To Blog or Not To Blog.

Should you?
Shouldn't you?

Lets start with a question you should ask before doing anything.

> WHY DO I NEED TO DO THIS?

as with life, so with blogging.

Blogging is writing, sharing, editing, stuff for the online population.  why would you want to do it?  according to research there are more than 20000 blogs started everyday.  20000! so why should there be another one out there?

Blogging should figure in your plans if:

1. You are like to write - if you do (like me!) then blogging is a natural extension of what you do.  you get to fulfill that inner creative urge, plus the satisfaction of being read by a hundred + people who would otherwise never know you.  One of my posts has been read more than 126K times. Of course I finally moved that to a blog of my own, but on that later.
2. Your have something to sell - I still dont, but I am working on it.  I did write an E-Book and plan some more, but blogging is very effective if you have something to sell.  This could be products or services.  The blog becomes your PR tool.
3. If you have something to share - nothing like putting it on the web and letting it reach the maximum number of people in the shortest possible time, with the least cost implications.
4. If you want information on something - I usually blog about something and then leave it open to comments to find information.  you can do this via social networks too, Linkedin, facebook, twitter etc, but a blog will work too.
5. If you want to learn something - I find this the best way! by creating a blog on something and then simply searching, adding links, posting on that topic from other sources, lets me learn so much!
6. If you want to work on a collaborative project - I am working on the creation of a collaborative project, and find that blogging is one of the easiest & free methods to do the same.
7. If you want to earn some extra money - first the notice, blogging will not generate tons of cash immediately.  Even articles of mine that regularly see 100K+ views, do not generate much cash.  The value is in the community and other additional income sources that you can create. 
   
8. If you want to be kool - blogging, sharing, tweeting comes naturally to the now generation. It is however somewhat alien for the older generation.  You just might feel cool doing it.
9. If you want to be known as an expert - I read somewhere that if you can make a list of 101 things on any topic, you can call yourself an expert.  That is a good way to think about it.  People follow experts and their opinions matter.  with blogging, anyone who has the knowledge and the passion can become one.
   
10. If you want to make social change happen - blogging gives you a platform unlike any other.  freedom, complete, in terms of thoughts, words, audience.  Your comment, your request, your idea could strike a chord and be carried like a torch across the world.

There.

10 reasons why you should blog.

For any personal advice, feel free to write in to me.
mail@prabhjotbedi.com