Your Blog Needs a Mission Statement

Image by Tamas Buti via Flickr/Creative Commons

To all my blogging babes out there, answer this question: Why do you blog?

Before you respond, I want you to consider not only what you hope to get out of blogging, but what you want your readers to take away from your site. What's in it for them? 

Answering these questions will help you develop a mission statement for your blog, something I believe we all need. Having a clear vision for your blog will help you develop content, choose guest contributors, and, if you have advertising on your blog, it can help you decide which sponsors are right for you. 

Some of you may be thinking: My blog is just about me and my life. I just write what I'm thinking and feeling. Do I need a vision or mission statement for my blog too? If you want to get and keep readers, yes. Even personal blogs have a distinct voice and as you're writing about yourself you are essentially creating a character with which you want your readers to make a connection. Showing every facet of ourselves online is pretty difficult to do and probably not even the smartest thing to do. So even with personal blogs we must decide which parts of ourselves we will share and which interests and philosophies we will discuss. 

So go write your blog's mission statement and once it's polished, consider adding it to your blog's About page. I'm a woman who believes in leading by example, so here's a rough draft of my blog's new mission statement: 

The Writeous Babe Project is a blog about writing and women's empowerment. My blog is designed to help creative and goal-oriented women -- especially those who write and blog -- achieve their artistic ambitions and live their best lives. The Writeous Babe Project is also a feminist lifestyles blog which means I address topics such as fitness, fashion, family, and faith, but from a feminist perspective. 

Now it's your turn.