19 Pros and Cons of Blogging: Should You Start a Blog?

So, you want to start a blog? 

But there’s a mountain of tasks ahead:

• SEO
• Copywriting
• Website management
• Web design

And that’s just the tip of the iceberg.

So the question is… 

Will it be worth it?

My answer is yes. This blog is my proof.

But let me tell you the pros and cons of blogging from my experience so you can decide for yourself.

Let’s go.

What Are the Pros of Blogging?

1. Low-Cost Investment

Unlike most businesses, it doesn’t cost much to create a blog. 

If you want to start a WordPress blog like me…

You can expect to spend about $50 to $100 a month.

These mainly include software subscriptions.

But if you want to blog on platforms like Medium.

It’s 100% FREE.

You just need an internet connection and patience.

Considering the potential monetization opportunities for the blog…

There’s hardly any business model with such a low startup cost for an unlimited upside.

2. Build a Personal Brand

Blogging lets you own a little corner of the internet where people come for insights they can’t find anywhere else.

It offers a canvas for your thoughts…

Allowing you to showcase depth and insight unmatched by the brevity of social media.

Through consistent, quality posts, you demonstrate:

• Expertise
• Voice
• Values

All of these are a cornerstone of a unique brand identity.

3. Develop Writing Skills

You may not be a great writer right now. That’s fine. 

An essay or a corporate report doesn’t count.

That won’t work online.

The hardest part is forgetting what you have been taught and reprogramming yourself for online writing.

Your first blog post is going to suck. Maybe even the first 100.

I’m not gonna sugarcoat it.

But you’ll get better over time.

And it’s not just any type of writing…

You must become a copywriter.

Master the art of PERSUASIVE writing.

4. Flexibility in Work Schedule

You can set your hours as a blogger.

You call the shots.

Want to sleep in? Go ahead.

Have kids? Work around their school time or nap time.

Got a full-time job? Do it as a side hustle whenever you want.

But be careful.

You can lose track of time and not get work done.

Either way, I love the flexibility of blogging, as you can contribute to the creator economy at your own pace.

Let your content nurture and work for you over time.

5. Become a Better Thinker

Not good at organizing thoughts and focusing on what’s important? 

Try out blogging. Why?

Blogging teaches you how to present your thoughts or solutions in an organized way. 

You think deeply about a subject and analyze information to create something coherent.  

The consistent practice of organizing your ideas naturally makes you an organized thinker.

Need some tips?

• Be sure to practice mind mapping. 
• Learn how to visualize your ideas for better brainstorming. 
• Create structured outlines to organize your thoughts.

6. Reach Millions of People Online

Blogging is one of the effective ways to get your voice heard by millions, if not billions. 

You can reach millions from different walks of life and divergent perspectives on the internet.

Not everyone is on social media…

But there are more than 5.18 billion internet users.

All you need to do is reach a fraction of that.

Scratch that…

A fraction of a fraction.

7. Make a Lot of Money

Blogging can put money in your pocket.

Use your blog as your storefront.

But it’s not going to happen overnight. 

Here are some methods to make money as a blogger:

• Affiliate marketing
• Sponsored content 
• Selling digital products (e-books, courses, etc.)
• Offering freelance services (writing, consulting, etc.)
• Hosting webinars and workshops
• Displaying ads through Google AdSense or other ad networks

8. Build Relationships With Full Stack Creators

Blogging creates a vibrant space where you connect with other full-stack creators.

What are full-stack creators?

My definition is creators who are proficient at both content and code.

When I say code, I don’t mean being a developer.

But being a blog/website owner, you must have at least working knowledge.

Most creators don’t fall into this category.

These are the people who can:

• Build
• Market
• Sell

Surround yourself with these people, and you’ll go far.

9. Establishing Oneself as an Expert

You can write about things you know best.

This allows you to demonstrate deep expertise on a topic.

Unlike social media posts, which are usually short-form pieces…

Blog posts are long-form and comprehensive.

Trust grows when readers like your blog posts.

When they need solutions…

You will be their go-to source.

Given enough time, you may also get offers to:

• Speak at events
• Attend podcasts
• Write guest posts
• Collaborate on YouTube videos

More followers means more influence on others’ ideas and decisions.

Doors open up for you to work with other experts and grow your network.

10. Quit Your 9 to 5

Do you hate your 9-to-5 job?

Blogging can help you replace it with something you truly enjoy.

People often start blogging as a hobby and create a business.

It might not be possible immediately, but consistency and patience will get you there.

I’m not at a stage where I would want to quit my full-time job…

But I could if I really wanted to and still be comfortable with my blogging profits.

What Are the Cons of Blogging?

We’ve taken a brief look at some of the advantages of blogging.

Here are some of the disadvantages of blogging:

1. Time-Consuming

Blogging isn’t for people looking for quick success online.

Everyone has a different time frame before earning their first dollar.

It took about three months to earn my first dollar from affiliate marketing.

Another 2 to reach my first 4-figure month.

You need at least a few months to reap the rewards from organic search traffic through SEO.

And you also need to maintain a consistent publishing schedule.

So, are you prepared for this commitment?

If not, you’ll most likely be demotivated and give up.

2. Over-Saturated Market

Blogging has been around for quite some time – the first blog was created in 1997.

There are more than 600 million blogs today.

New bloggers find making their unique space in this crowded place difficult.

But here is the bright side.

There is only one of you. Your voice and your stories are one of a kind.

If you have something unique and exciting…

The right audience will find you and stick with you.

They will value your unique perspectives.

But again, it requires time and consistent efforts to get your voice heard in a crowded world. 

3. Technical Challenges

Many small pieces come together to make a blog.

For instance:

• Domain management
• Hosting service
• Content management systems
• Responsive design
• Plugins and tools

It can feel like you’ve walked into a maze without a map.

Every blogger started as a clueless beginner…

But you’ll learn along the way.

And there are many no-code tools available, which makes coding essentially redundant.

There are countless tutorials online.

There’s always a huge community to support you.

4. SEO Pressures

SEO is probably the most complex part of blogging.

It might take you only a few hours to write a blog…

But getting it to rank on search engines is another story.

You have poured your heart and soul into creating the perfect blog post.

You hit “publish,” only to find that no one is viewing it.

Why?

It all boils down to SEO.

It’s the backbone of online visibility.

Learn about SEO content and figure out how to optimize your content to rank on Google.

Need some tips to start with:

• Identify keywords that are relevant to your blog topic and that have a good search volume.
• Use high-quality images and optimize them with appropriate alt text. 
• Focus on writing high-quality, original content that adds value to your readers.
• Incorporate internal links to your other blog posts and external links to high-authority sites to improve SEO.
• Ensure your blog is mobile-friendly to reach a wider audience and meet Google’s SEO standards.

There’s no way around this because blogging needs SEO and vice versa. 

5. Potential Negative Feedback and Trolls

Criticism is one of the biggest reasons creators avoid blogging or any medium.

The online world can be ruthless.

No doubt about it.

Negative comments and trolls might appear and try to bring you down.

It’s just a part of the game. Don’t let this feeling keep you from expressing your talent.

Focus on:

• Producing the best content
• Moderate comments to weed out negativity
• Stay true to your passion

6. Financial Risk and Uncertainty

Income from Blogging is highly inconsistent. 

You can invest a of time and money into it…

But you can very well get nothing out of it.

This is a big part of the cons of blogging. Money risk is real in the world of bloggers.

There are no sure ways to make money blogging.

It’s not like a job with a steady paycheck every month.

You might earn in some months but nothing in others.

Or worse…

You can even lose money.

It takes time to start making decent money from your blog, which can feel very unsure at times.

7. Creative Burnout

Do you know that feeling when your brain is just fried?

It happens to the best of us.

Sometimes, the well of inspiration runs dry, and you stare at a blank screen for what feels like hours.

It’s not a simple social media post.

Most of my blog posts average between 2,000 and 2,500 words.

Creative burnout is a real struggle in blogging.

You can avoid this by:

• Using AI writing software for drafts
• Collaborate with other creators
• Perform keyword research to remove guesswork
• Hire freelance writers to make your life easier

8. Privacy Concerns

Sharing your life online comes with a risk. Doesn’t it?

So a blogger has to consider the risks and challenges of revealing their personal information.

The real challenge is to balance privacy and security.

You can say balancing openness with maintaining a private sanctuary is key.

Be wise about the personal details you share and keep safety at the forefront.

Here are some helpful tips:

• Avoid sharing overly personal details such as your home address.
• Set clear boundaries about what aspects of your private life you want to share.
• Use strong and unique passwords for your accounts. 
• Review your content before publishing to ensure it doesn’t reveal sensitive information.
• Consider using a VPN to protect your data and maintain privacy.
• Don’t hesitate to seek legal advice to understand the implications of sharing certain information.
• Regularly update yourself on best practices for online privacy and security.

9. Continuous and Never-Ending Process

Your audience is always looking for something unique and enticing.

One major challenge for a blogger is to satisfy that thirst for fresh content.

It’s normal to feel overwhelmed when the expectations of your audience are high.

Innovation doesn’t always mean reinventing the wheel.

Sometimes a fresh perspective on a familiar topic can be groundbreaking.

Take a step back when you need to. Let your mind wander and don’t be too hard on yourself.

Pros And Cons Of Blogging (FAQs)

To Sum Up

Blogging is an incredible way to share your knowledge and passions with a global audience.

There are numerous benefits of blogging.

But also consider the cons.

The competition is fierce.

And it is a time-consuming process to rank articles and monetize your blog.

But it’s well worth it if you can ride it out.

Every blog post works as an individual business by generating consistent traffic and leads over time.

Unlike social media posts where there is no longevity.

You HAVE to turn up daily.