How Blogging Can Help You Achieve Happiness and Wealth
We tend to associate websites with businesses and organizations, and as places to find information. It?s not a resource that springs to mind as a way of improving our individual lives or increasing our personal wealth. It?s true that some people set up their own website to promote their creative efforts or if they have a cause they want to promote, but for most of us, a couple of social media pages are all we worry about when it comes to having an online presence. If you don?t have your own website or blog, you could be missing out on an opportunity to further your career, achieve your goals, and create additional income, so if you have something to say, why not see how blogging could help.
What is blogging?
The distinction between a blog and a website has become less clear in recent years, and many blogs look just like websites now. Originally a blog (which is short for web log), was an online record of someone?s thoughts, ideas, comments and so on, just like a traditional written diary. A website could have all kinds of different pages for articles, shopping, information, perhaps a picture gallery, and any other relevant topics. Now websites often have a blog page on them, and blogs often have additional pages for articles, shopping, and other information.
Blog or website?
If you?re wondering which is more appropriate for you, have a browse around other people?s sites and see which platforms offer the kind of functionality and layout you like. A simple WordPress blog site can be set up in no time at all and is very easy to get the hang of, so if you want something straightforward and effective, this is a good bet. If you?re comfortable with the use of technology and want a more sophisticated site, there are many website builders available to choose from with which you can create your own site without needing any expertise in HTML or advanced page construction techniques. If you?re a bit of a whizz with web design, then you can always create your own site from scratch, but you do need to know what you?re doing to make this option work.
How much will it cost?
This is a how long is a piece of string question. You can basically spend as much or as little as you please. A standard blog or website will cost around $75 to $150 per year, plus the charge for your domain name. These can cost as little as a few bucks a year, or many thousands, depending on how popular they are likely to be. You need to check exactly what you are going to get for your money before signing up. Some deals sound almost too good to be true, and that?s usually because you discover that the advertised price is for a basic package, and all the pages and functions you want to add will cost extra. Before you look at committing yourself to a contract that will often extend to two years, work out how much you?re willing to invest. If you?re really committed, you might want to consider getting some form of credit, so you can afford the more expensive packages. Websites like Bonsai Finance can help you choose the credit option that?s right for your situation, but don?t resort to borrowing if you have any concerns about your ability to pay it off. If you see it as an advance that you can cover with no problem, it could be a good way of getting yourself started more quickly.
How will blogging help me find happiness?
It?s a fact backed up by scientific study, that writing or otherwise expressing your thoughts is beneficial to your health. Journaling has become all the rage in the last few years; a journal is just a kind of diary, and a blog is a form of online diary. Getting something off your chest, describing events that happen in your life, and sharing your passion and knowledge about a topic close to your heart, are all functions of your blog that will help you express your feelings. This will improve your mental health, connect you with like-minded people, and give you a sense of satisfaction.
How will blogging help me achieve wealth?
This could happen in one of several ways. First, you could use your blog to talk about a hobby, craft, or another subject you are particularly interested in. This will help establish your position as someone who is knowledgeable and potentially authoritative on a specific topic. That can then help you secure a new job, advance your career, or branch out into writing or coaching in that specialist subject. You can also use your blog to create an online portfolio of your work, publishing your poetry or photography for example so that it reaches a wider audience. If you want to find opportunities to work in any kind of freelance capacity, then it?s always valuable to have a site which acts as a repository for your best work to which you can refer prospective clients. If you collect enough followers, you can also begin to monetize your site, for example making a commission on sales placed, including affiliate links, and accepting certain forms of advertising.
What should you write about?
You can write about whatever inspires you or you feel passionate about. It?s worth having a look at what other blogs are out there, so you can find something that makes yours special enough for people to want to read and engage with it regularly. If you want to write a beauty blog that people will read, you need to offer them something new and fresh, which could be a challenge in a sector that has so many existing blogs and websites devoted to it. Good writing is essential too, so if you don?t rate your skills very highly look at the advice available from support groups and professional organizations, take courses, and keep practicing until you become an effective wordsmith.
For a modest investment, you could be opening up many doors to increased wealth and happiness, so it?s worth seeing whether a blog could help you improve your life.
