This post is inspired by Darren’s Group Writing Project and blog network, b5media’s move into business blogs.

I’ve always been a blog junkie - as can be seen in my latest foray into blogging, my little side project - The Blog Columnist. But I’ve never really been a big blog network junkie - as in getting into one.

I’m stubbornly independent in many ways and the blog network issue (to join or not to join) was no different in my stubborness.

I’m applying to be a b5 blogger!
WTF. You sold out, man! You hypocrite. You said you never would. So what has changed?

The Quick Answer: b5media is moving into the business arena … finally, and I’ve learnt that independence can only take you so far.

So … a bit of soul-searching, food for thought moments and watching it all unfold this year I’ve decided that joining a blog network might just take you (and me) to another level.

And here are my 7 reasons why:

1. Networking - The networking possibilities of being part of a blog network are seemingly endless - more so if the network holds many blog properties even semi-related to your field. Think: meeting new bloggers and blogs with related interests; bouncing around ideas with like-minded folks; taking the conversation further; potential joint venture partnerships - which all equals to more readers, more page views and the bottom line: more business.

2. Backend - All you have to do is show up and write. A writers dream. Forget hosting, domain, server, plugin, spam issues - it’s all taken care off leaving you all that free time to create top quality content.

3. Money - Who doesn’t want or need some more coin in their bank account! And with the group power of a blog network behind you, whose main duty, apart from holding up the backend, is to attract the advertisers, your money making potenial from blogging increases.

Now, you may not make your fortune or anywhere near it - but it just may satisify the coffee junkie in you and/or pay the bits n’ pieces of your other online activities: hosting, domain name purchases, silly spur-of-the-moment clickbank purchases.

4. Ego and Street Cred - Yep. Who doesn’t need a credibility boost once in a while! In fact, you should be continually building your credibility. And that’s what being in a blog network should give you over time. More eyeballs equals a boost to your ego equals a boost in your street cred. Especially when you’re trying to get on top in your niche, this is a powerful way to go about it.

5. Leverage - If you run another online venture imagine the leverage you can get by being a part of a well-respected blog network as you write about your niche. At your blog network blog you soft sell your outside venture and on your venture site or blog you scream and shout: “Ahem, Look at me. I write for the so and so blog network”. Use mass of eyeballs that a blog network brings and leverage it so that your online business benefits as well.

6. Link Love and Leakage - No doubt about it, being a part of a popular blog network will give you a boost in incoming links. Just from the sidebars of every other blog in the network alone will do you wonders. Bloggers within a network are more likely to link to you and those outside will link to you and your posts simply because you are a part of the so and so blog network. Perceptions come into play here.

7. PageRank Boost - For some reason, many people online give great credence to PageRank, Google’s famous little green bar of popularity. I don’t know if having a high PageRank does any good in the search engines (I’m no seo guru) but it does once again count in the perceptions stake. I’ve caught myself doing it - I come to a new blog and instinctively my eyes hover to my toolbar as I check out the blogs PageRank. For reasons unknown to me I’ve been conditioned, like many, to give more value to a blog with a higher PageRank than a lower one.

Good or bad, PageRank counts and being a part of a blog network will over time give you a decent PageRank.

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So there you have it folks - but if I’m not accepted into b5 then I take it all back. :-)

Note: ePublishingDaily will stay as it is. If I do join with b5 it’ll be with a brand spanking new blog and I’ll make sure it’s topic is close to what this blog is about.