articles, text links, and sidebar ads. And of course there is always Google AdWords.

Will you be able to quit your day job?

Mostly likely the answer is "No!" Though there are some bloggers that probably make a pretty good living writing, most us will have to settle for making a little extra income here and there; probably enough to buy a domain, get a custom blog design and run a few giveaways for your loyal readers.

Another great benefit to blogging is getting free books from authors and publishers in exchange for a review on your blog and/or on a retail site. If you are already a big reader, this can save you a lot of money by not having to buy books. I know this isn't exactly cash, but most book lovers just want to get their hands on books!

My blog was originally a book blog, but I've been able to expand into other review areas, like DVDs, Blu-Rays, coffee and other products.

Having a blog can lead to other opportunities in freelance writing. For example: a PR company may want you to write a post for their blog or a publisher may take notice of your writings and offer you a writing job. You can also use your blog as a writing resume.

Besides from blogging, I have published a few short stories, but from time to time I hit the dreadful writer's block. During this time I keep myself writing by blogging everyday.