Why Do You Blog?

Why do you blog? Who do you blog for? What's the outcome you want?

All good questions. Do you ever ask yourself what's the bottom line?

There's a rumor going around that bloggers blog for bucks. A lot of bucks. A month or so ago, Forbes reported that women bloggers rake in the green by the barrel. Is that the reason you blog? For the payday? To make money? If so, it's a mighty good reason, isn't it?
Believe it not, and for those whose goal is to make money blogging, it could be a real surprise to know that not all bloggers blog to make money. What!?! What's that? What other reason could there be to put in the hours and hours it takes to blog?
When you consider it, there really are a lot of motives behind blogging. People blog for their own reasons and agenda. People blog on behalf of companies, too. But one thing for sure, machines don't blog. People blog. Come on now, it's not fair to count "Spintax."
There are some real good goals that attract bloggers to blogging: Maybe a blogger wants to spread the good news about healthcare, spout off about politics, or polish and prove their writing skills. One fellow I know builds up his blog, gets lots of followers and then sells the blog. That's not exactly blogging for bucks, but bucks is what he gets.
Here are the top reasons behind the faces and fingers who blog and love doing it (not in any particular order):

1. It's Social

There are probably thousands of blogs who blog to keep connected with their family, promote family values and share legacy traditions. Many hook their blog up to social media sites that friends and family follow.

2. It's My Diary

It's so incredibly easy to start a blog, write and post, that many people use the blogging format to vent, track daily events, log thoughts like they would using a paper diary. Most if not all of these bloggers have no expectations at all other than to feel better for writing down what's on their mind and sharing what they know. It's somewhat altruistic.

3. It's My Opinions

There's no doubt that people enjoy stating their side of an argument as they see it. Many hope to win followers over to their point of view. It's obvious with political blogs and religious themed blogs. That's their only agenda. It's an expression of passion about their personal beliefs.

4. I Have Expertise

As a professional copywriter and scriptwriter, I can tell you without hesitation that blogging is one of the best ways to hone your writing craft. Blogging not only sharpens up your writing skills, but a blogger can point to their blog to prove their expertise. I guess you would call that an indirect way to build the bankbook.

5. It's for Business

Another indirect way of producing an income outcome is by building the brand of your business or by hiring on as a blogger to build the brand of a company or corporation. It's a form of promotion that can have a meaningful payday for the blogger. This motive works well for travel agencies, vacation and tourist destinations, and maybe even stock brokers. See where I'm going with this?

6. It's a Form of Promotion

Of course, blogging can be a form of promotion. A blogger can promote a business brand, but many times, bloggers promote products and services. Many bloggers review brand name products for a payday. Reviews are a type of blogging that it is definitely a profitable form of blogging. The whole blog doesn't have to be focused on one brand. That's another strategy and reason why bloggers do reviews.

7. Build Contacts

Voila! It's a big one, especially for a business. Blogs can help a business build a mega email mailing list. Naturally, the reason for this is to go back later and sell direct to the individual. Blogging itself is a form of mass communication even though it can be individually interactive. Email marketing lists are pure gold for a business, so this once again, is another indirect way of adding zeros to the bottom line.

8. For Page Rank

Well, you say, what's this mean? Who blogs for the sole reason to gain page rank? Yup! Many blog to gain a serious page rank. Using their high rank, they can parlay that piece of business into backlinks, selling advertising, and asking payment for guest posts and a bigger paycheck for the reviews they agree to do. Here we are again at the old money motive.

9. It's Easy and Inexpensive

Now, I won't count "inexpensive" as a money motive. But truth be told, there are hundreds of newbies who know nothing about making money blogging, don't care about page rank or promotion. They just want to have a "website" that they can fool around with. Be part of "it." I have at least one client who feels this way. They work their blog because it's cost effective, a lot less than web design and development and hosting. Most can manage it themselves without the help of a paid webmaster. They use their blog as if it was a website with a content management system. Log in, post, log out. Easy peasy.

10. To Make Money

I saved the top reason for last. It's true. 99% of bloggers blog to make money. Earn a living. Pad the paycheck. Extra the extra savings. Fill the piggy bank.
These are just ten reasons. There are many more and some fall under the umbrella of one of these ten. The point here is that every blogger should know why they blog. It should be one reason. More than one would dilute efforts -- although I admit, there are cross-overs. Keep a steady hand pointed at the goal. It's land ho in the horizon. Reach out and grab it. Every [reasonable] goal is attainable. Maybe not today or tomorrow, but keep trying. It's there for you.
What's your reason? Why do you blog? What did you have in mind when you started blogging? Did you have a goal in mind?