It’s important question so here’s the short answer.

If you have knowledge, ideas, solve problems or are undergoing any process, a blog is a great way to publish challenges, proposals, experiences, opinions and so forth. You’ll discover new people with common interests and be discovered more often. You’ll develop and audience and follow others. Documenting your thoughts will make you more effective. It will strengthen you and your community.

I asked the question to Steve Aplin an established blogger and here’s his response:

Blogging is an excellent way to clarify and sharpen your thinking on a particular subject. If you’re putting your thoughts out onto the net, you’d better make sure they’re well founded.

Also, blogging is a form of conversation, which is the very best way to strengthen your thinking. There’s nothing like engaging with others — they always have something to add to your own beliefs. When they challenge your prejudices and call you on shoddy thinking, they are doing you a huge favour. So start testing yourself and your ideas — start a blog.

Steve Aplin
Vice President, Energy and Environment
The HDP Group Inc.
www.hdpgroup.com
www.canadianenergyissues.com
1+613-567-5300 s.aplin@hdpgroup.com

Becoming a better thinker or person is a pretty strong value proposition in my opinion. As is being a more important part of the community. For Steve, he needs to be a the top of his game and his blog helps him do that. But don’t forget you can use a blog as a tool to start learning even if you’re a beginner at blogging and with the challenges you choose.

Are you ready to start a blog? If so, you can follow this easy guide on how to set your blog today. If not, feel free to read on. Don’t forget, you can comment if you disagree. Or agree. Welcome to the blogsphere.

The Longer Answer

If you have a business or a passion a blog can be an important part of your process. You’ll receive peer review, ideas, tips and other information that helps you move forward.

You can raise awareness and promote your ideas.

It extends your social network.

People talk about providing opinion and review but it is also a great venue for telling the world about your challenges. Writing down your challenges will not only help solutions gel in your mind but it will help others help you.

It’s much better use of your time than Facebook and other “social networks”. Facebook wants to sell advertising. If you are promoting any ideas or thinking, you are competing with them and clearly their system will not be designed in your favor. You’ll add more value to humanity if you use some of your facebook time to create content in the blog sphere.

You’ll become known as an authority or a hub. People will trust you and become part of your audience. They will be more likely to recommend you.

The content you create in your blog becomes part of your internet presence and it can make you more find-able in Google. You will be increasing the Search Engine Optimization (SEO) of your Web presence. The vocabulary you use becomes associated to your blog or Web site. The vocabulary others use to talk about your blog or Web site also becomes more associated to your project. This means you’ll be found when people search those words in Google.

If you are speaking through a blog, it will elevate your status in your community and increase your authenticity to viewers.