… and implore you (yet again) to start a blog.

I know you’re busy. I’m not suggesting you write a mini magnum opus every day. If you don’t have 20 seconds to set up a Wordpress or Blogger blog, then sheesh, get your 12-year-old kid to do it. (He or she will be able to do it 10 seconds.)

Because here are the very real benefits:

With little-to-zero effort, you can create a decent looking web site. Skip worrying about hiring web developers, registering domain names and finding hosting companies. If you have the technical savvy to set up a free email account and compose messages, then you’ve got what it takes to set up a free blog. Plus, most free blogging platforms offer cool template designs.

Keep in mind that a blog doesn’t have to be perpetually updated with new content. It can serve as a static web site. Add your contact info, a brief pitch for your services, maybe even a professionally snapped photograph. (Note the professionally.) Put your blog’s web address on your business card. Voila! Look at you now!

You might even get prospects to land on your blog. Search engines like Google and Yahoo help prospects find what they’re looking for. While there’s a ton of competition for placement for search terms like “insurance quotes” and the like, you may rank well for more specific terms—phrases that are unique to you. For example, let’s say that lady you met at the wedding reception, we’ll call her Nancy, later recalls your name and that you sell insurance. Nancy might Google ‘your name/agency + insurance’ to find out if you have a web site. Assuming your name isn’t Bob Smith, there’s a decent chance she’ll find your name in the organic results.

You’ll get some R.E.S.P.E.C.T! With a web site, you’ve instantly got a modicum of credibility. To phrase that negatively (and maybe scare you a little), not having a web site these days is a severe ding to your standing in the eyes of prospects.

If you do have the time to write informative content, you’ll earn big-time cred with prospects—and search engines. You, my friend, are an expert. You know waaay more about insurance than the guy on the street. If you can synthesize some of that info and offer it for free, you’ll earn trust points with prospects. (And trust, we know, is a vital component to making the sale.) It’s also worth mentioning that Google rewards unique content with greater prominence in the search results.