10 signs you may benefit from multiple blogs

Image by m-c. (This is actually an old screenshot from M-C Turgeon)

Running multiple blogs is something that is worth considering. But how can you be sure if it's for you? Here are 10 signs that may indicate you should try running more than one blog.

1. You enjoy blogging.

I think you need to enjoy blogging to be a great blogger, but it's absolutely essential if you're going to run more than one blog. Why do a lot of something if you hate it?

2. Time is not a major issue.

Last week I looked at how you can save time. If time isn't a major issue for you, or you have some spare time that you'd like to put to good use, setting up another blog is something you might want to try. If you really don't have any spare time, try following my timesaving tips to save some time, but don't push yourself to set up another blog if time is very tight.

3. You like to write, but need to find your style.

Haven't found your groove yet? The best way to get better at something is to practise. Get on and do as much writing as you can. Running another blog will require you to write more content than you would on just one blog. An added bonus is that you could experiment with different styles for each blog.

4. You have multiple unrelated interests.

The thing with personal blogs is that they often include posts from a wide range of areas. Perhaps you'll attract a wider audience, but focusing on specific subject matter for each blog is generally easier to pull off. Yu could set up a personal blog, but why not set up a blog for each of your interests if you have enough to say about them?

There's actually a guest post coming on Friday with 10 tips for personal bloggers - subscribe to Top Ten Blog Tips so you don't miss it.

5. You want to cover more ground in a large area.

Running multiple blogs doesn't require each one to be completely unrelated to the others. For instance, in addition to Top Ten Blog Tips, I also run The Guide to Blogging. Both sites are about blogging, but they have their differences.

6. You can manage multiple priorities.

Are you good at multi-tasking? Can you think about several different tasks at a time? This is important if you want to run multiple blogs. If you're struggling to keep up with one blog, you'll need to get on top of things with that blog before setting up any others.

7. You like the variety of multiple projects.

It's not just about managing multiple priorities - some people genuinely enjoy being able to switch between different tasks. I'm one of those people. I also like being busy. Do you?

8. You have a web hosting account that supports multiple sites for no extra cost.

One reason you might not want to run another blog is because your web host doesn't allow you to run additional sites without paying extra.

If you're looking for a host that does allow this, I highly recommend Hostgator. Be careful though - the cheapest plan will only allow you to run 1 domain. You'll need to buy the "Baby" plan to get multiple domains.

Note that you'll still need to pay for the domain name for each site, but this doesn't cost a lot.

9. You like the idea of being able to cross-promote several sites.

Trying to get links from other blogs can be tricky (although I do have some tips for getting links from other blogs). It's significantly easier for you to cross-promote your own blogs.

If you include quality links in your posts, people will click them. If those links go to your other blogs, it's a great way to get new people to start reading those blogs.

10. You want to reduce the likelihood of having only one blog that fails.

Not all blogs are going to be a resounding success. Unfortunately, a lot of bloggers give up when they get bored, or when it seems to be too difficult to get anyone to check in and leave comments. However, even if you do everything right, it's still possible that your blog might not work. There are no guarantees, but running multiple blogs could increase the likelihood that some of them will do well.

What do you think? Do you run multiple blogs? How many of these points apply to you? How many of them suggest that you might be best sticking to just one blog?