I admit to being slightly envious of those who make a good income from their blogs.  I am in awe of those who make a full-time living from their blogs and even have to higher assistants so they don’t have to work 80 hours a week themselves keeping their blogs running.  Go them!

I have had a blog for over five years now, and suffice it to say in those five years total, I don’t think I’ve made more than a few thousand dollars.  My blog does not make much money, and I have a handful of loyal readers.  I don’t have to worry about hiring an assistant or needing a bigger server to handle all the traffic.

For some, a blog of my size with little possibility for revenue would be a worthless endeavor.  However, I don’t see it that way.

If you’re considering starting a blog or deciding whether to keep your blog going, don’t think of it strictly in monetary terms.  Even if you’re not making much money (or any money) from your blog, there are still many reasons why maintaining and updating your blog is worthwhile.

1. Connecting with like-minded people.

   Blogging gives you an excellent platform to share your views.  Sure, you’ll find some people who don’t agree with you and aren’t afraid to let you know it, but the vast majority of your readers will be those who share your views.  There’s something fun and even comforting about connecting with others who think like  you do.

2. Learning regularly.

   I blog primarily because I need an outlet for my love of writing.  However, I also hope that some of my posts help readers.  What I am continually surprised by over the years is how much my readers help me, too, and how much I learn from them.  I love that I have a community on my blog Facebook page that is willing to offer advice and assistance whenever I ask, and I’m glad to do the same for them.

3. Making new friends.

   I’ve met some of my blog readers in person.  A few I exchange e-mails with every few months.  It’s not often that you connect with people through the internet and get the chance to meet them in person and form friendships.  I’m very grateful to my blog for this.

4. Having a springboard to other jobs.

   Even though my blog doesn’t generate much income, it’s served as a springboard to the many freelance writing jobs that I have.  I don’t know that I would have gotten those jobs without having a blog where I proved myself first.  Therefore, in a secondary way, my blog has helped me generate a part-time income every month to supplement my husband’s full-time income.

My cousin had a little known blog, but his writing there was so good that he eventually became a blogger for The Huffington Post.  After two years writing for The Huffington Post, he got a job blogging about football for a large university.  While he didn’t earn any pay from The Huffington Post, he does get money for blogging about football.  Even better, it’s a subject he’s passionate about and loves to write about.

5. Having the opportunity to try new products.

   Over the years that I’ve blogged, I’ve had plenty of opportunities to try new products.  When my kids were younger, I got to try many baby products for reviews and giveaways.  Now that I’m a homeschooling mom, I’ve had the opportunity to try many homeschool materials with my three kids.  We liked some of the materials so much we’ve incorporated them into our homeschooling curriculum.

If you’re thinking about beginning a blog, don’t start just thinking of the money you may make.  Chances are high that you’ll make very little money.  However, there is still much to be gained by keeping a blog.

Do you keep a blog?  If so, what motivates you most to do so?