Why I started a blog in 2018

TOP REASONS I STARTED A BLOG AND WHY I’M EXCITED ABOUT THE FUTURE OF BLOGGING.

After quite a bit of research about blogging, I’ve come to realize:

• A lot of people start blogs
• People make money blogging
• Most blogs fail
• Blogging takes a lot of time, work and dedication
• I have so much to learn about how to build a successful blog

So what inspired me to start a blog? What pushed me to start writing content for my (at the moment of writing this) not-yet-up-and-running blog? What makes me think it’s right for me, and why am I so excited about what the future holds?

Early on in the initial blog research phase, I created a list of reasons why I should start a blog.

Why? Because I had been reading a TON about blogging and although I was pretty excited about the thought of starting my very own blog, I still needed reassurance that I was making the right move. Especially since I’m diving into blogging with a business mindset.

The following is what I came up with (in no particular order). Let’s jump in!

1. I was inspired

Up until this point in my life, I NEVER thought I would start a blog. I had no idea in the slightest what I would blog about, and I definitely never wanted to share my thoughts and writing with others via the internet.

Until…

I received an email from Bob with Seed Time. The subject line: Why you (yes you Joy) should start a blog…

After reading the email and watching his accompanying video, I toyed with the idea for two months. I decided I might have what it takes (plus pushed past the fear of failure and criticism) and started taking actionable steps to launch this website.

Thank you, Bob! Sprinkle in Joy wouldn’t be around if not for you, and I hope I can inspire others as you did me.

2. I’m a writer

I write for a living. Well, kinda.

If someone were to ask me what I do for work, I would say I’m a content writer. However, my current role responsibilities have made a shift recently, which means when someone asks me what I do, this is what happens:

Someone: So, what do you do?
Me: I’m a writer… sort of. I write content for the web.
Someone: [blank face and slight nodding]
Me: I write things like [types of content] for [employer].

I don’t think most people know what content writing is, but I also think the blank face is because they’re wondering why I sound confused about what I do. (Psst, I AM confused about what I do. I USED to write, but now I’m like a glorified data entry person.)

And even though I’m (technically) a writer by profession, I’ve never really considered myself to be a writer… oddly enough.

Nevertheless, I understand (for the most part) how to put a sentence together and the rules of grammar. Plus how to choose the right words for the right purpose. I’ve also been trained a little in writing content for marketing and email purposes. (Please don’t judge if I write something silly!)

I’ve determined something about myself since writing a few content pieces for my blog: I AM a writer!

For the first time in my life, I feel like I can call myself a writer and say it proudly. (And at the time of writing this article, my blog isn’t even live yet.)

But if you’re thinking about starting a blog and not a writer by profession, don’t fret. You’re still fully capable of creating content that attracts a readers and grows an audience. After all, for newbies (like me) blogging is one huge learning experience, which means you’d have plenty of time to hone your writing skills.

3. Entrepreneurship

For the longest time, I’ve been searching for that one special business idea. That ONE idea that would allow me to be my own boss.

Honestly, I think it runs in my family. Mr. E jokes about it with me because my mom and brother are always thinking of how they can make money with some random side venture.

After high school, I studied at a local university where I almost earned my degree. But I was an English major, which meant I had to take 4 SEMESTERS of a foreign language. At the time, I chose Spanish. And I could not make high enough grades for that last Spanish class to matter. So I stopped schooling.

Fast forward 10 years. I was able to finally earn my degree by enrolling in 4 semesters of French at a local community college to transfer over. (Woo-hoo!) And thanks to graduating, I was able to find a job in a field that interested me—at last.

But during those 10 years I had serious quarter-life crisis and wanted to:

• Become a yoga instructor
• Stamp and sell travertine tile drink coasters (had an Etsy shop)
• Make and sell wine racks (had a very short-lived Etsy shop)
• Become a pet sitter (my only job ended up with administering ear drops to an elderly woman’s cat)
• Go to school for dental hygiene
• And others…

Probably goes without saying that none of those ideas panned out.

I’m on a constant mission to discover the perfect job. That job that makes me want to get up in the mornings at the crack of dawn. That job that scratches my constant itch to learn more and continuously grow.

Can blogging be that scratch to my itch?

4. Earn a living

Make money blogging. Go ahead, type that into your search bar.

You’ll come across so many articles about bloggers making money. Some of them make SERIOUS cash.

I’m not anticipating I’ll make hundreds of thousands of dollars each year as some bloggers (like Michelle of Making Sense of Cents). But if I’m able to make a full-time wage while working from home, I’m game. I’d also love to be able to travel more.

Like I mentioned in my intro, blogging takes extreme dedication and long hours. Not to mention an intense drive to learn as much as you can to strategize and implement best blogging practices from the get-go (if you’re planning on growing a business).

So, despite the fact I’ll have to work after work, I’m willing to give it a try.

Why? Reference #2. Wanting to be my own boss is an idea I don’t think will ever leave. For some unknown reason, I have this constant tug that won’t escape me. And truth be told, I’d rather be earning money writing for myself and my own audience than making my employer rich. (No offense, current employer.)

5. Website + graphic design (in small doses)

My childhood saw the rise of Nintendo. The shift away from continuous form paper. The utter joy of (slowly) connecting to AOL to find out if you had mail and to wander into that innocent-enough chatroom to talk about nonsense and A/S/L.

During this time of my life (11ish years old), I started dabbling in website design. By website design, I mean:

• Build out a website using Microsoft Word
• Write about what was going on with me and things I liked
• Add gifs, like of a frog dancing and singing “Hello, my baby”
• Enlist my computer-savvy dad to transform my Word document an honest-to-God website

I even participated in site fights, which is when you’d enter your website to compete against other websites. You could climb the ranks, and in doing so add badges (colorful, sparkling images) to your page. You’d gain friends and overall have a good time.

As I’ve gotten older and entered the workforce, I’ve been able to (at varying times) maintain websites, edit HTML code and create images and documents using Photoshop and InDesign.

What’s exciting about starting a blog is that you can do ALL of these things, in smaller doses!

I’ll have my own website and be able to customize it, perhaps coding at times. Plus I’ll be able to dress up images for my site and social media. I’m not an expert at either but enjoy it all, and I’m looking forward to learning more as I go.

6. Help people

I’m an introvert. Specifically, an INFJ (according to the Myers-Briggs personality test).

A part of being an INFJ is the desire to help people. Along with the want to stay true to personal values and make a difference while on the quest to do something meaningful with life.

A blog, if created with the intent to earn a living, should fulfil needs and help solve problems, whether how to make home repairs, save for retirement or anything in between that attracts new visitors and brings its audience back for more.

Hopefully with Sprinkle in Joy, I’ll help others:

• Find happiness in all things
• Develop habits that bring good health
• Spend a little less and save a little more to reach financial goals (while having fun)
• Be inspired, motivated and positive

What do I have to lose?

What happens if my blog never picks up speed or loses momentum along the way? Or if I lose interest and stop putting in the effort?

These are risks I’m willing to take. And honestly, they are very poor reasons to not try.

Plus (as I mentioned earlier) if I’m a writer by profession and plan on continuing down that same path for years to come, why not write for myself instead and build my own success?

The WORST thing that can happen to me is… not much.

I would have lost a little money spent upfront to make my blog live, true. And whatever time I invested.

Although, I wouldn’t really consider losing time as a negative. Because I’ll have learned more about building a website, marketing, social media and writing impactful content. All of this will help me grow personally and professionally.

In the grand scheme of things, I’ve nothing to lose and the potential to gain so much.

So…

LET’S DO THIS THING!

Do you want to start a blog? Is there something holding you back? Let me know in the comments below so we can be an inspiration for others and ourselves in our journey!