Realizing the pros and cons of blogging

Your words can live online for a long time. When you publish something on your blog, anyone with Internet access can see it. If you enable comments on your blog, people all over the world can also respond to what you publish, and you might not like what they have to say. Those are just two of the drawbacks of blogging.

Blogging can be a double-edged sword. On one hand, it gives you the opportunity to share your opinions with others and find like-minded people to network with. On the other hand, it exposes you personally to the world. Of course, finding personal information about almost anyone through simple online searches is fairly easy these days, so trying to remain anonymous online is difficult. That’s why it’s important to be mindful of what you publish online, because you never know who might be reading it now or in the future.

For example, that picture of you and your coworkers partying in the boss’s office that you publish on your blog today could be found by a future hiring manager five years from now when you’re looking for a new job. Be careful what you publish on your blog. What you publish today can still be found through online searches in the future, and you never know who might be looking.

Blogging can also bring new opportunities to you. As your online presence grows and people within and outside the blogosphere get to know who you are, it’s quite possible that new career, volunteer, or interview requests might come your way. However, each of these opportunities brings its own set of pros and cons in terms of the amount of time they require compared to the rewards they bring.

One of the best parts of blogging is developing relationships with your readers and other bloggers. It’s possible to connect with people through your blogging efforts who could have a big impact in your personal life or your career.