I started blogging about a couple of months ago. First, it was on my personal website blog, Jad Graphics Blog. I then decided to launch the Design Informer about a week ago. Just in this short timespan of blogging, I have learned and accomplished much and I can't turn back from blogging now.

Here are a few reasons why I have to keep blogging:

Blogging about design helps me learn new skills.

This is the main reason why I blog. Every designer who decides to blog has just set themselves on a path of learning. Let me explain. In order for me to write about certain things, such as a new tutorial, or a CSS technique, I must first learn and master that technique. That means as a designer/blogger, I must spend time trying out new techniques in Photoshop for me to be able to achieve a certain effect. You can ask any successful design blogger out there and they will all tell you about how much blogging has helped them learn new skills.

When you blog, you are constantly looking for new things to blog about, which most of the time will take you out of comfort-zone and challenge you to learn something new that you can talk about in your blog.

Blogging about design helps me refine my skills.

Design

My design skills has gotten better because of blogging. It seemed like I practice designing everyday now, and it has just helped me tremendously.

Development

Starting a blog helped me a lot in this area. I was able to build my Wordpress theme from scratch, and I learned quite a few things about PHP and Wordpress through the process.

Writing

This is a big step for me. I think I stopped writing ever since I got out of college. Blogging has helped me to start writing again, and it has enabled me to better put my words on paper. Also, studies show that writing can also help you better express your thoughts in normal conversations as well.

Communication

If there is a skill that is lacking in many designers today, it is communication. Blogging has helped me to become a better communicator. In order for my blog to grow its readership, it is vital that I learn how to communicate with my readers through Twitter, email, as well as answering and participating in comments.

Blogging about design helps me build and expand my network.

Because of blogging, I was able to expand my network of designer friends. In this short time span, I was able to meet some new designers, interview them, and get to know them a little bit. Of course, networking with these other designers and bloggers isn’t easy, and it takes a lot of work, but I believe that if you are real and you ask any of them for a sincere request, most of the time, they will be happy to help you out.

A great example of this is Chris Spooner. I don’t know how many interviews I have seen of him online. I don’t think he can even keep track of all of them. He is a designer that has been able to increase his network through blogging.

Blogging about design helps me stay up-to-date.

Because of the hours that I spend each day thinking of ideas, reading other blogs and viewing links from my Twitter account, I am more current and up-to-date with the popular web design and graphic design trends of our day. This is a huge benefit in blogging. No longer do you have to do tons of research when you get a new client asking you about the latest trends in the web, you already know them and already blog about them.

Blogging about design helps me open many new doors.

I have had numerous inquiries from different people regarding web design, graphic design, and WordPress development all because of blogging. I guess for some random search term, they ended up on my blog, and because of that I was able to obtain new clients. Many other bloggers can testify to this. Also, when you blog, you are building your brand online. It helps you become more credible. When prospective clients see your blog and see numerous tutorials, comments from other designers, as well as an awesome design, that speaks volumes to them.

To Sum It All Up

Will I ever stop blogging? Probably not.

Blogging has just helped me grow so much as a designer. That is why if you are designer and you still don't have a blog, get one today. The things you will learn, people you will get to know, and clients you will receive will be worth all the time and effort that you have invested in creating and maintaining a blog.

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