Why do you blog? How has been blogging been rewarding to you?

[Candid Carrie]

Hi Everyone ... I am declaring this a hot topic!

I a wondering why you (yes all of you) blog.  There is no right answer but I really want to know why you blog.  

Is it a family journal?

Are you in it for the money?

If you are in it for the money, have you made money?

My other question is what is your reward for blogging ... comments, page hits, friendship? ??

[Mom2ConnorRyan]

My is a family blog mostly talking about my son.  I do not make money with my blog because it really is just for a of mind to write it out.  My reward is simply...when I type it out I feel instantly better.  I also have a small following that seems to really like the pics of my son(I say it is his eyes).  Here is a link to my blog so everyone can see.....Just click on the pic and you can get a closer look. 

http://candaceclark.blogspot.com/

[FickleMinded]

I am a blogger a few years (since 2001) now but it's only these time that I am taking it seriously, I mean, I am trying to post more sensible entry, most of my previous blog before are just about my sillyness (posting jokes, song lyrics,poems, personality test,etc..etc..), maybe bec of my age that time as well, then I stop in 2005 bec I had my second baby and caught up with so many things, then when I went back to the Phils and have extra help taking care of my kids, I got bored and I decided to make a comeback I also bought my first domain, and I was so surprised to learned that blogging world changed dramatically, I visit all my old blog friends and I found out how they are making money now, and then google got involved offering ads, etc..etc..
To answer your question, why I blog, first,so my family in the Phils. can read it and somehow be updated with whats going on with me,they can see pictures, stories abt our trips and everything, money is second, because I was like, hey! everybody is doing it but I still want to keep the "personal" part of my blog, that's why I don't put too many banners, I have a separate page for that so the readers can click it if they want, I myself don't want to read a blog with so many ads, a blog that takes a million years to load just to found out that what you gonna read is an sponsored post, I also try to put the smallest button that I can find, and if I can't find any, I edit what they got and make it small.
so anyway,for the money part, yes, I made more than $100 last month, it's not much but enough to pay my internet connection and my domain.
my answer to your last question is, it keeps me sane, it feels good to read other blog,especially if they are miserable than me.( sorry) but I'm happy too to read good blog, you know, that good things happen to other people.and yes friendship that comes with it.

(sorry, long post)

[Happy Momma]

The reason I started blogging was to share pictures with our family after my daughter was born.  At first I just posted pictures and maybe a sentence or two.  With time I starte actually writing what I was thinking/feeling.  As a lonely stay-at-home mom without a friend in site, blogging has given me a connection to other adult women.  It really helps when I know things I think and feel are normal things that all moms think and feel.  I have made real, true friends because of blogging.  My reward is definitely friendship.

[Cammie51396]

I started my blog so that my husband's family who lives across the country in Massachusetts could feel like they were a part of our daughter, Sadie's, life on a day to day basis.  I was a sports writer for our local newspaper before my daughter was born so it was also a way to get back into writing on a daily basis (and it has motivated me to write, at least a little bit, each day).  Since I live in a very rural area and don't know anyone that is close to my age (other than my husband) it's also been a great way to meet new people with similar interests (kids and family).   

[Danielle]

I am like Cammie. My children's father travels ALOt, and by blogging, he can see what are family is doing while he is away. He often comments "It's like I am there at home with you all." He can keep up with various school activities, sports, and our "normal" home life. THEN, it turned into an outlet for my feelings on parenthood, and yes, it is VERY rewarding!! I am very proud of my blog!! AND I love photography, and it is also a way to show off all my pictures of my babies, and their accomplishments, which I am very proud of!!!

[Candid Carrie]

I started blogging because I love to write.  My husband David is a really good sport and most of the stuff is about us, but funny. 

I can't write too much about my familiy but in a vague sense I do.  Because our two youngest aren't adopted yet I can't write about them but I do reference them occassionally by saying "our five year old said" etc. 

I've made really great friends and I love the ability to share my life experiences with others in hopes of helping them while at the same time I enjoy seeing the unique twists and turns of others and how they handle their situations. 

I wish I had more time to read other people's blogs but I actually write more than I'll ever read. 

I have another blog with a completely different identity, not my real name and no way to trace it back to me, in which I describe my abusive childhood.  It was accidently discovered by an accomplished woman who has been helping me turn my work into a serious manuscript which I will be entering in to the Bread Loaf Writers Conference.  They only accept 2000 manuscripts a year so it is kind of a big deal for little ol' me to give it a shot. 

If any of you are interested in reading it, I will tell you it is dark and nothing like my typical humorous work you are familar with and expect from me. 

You can send me a private email message over here and I will gladly tell you where the name of it. 

And if you choose not to, it isn't going to bother me.  Because it is dark.  And uncomfortable. 

[jenny@copycatforest.com]

I started my personal blog (http://jjbzmj.blogspot.com) shortly after I had our fourth baby.  (Almost a year ago.)  I knew then that we were likely getting ready to make a big move away from family and friends and thought that keeping a blog would be a good way to stay in touch (in addition to facebook, skype, etc).  On this blog I write about things that are going on in our daily lives, thoughts and feelings about what's happening, some inspirational, some reflective, etc.  This blog is called Glimpses and Ponderings.  (I wish I had set it up differently now.. so that the name of the blog matched the url.)

My second blog, copycatforest.com, was started about a month ago.  I'm always looking for creativity and inspiration from others, since I'm not that creative on my own.  I like to take an idea I see or hear about and then re-create it and make it my own.  My sister often asks if she can copy me... that's where the name really came from.  I guess I'd say I'm a copycat, and the blog is a place for other copycats to get and share ideas.  (Recipes, crafts, parenting tips, etc)

My reward started out by having a place to express myself and keep in touch with family.  Now I'm making friends and feeling a sense of community with lots of women that I've never met in real life.  I'd love to make some money blogging, but haven't really tapped into that too much yet.

(This is my first post here... I look forward to browsing your blogs and getting to know you ladies!)

[Candid Carrie]

I find this absolutely fascinating.  I remember hearing about web logs being discussed by a talk radio host and I thought to myself ... what kind of an egotistical self-serving maniac would do something like that?  The entire spectrum of blogging has changed so much and I think it has connect more people than any other way available via internet. 

I have made some awesome friends (being a stay-at-home-mom good friends are hard to find) and am really enjoying new relationships.

I'll say to my husband ... gosh, I have a friend who is living in the area where the forests are burning or I know some one whose mother-in-laws house was wiped out by the flood, etc.  And he just kind of looks at me, like ... where are you meeting these people? 

[bookchook]

I kind of fell into blogging because the website design software I was using at that time had a blog associated with it. Then I realised I was much better off with a standard blog from one of the free platforms, so I could enjoy the benefits of the blogging network. I read and review children's books so it made sense for my blog to do that. I want to reach out to parents who might want to find out more about a certain book, or discover an activity that can add value to reading it with their kids.

I'm being approached now by publishers and writers to review books which is great. But the most rewarding and yet unexpected thing has been the friendships I've made. There are so many wonderful people in the world - I just wish the TV news didn't dwell on the others!

[Candid Carrie]

If anyone is looking for a fun traffic builder, go and check out my Friday Foto Finish Fiesta (Fx4) It is very easy.

At your own site put up a picture that you like, pretty easy right?  Then somewhere within your post (if you remember) put a link back to me and then sign mister linky over at my place. 

Most of my readers say that Friday is their biggest traffic day thanks to Fx4. 

Here's a couple of hints to keep people coming back AFTER Friday is over. 

1. A catchy picture or an unusual picture with a short explanation.  Just a little "taste" of what you provide during the rest of the week. 

2. Use an average picture and make something up.  If you have a typically fun-filled blog be silly, use your best stuff because today you are advertising. You know, like big sale on Friday but be sure to check back during the week for more fun stuff.  But not really using those words.  Get it?

It is great way to meet new people.  Think Friday speed dating without shaving your legs. 

Got questions?  You all know where to find me by now

Here is a direct link to my Fx4 this week.

[couponsmakecents]

I'd like to start this topic back up...why are you blogging?  Are you making any money? Are you TRYING to make money?  If you are making money, how? 

For me, I'm making a little.  I'm struggling with driving traffic to my blog, and there are a  few other girls in  my area with similar blogs so we're all jockeying for the same audience. 

[Candid Carrie]

I'm not longer about the page hits or the profit like I was a few years ago, now I write for me. What I like, when I like.

[couponsmakecents]

I've been a board moderator for years, but I have only been blogging for a few months.  My blog has grown and I am excited about it.  It's fun to see the lightbulb moment when people 'get' the couponing bug.  I love to hear their saving stories!  As for making money -- well, it's not really there yet to any great degree, but it's fun and that's part of why I'm doing it.  It's a ministry to others -- and that's the other part of why I'm doing it.