
Recently I celebrated my first anniversary of blogging. As I contemplate where I am today, I’m reflecting back to those first days. The days before I had a blog, and why I started blogging.
Today’s Lesson
Before you even start a blog, it’s important to ask yourself, “Why do I want to start a blog?”
If you have a blog and never asked yourself why you blog, it’s time you do.
Possible answers are:
1) To make money online
2) To network with others
3) To promote a business
4) To help others by sharing what you know
5) To vent your frustrations to the world.
6) To gain fame
7) To build a portfolio of your writings and to move into a career of freelancing
Some start a blog for more than one reason.
I started mine for two: to share, and to hopefully find an online income stream.
Ironically, the more I blogged, the more I realized making money is (almost) irrelevant. The joy I get from helping others is priceless. Although I continue to show ads on both of my blogs and see a few coins roll in, when I sit down at my computer, I’m asking myself, “what can I write that will benefit others”?
Today’s assignment
Why do you really, really, really (yes, say it three times) blog? You don’t have to tell me the truth, but be honest with yourself.
Has your initial reason for blogging changed?
Are you getting closer to your original goal?
If you’re blogging for money, is it paying off?
Has blogging helped you to get discovered?
Photo Credit: fukagawa_tky’s photostream




Hi. I'm Barbara Swafford and I'd like to welcome you to the Blogging Without A Blog (BWAB) virtual blogging classroom. We'll make you think, share some links, and listen to what you have to say. Grab a chair, join in the conversation and/or 







My reasons constantly change! Originally I thought a blog was an online diary. And I used it that way at first.
Lately, my focus is on the company web-site and blog. And my motivation is for it to be a communication channel with both clients and prospects. In other words to grow the business.
It’s getting more attention because it’s working. It was doing really well. And then all of a sudden, it produced our biggest single project, and highest paying retainer client. A £42K ($84K) project and a £3K ($6k) per month retainer agreement.
When we went to see the client, he had already bought into us after relaying, almost word for word, some of the content on the site and blog.
The personal blog seems to go in fits and starts and meanders in direction. I couldn’t really describe my motivations for keeping that going.
Every now and again I get a streak of content pop out of my head. And then my mind goes quiet again!
Ian Denny’s last blog post..New, Aspiring, Failed Or Successful Businesses – Share Your Business Story -
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