I started my first blog in 2003, in the days when very few people even knew what a blog was. In fact, I wasn’t so sure myself. I gradually figured it out just by writing. More than 10 years later I’ve written thousands of blog posts, made connections here in Vancouver and around the world, attended blogger meet-ups and conferences, and created a record of my children from bump to baby to elementary school. As the Managing Editor of VancouverMom.ca I also have the incredible honour of having a front row seat to the Top 30 Vancouver Mom Bloggers each and every year (psst – nominations are open now). It might seem that everything that can be done in the blogging world has been done, but I beg to differ. Today I’m sharing my own top five reasons to start a blog.

Five Reasons to Start a Blog

1. Keep a Record of Your Family

As a mom, one of the best reasons to start a blog is to create an online record of your family. It’s like having a baby book that lives on the Internet forever, that you can easily share with friends and family near and far. Many moms who blog about their families even create print versions of their blogs, which make for beautiful family keepsakes. There are a number of online services who will do this for you, making it easy for the non-crafty to create a beautiful scrapbooks of words and images.

2. Make Connections

Many moms find that they crave connection when they have children. Being on maternity leave with a baby (or quitting work to stay home with your young family) can leave you without the daily dose of adult conversation you’d grown to count on. If you start a blog – or even just get active on social media – you can foster existing connections and grow new ones. When you share your experiences and questions on a blog you quickly discover that you’re not alone. You can meet other new moms who share your outlook, or who can lend you support. You may even make a new friend right in your own backyard.

3. Grow Your Online Profile

Personal blogging is great … but it’s far from the only way to blog. Many people start a blog to grow their business. Others start a blog as a business. If you’re an entrepreneur or a freelancer, or you work as a writer, photographer or designer, blogging is a great way to share your portfolio, grow your online profile, and help people find you. While blogging isn’t a fast and easy way to riches, there are people who find that it really does pay off. If you want more help growing your online profile, come to our WeCapella event – you’ll get tons of useful tips from people who have been there and done that.

4. Hone Your Writing Chops

If you want to get better at anything, you need to practice. Writing is no different. While it’s absolutely not necessary to share your writing online, if you start a blog and commit to a posting schedule you may find that you’re less likely to put that writing off. There are lots of blogging communities dedicated to helping you improve your writing. And if you’re thinking you’d like to publish a book one day, you’ll need a website and a blog to promote your writing.

5. Try New Things

When I look back on my own experiences as a blogger, the biggest reason I would give to anyone to start a blog is the opportunities it brings to try new things. Many bloggers take on projects like visiting local restaurants to write reviews, or checking out every spray park in the city. You can blog about your experiences starting a garden, or learning to knit, or teaching your baby sign language. If you grow a blog following, you may be invited to media days where you see and do things you never would have experienced otherwise. When you look back a year (or ten) later, you’ll see just how many new experiences blogging has brought into your life.