Why Do You Blog?

The photo above is my motivation for blogging. I often daydream about the flexibility a really successful blogger has. Making money while sitting at the pool on a tropical vacation, or even spending a year in a faraway village, just to learn about a new culture/language.  A blogger has the ability to work ANYWHERE that there is an internet connection.  So, if I can make enough money doing this, I can live anywhere I want.  Not sure where that would be, but it sounds exciting, RIGHT?

I began blogging while pregnant with Harper. If you don’t know me personally, you probably don’t know that THIS was my first blog. It was a pretty simple blog.  Including details like my pregnancy weight gain, pics of my belly growth, a sad memory of the loss of our dog Rocket, and some of the details about the birth of our baby girl. Looking back on it is kind of funny. I used the most basic blogspot template, with nothing unusually interesting/creative about it.  I was a newbie to the blogging world and had no real SKILLS!   Eventually I added a few ads to the blog and would get really excited when I’d make up to $0.33/day!  It was this blog that gave me the inspiration to start a blog with a different purpose…TO MAKE MONEY!

When Harper was 4 months old I decided to start Spearmint Baby. The idea was to somehow inspire other Mamas & attempt to make a living while doing so. I knew that this would take time, hours in front of the computer writing posts/driving traffic/selling ads, etc.

I had NO MONEY to invest in a pretty logo/fun design & if you’ve been on this journey with me, you remember my original/simple blogspot design:

I was pretty proud once I figured out how to manipulate HTML code into a 3 column template, was able to sell ads, and include clicky links! Making money was SLOW & tedious! BUT, it did happen.  I finally saved enough money  to have a professional redesign Spearmint Baby.  I approached Jo Klima, my designer of choice and things ultimately became more beautiful.

So, at this point in my blogging career (yes, I consider it my job, even though most people are confused when I tell them this!) I bring in a few substantial paychecks/month. They make me smile/proud.   I’m not supporting my family YET, but I know that the potential is there.

WHY DO YOU BLOG? Do you have an online store, a business, or is it just personal?

P.S  My blogging 101 series:
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
Part 4
Part 5