Why do I blog?

HRGumbo wrote a fantastic blog today about blogging - "Your Grandma Trusts Me". He shared a few great tips about finding and trusting bloggers because, even with FTC regulations, you cannot believe everything that you read online. At the end, he asks the question: Why do you blog? I started writing my response, but my response was just too long, which could violate some unwritten rule of blogging that I am not aware of yet.

So, HRGumbo, here are my top five reasons for blogging.

1. Personal Branding. I started blogging at the urging of a fellow HR blogger, @Cincyrecruiter, to develop my brand. I was mentored by a "HR Sucks" HR Director and don't ever want to be a policy pusher. I live in the grey and want to add measurable value to a business. But, there is no way that you can determine that from a resume when you are 1 in a 1000. You have to meet or hear me. Blogging allows me to share my voice and develop my brand.

2. I ALWAYS have an opinion and something to say. Yep, I'm one of those people who always comments on blogs. I always want to chime in. I also know that comments help your blog in some techy way, so if I like something and have an opinion, I'll share it.

3. I enjoy writing. In my professional HR life, I've written manuals, poems, songs, memos, policies, letters, forms, emails, etc... I write in a conversational tone that can be easily understood and am good at "spinning" and finding a way to say yes in writing. I demonstrate my personality through my writing.

4. I like to share ideas. I am a HR department of one. I've been in a HR department of 20. I miss intellectual conversations about HR issues and trends. I miss having a sounding board and debating. Blogging allows me to share ideas with people that I know and people that I don't know, which is so cool.

5. Press Passes. I admit it. I'm jealous of @Cincyrecruiter. She has had "The Year that Jennifer McClure was Able to Raise Her Game By Attending Some Awesome Conferences". She attended SHRM 09, ERE's Fall Expo, Ohio SHRM, ERE's Social Recruiting Summit and will attend a few more. She invited me to tag along with her to an event or two, but I just could not afford it. She has been able to swing it through Press Passes and blogging about events. I followed her on twitter and really felt like I was missing out not attending. So, I want to go to a conference for free too. Just one. I'm not greedy- yet.

A big Thank You to HRGumbo for starting this conversation about blogging. I'm sure that there are many professionals considering blogging. Maybe we will motivate someone to get started!