Eight reasons to blog

Terry Mitchell, a software development and engineer as well as freelance writer shares eight reasons he blogs with The American Chronicle. Thought blogging lawyers and those lawyers on the verge could relate.

Here’s the cliff notes version of Terry’s eight with a few of my comments as it relates to the law.

1. I’m very opinionated and my opinions don’t seem to be represented very often in the mainstream media. Therefore, I feel a strong urge to get my ideas and views out into the marketplace of ideas. As a lawyer with a diverse set of clients and partners, you may have to tone it down. But there are areas of the law where at least an opinion of where things should go is appreciated.
2. I have lots of information to share. Over the years, I have accumulated a huge amount of facts, trivia, expertise, and just plain old lessons learned about various topics and situations. I enjoy sharing this information with my readers. Aren’t many professions where as much info is accumulated as the law. And we ought to be freely sharing information with the public not only to improve the image of our profession, but also to market ourselves.
3. Blogging is cathartic. My blog gives me an outlet for saying what I think about any given subject and blowing off some steam about whatever is on my mind at any given time, even if nobody is reading or listening. I always feel better after doing so. When I practiced law, I needed an outlet. I ran. But blogging would have been perfect – and would have got my name out there and brought in good clients.
4. I get to speak, unfiltered and uncensored, to the world. It’s much better than letters to the editor where only a limited number are published and quotes to the media are chopped to nothing. Heard that countless times from fellow lawyers.
5. Words are powerful and they’re free. They can influence people’s views on a myriad of issues or affect important decisions they are about to make. As lawyers, we have a responsibility to speak out. We have unique knoweldge of the law. Our persusasion and analytic reasoning skills allow us to make an imapct.
6. I get constant practice at writing. The more I write, the better of a writer I become. I can’t think of any better or more convenient way to get this kind of practice. I may have practiced law for 17 years, but blogging has done wonders for my writting.
7. It gives me a second source of income. I’m currently signed on with syndicators like Newstex and BlogBurst, which pay me based on how often their clients use my blog posts. This is generally not be the case with lawyers who make money as result of their blog, not from it. But if you’re doing a nice job of blogging, you will be making more money because of the additional work you’re bringing in.
8. And last but not least … because I can!

Not to brag, but I’ve probably talked with more lawyers, legal marketing professionals, PR, and communications consultants about lawyer blogging over the last 4 years than anyone. Though there’s been a few isolated exceptions, I hear blogging is fun and rewarding – both personally and professionally. There may be 20 other reasons to blog, but those few would do it for me.