“Should I Start a Blog?”

I hear this question a lot, from potential clients and sometimes from friends who know what I do for a living. My first response is usually, “Do you want to start a blog?” I ask this because, honestly, blogging is work. It’s time-consuming, and it requires dedication and consistency if you want to see results. I don’t think anyone should start a blog simply because they think it’s something they “should” do.

Clearly I believe that a blog can be a great asset to your business, as I’m over here writing mine. But I don’t think everyone needs a blog. There is no one-size-fits all approach to content marketing, and blogging is just one tool in the marketing toolbox.

Should You Start a Blog?

So, who should start a blog? Here’s a little checklist to see if blogging might be a good addition to your marketing strategy.

If these 5 points apply to you, then you may want to consider starting a blog:

1. You have ideas you want to share with the world. Blogging is all about sharing ideas. If you’ve got them floating around your brain and you need a place to deposit them, blogging is a great way to do that.
   
   
2. You enjoy writing and coming up with new content. If you really don’t like to write, I would strongly suggest exploring alternatives to blogging—such as creating video content. Blogging requires a significant amount of writing and editing, so if the thought of doing those things makes your skin crawl, it’s not going to be a good fit. Blogging also requires you to constantly generate new ideas for content. If you’re going to start a blog, be prepared to spend a good amount of time coming up with fresh ideas.
   
   
3. You have a specific audience in mind. Blogging isn’t journaling. Ultimately, your blog is much more about the people you are writing for than it is about you. If you’re starting a blog, you should have your readership in mind from the first post. Who are you writing to, and what value can you offer them?
   
   
4. You have a unique perspective on your topic. In order to have a successful blog, you need to know what makes you a unique authority in your niche. The internet is already chock-full of information covering every subject under the sun. If you want to create standout content that draws interest from readers, you’ll need to approach your subject from a unique vantage point.
   
   
5. You’re ready to put in the work to do it well. I can’t emphasize this enough: blogging is work. I didn’t take that seriously myself when I started my blog, and my neglect was evident. It wasn’t until I began setting aside time to plan my content and write my posts that my blog gained any traction. You want to be sure that you’re going to commit to being in it for the long haul, after the initial honeymoon phase is over. Once the novelty of starting the blog has worn off, will you still have the stamina to continue writing new posts?

If all of those points resonate with you, then yes, I think you should definitely consider starting a blog! The main point I would stress is this: If you’re going to start a blog, then you should commit to doing it well. And unless you’re a big brand with a huge marketing team, you really can’t do ALL the things well. If blogging is going to be your thing, then focus on doing that well. But if you’re going to host a podcast or create an amazing YouTube channel, then focus on doing that well. Concentrate more on the marketing tools that you enjoy using, and less on the platforms you feel like you “should” be using. Because there’s no one right way to approach content creation. However, there is a way that fits best for you—and that’s where you should be.

Outsourcing Your Blog

So, what if a blog would be a good addition to your marketing strategy, but you don’t have the time to create the content yourself? Outsourcing your blog can be an excellent option in this case. A skilled ghost blogger can create a blog that employs your brand’s voice and expresses the values and ideas you want to get across to your audience. If you’re considering outsourcing your blog, let’s chat!