There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside of you. – Maya Angelou

Something to Think About – Either write something worth reading or do something worth writing.

Welcome back to Renew Inspiration! There are many reasons why people start blogging. Some people start blogging as a hobby and for some people it’s a career. According to Dictionary.com, blogging is defined as a website containing a writer’s or group of writers’ own experiences, observations, opinions, etc., and often having images and links to other websites, a single entry or post on such a website.

Your mind is a garden. Your thoughts are the seeds. You can grow flowers, or you can grow weeds. – Unknown

MY STORY

I started my Renew Inspiration blog simply to inspire others using my own personal experiences, creative writing and research. But why? Well, when my mother passed away in December 2015 a piece of me left and never returned. I have lost other loved ones in the past, but losing your mother is a hurt that you just cannot explain. Unfortunately, I could not express how I felt so I became depressed and angry. I began writing how I felt every day. Then, someone told me to write letters to my mother expressing how much I missed her. Guess what? It worked. Shortly after I started journaling to help me cope with the grieving process. Writing became my passion and my coping mechanism. Eventually, I did seek professional help as well because my depression was getting worse and I even felt anxiety throughout my life as well. In January 2018, I decided that I wanted to take my writing to the next level. But how? I was surfing online and came across a Word Press and Blue Host ad. I clicked on it to find out more information and the blogger provided the necessary information to start my own blog. Setting up my Renew Inspiration blog was a challenging experience, but yet rewarding at the same time. Through this experience, I found my true passion, inspiring my supportive audience (that’s you) through writing in the form of blogging. So, thank you for believing in me and taking the time to visit my blog often. Remember, this experience is not complete without you.

REASONS WHY PEOPLE BLOG

To take this a step further, let’s look at some other reasons why people blog.

Some people use blogging to:

• Inspire, encourage and motivate

• Teach and establish expertise

• Share ideas and their passion for writing

• Cope with life and its many challenges

• Expand networking opportunities

• Make money by selling product or using affiliate programs

• Express yourself and share creative writing

• Maintain online journal

• Provide book reviews or product reviews

• Capture travel experiences and photos

There is no failure, you either win or you learn. – Unknown

WHY IS BLOGGING POPULAR

Blogging is popular these days for many reasons.

• First, search engines love new content, and as a result, blogging is a great search engine optimization (SEO) tool.

• Second, blogging provides an easy way to keep your readers, customers or clients up-to-date on what’s going on, let them know about new deals, and provide tips. The more a customer comes to your blog, the more likely they are to spend money.

• Third, blogging allows you to build trust and rapport with your readers. You are able to build your expertise and credibility on a subject matter. Also, you are able to interact with the readers in the comment section.

• Fourth, blogging is a way for some people to make money. Along with your product or service, blogs can generate income from other options, such as advertising and affiliate products.

• Fifth, blogging is flexible and portable, making it a great option for people who strive to become an entrepreneur.

DOWNSIDE TO BLOGGING

Blogging is popular because it is a great marketing tool and helps you make money, but it also has a downside.

• Blogging requires a commitment and takes a great deal of time to manage. For blogs to be effective at SEO and engaging readers, it needs to be updated regularly.

• Blogging involves creativity and you having a passion to write about things you enjoy. To keep the content flowing, you have to keep the readers engaged with awesome ideas, tips or suggestions.

• Blogging can provide income for some people, but the payoff is not immediate. One of the biggest frustrations with blogging is that it is time-consuming with little payoff in the beginning. It takes time to build up a readership and momentum.

The key to success is to start before you are ready. – Marie Forleo

***FREE TIPS FOR NEW BLOGGERS***

HOW TO START A BLOG

The good news is that starting a blog or adding a blog to your existing website is easy and affordable.

Step 1 – Setting Up Blog

There are free blog options such as WordPress.com or Blogger, but to retain control and professional image, consider investing in a domain name and hosting, and installing WordPress or other content management system on your host.

Step 2 – Add Content

Once your blog is up and running, you need to keep it active with new and fresh content to grow your readership. I would suggest developing a set schedule for writing and posting to your blog.

Step 3 – Marketing

Great ways to reach your market are through social media, an email list and reaching out to other bloggers.

Step 4 – Add Income Streams

You can promote other companies’ products and services in affiliate marketing. Most companies, such as Amazon, Wal-Mart, Target and Kohls offer this program. You can also offer advertising or feed ad networks, such as AdSense, on to your blog.

TIME FOR REFLECTION – JOURNAL PROMPTS

• What is your ultimate goal in life?

• What do you enjoy and what makes you happy?

• What is a healthy habit you want to develop?

• What are your 3 biggest distractions or obstacles you face?

SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS/COMMENTS

I can and I will. Watch me. – Unknown

What’s your story? Why did you start blogging? Do you love to write or have a passion to encourage others through blogging? How does blogging help your business or do you only blog as a hobby? If you don’t have a blog yet, after reading my blog, would you consider blogging in the near future?

Believe in yourself today, tomorrow and forever!

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