I presented today to Team iMemoryBook on why we should each keep a blog. I narrowed it down to 3 reasons:
1. To Learn:
We are all learning valuable lessons every single day. We learn from personal experiences; from successes as well as failures. We learn from those we work with. We learn from what we read and what we hear.
Blogging is an opportunity to record these lessons. In writing them down; we recognize, analyze, evaluate, and internalize these lessons. Through this simple act of writing, we elevate our understanding and level of expertise to a whole new level. Many bloggers have even reached the point of being considered “The Authority” in their perspective field. All of us can become experts in what we do, and blogs are a great tool to get us there.
2. To Network:
In blogging, we acknowledge the source of our lessons learned by linking out. We link to other blogs and websites in order to show their contribution to our learning. As we link out, the owners of the other blogs and websites take notice. Others begin to read our blogs. Online conversations develop that, over time, become relationships and networks. Many experienced bloggers consider their blog to be their most valuable asset–in terms of networking–that exists.
3. To Generate Business:
Meaningful blogging results in links–lots of links. Links result in high search engine rankings. High rankings result in lots of free internet traffic. This traffic, if leveraged correctly, results in business. A well established and well known blogger can drive unimaginable amounts of traffic. For example, when the book Call to Action was released, Seth Godin (one of the most powerful bloggers) wrote a short blog post about the book. Within hours, the book was sold out and back orders were being placed by the thousands. Before long, the book was a New York Time’s best seller.
Our individual blogs might never have the power of Seth’s, but what leverage they do have will be extremely valuable.
Tell me why you blog. Do my 3 reasons cover it?
Hi Benton, great post and topic - you totally miss the idea of substantiating a personal brand.
Jason,
You’re right. I’ve been learning bits and pieces about personal branding from your blog. I’m even starting a professional profile website for myself.
It will be a seperate website, because I’m using it to teach myself html, but couldn’t it just as well be part of my blog? Maybe instead of just having one “about me” page, I could have two or three?
No doubt though, personal branding should have made my list.