"Having a blog can dramatically change your life for the better."

Do you have a blog? If not, you need one.

If you do have a blog, do you realize the impact it has on your life?

The surprising truth is that your blog not only affects your online life, it also affects your life outside of the internet. Having a blog can dramatically change your life for the better.

You can use a blog instead of a website. When looking for a job your blog can help employers learn more about you. You can have more control over what is said about you on the internet. And your friends and family can easily keep track of you.

Using a blog instead of a website.

If you are wanting to start your own website - for whatever reason - you can use a simple blog as a website, rather than having to design and program a big, daunting website. The benefits of doing so are incredible. Kyle Pero of Lumedia Design did just that. Kyle uses WordPress to run his entire design portfolio.

Because of the simplicity of blogging software, and the availability of services such as Blogger, there should be no excuse as to why you shouldn't have a blog website of your own. It can affect your life for the better, here's how...

Employers search online. What will they find about you?

More and more businesses are using online search engines to research potential employees. If you have a blog of your own, chances are that's one of the first places an employer will find. And you can definitely count on them to read what you have to say.

If your blog is devoted to a subject and you update often, employers will get a feeling that you can be devoted to the workplace. If you write quality articles about subjects that you really care about, employers can get a better understanding of the way you think, and they can also find out more ways you could be a benefit to their company.

People are talking about you online. Will you let them get away with it?

If you have ever posted to an online forum, commented on a blog, run your own website, upload a picture or video, or done any other type of interaction online, chance are somebody is talking about it. Depending on whether or not the things that are online about you are positive or negative, you may want to have a say in what is said about you online.

Employers aren't the only ones who like to use search engines to find things online about you. Friends, family, boyfriends and girlfriends, all are likely to open up Google on a boring Sunday and type in your name. Having a blog allows you to take control of some of the things that are said about you online. You can respond to negative comments made about you, you can post why you would make a great boyfriend/girlfriend, or just write about your personal life.

Having a blog means that people who search for you online have a place to go first, and find out information straight from the horses mouth.

Your online lifestyle affects your offline lifestyle.

People are more likely to trust what they read in a blog than what they hear in the local sandwich shop. Blogging is a type of personal journal, that is often made public. There's a comfort aspect involved with reading a blog - especially one that is well written.

If your employer or family wants to learn more about you, a blog would definitely be the first place they go. If you wanted to announce something to all of your friends and family, a blog would be an ideal place to do so. Want to plan a party with all of your friends? Just post it to your personal blog. Looking for a new job? Your blog is a great place to write about job opportunities and why you would be ideal for them.

If you have a blog, understanding the importance it has on your every-day life can dramatically improve your blogs potential. If you don't have a blog, you need to get one right now and start writing.