Have you ever considered starting a blog?
I can already see you shaking your head. You probably think that blogging is for writers, politicians, political pundits, or egotistical people with nothing better to do.
True. But here are fourteen reasons why you, too, might want to give it a try.
- You can use it as a networking tool. No matter what your business or occupation, it never hurts to give out a little free information. Call it a form of tithing if you will. Remember, what goes around comes around. Example: Kerry M. Kerstettar’s Tax Guru.
- Blog for your family. Write your memoir or simply jot down memories and upload photos of family history, the stuff that will be lost when you’re gone. Write messages to your children, your grandchildren or your great-great-great grandchildren, so they can treasure them far into the future.
- Blog about your hobby or passion. Share your inspiration with like minds.
- Communicate with your fans or future fans
- Highlight an industry. Fewer than 2 percent of Americans farm for a living today and only 17% now live in rural areas. It takes people like John Bunting to keep the dialog between urban and rural America alive. John Bunting’s Dairy Journal; A Broad Discussion of Dairy Covering A Wide Range Of Issues.
- Write about travel or a vacation: Example: The Steijn Girls on Cruise. This one’s written in Dutch, but you’ll get the picture.
- Share what’s on your mind or in your heart. Example: Lee Lopez.
- Keep in touch with friends. One way to start is to join Facebook or My Space and post your comments there, and if that works out, start your own blog.
- Use it as an extension of your resume/portfolio.
- Blog your way into a job or A BOOK. Pamela Redmond Satran created a blog called How Not To Act Old and two months later sold it as a book that went on to become a New York Times Bestseller.
- Create a family friendly blog.
- Provide inspiration for others. Example: The Optimist’s Blog.
- Raise awareness. Nipun Mehta helped start Service Space, an experiment in the joy of giving.
- Help others adapt to disabilities. After her legs were amputated, Amy Purdy started a nonprofit organization to help other youth and young adults with permanent physical disabilities enjoy extreme sports. You can find their blog at Adaptive Action Sports.
Remember, you don’t have to go public with your blog right away (or at all). You can save your posts as drafts to publish later, share them only with friends, or keep them to yourself (Blogger and Word Press have privacy settings for this).
Just be careful not to overdo it. Blogs can be addictive and take you away from living a full life with family and friends. If you limit yourself to certain times of the day or days of the week, you may just have found yourself a fascinating new hobby.
As always, thanks for stopping by,
Wow Aunt Margaret! Your blog is so good. I look forward to learning from you on your Wednesday posts. I have to update my blog, as it is almost a month old. My camera broke, which for me is a disaster. Keep up the good work and thanks for mentioning me in your blog!!!
Your welcome, Felicia. I love your scrapbooking projects (great pictures). While you're updating, check out THE CUTEST BLOG ON THE BLOCK at http://thecutestblogontheblock.com/ for some great background ideas. They also have other fun stuff to add to your side bar, etc.
Great idea for Wednesdays! I have met so many people through my blog. I also think it's a great tool to show committment to your readers and keep that promise that you are going to be there. It's also a great tool to keep you writing.
Hi Tonya. Blogs take time, no doubt about it, but they do have many rewards, meeting new people and keeping one writing right there on top. I'm hoping my Wednesday posts help the beginning blogger bypass or get past some of the blogging roadblocks I encountered.
Margaret, Thank you so much for the mention of Thyme for Herbs on your post. I'm glad you popped into my blog; otherwise, I would have not "discovered" your blog. I too dream of being an author one day. I wake up every day with a new beginning sentence. They all seem fabulous at the time. I've written some down, but most disappear from memory as the hours of the day pass.
I'm semi-retired now, so I hope to have more time to start my first novel. The timeline and bones are ready, now I just have to get it started. Thank you for your informative posts. I've enjoyed reading your blog.
Hi Jane Marie. Thyme for Herbs (I love the play on words) is such a pleasure to visit. The sounds–birds and bees–make me feel like I'm right there in the garden with you. I'd like to know how you incorporated sound (for my Wednesday "How to Blog" series). Oh, and write down those beginning sentences!!! Start a morning journal or write them on index cards. I keep index cards and a pencil in my fanny pack during my morning walks and write down all those wonderful ideas that pop up when I'm in "The Zone." Then I put these cards into envelopes with subject titles and keep the box next to my computer for future reference. And start your novel now! One paragraph or one page a day and you'll soon have a rough draft to work with. I regret that I waited so long. Thanks for visiting.
Good ideas to get one thinking about begining a blog. Thanks Margaret.
Hi Bernadine. Blogs are a lot of work, but the payoff is worth it. Thanks for stopping by.