I remember my initial introduction to blogging as if it was yesterday (okay, truth be told it was about 3 years ago). I was talking to Charlene Li as I ventured into the real world and patiently waited to graduate , and she said to me, "You need to read blogs!"

She rattled off a few of the ones she usually read, I thanked her, and off I went to check out the Web sites and eventually start my career. I gradually read them and thought the content was interesting, but that was where it ended: No blogging for me!

So, why has my decision changed?

  1. Social media reflects a way of life for me. As a preliminary member of Facebook. . . Yes, I have been a member of the social networking site for over four years; before applications existed, the platform was open to everyone with an email address, and employee networks were cool. It’s my way of keeping up with friends and their busy lives — what they’re up to and the general chatter back and forth between us. While I’m primarily a joiner (for those Social Technographics fans out there), there’s no reason why I can’t create content as well.
  2. Gen Yers are online aficionados. It’s something that we already know, but I love to share: Gen Yers (18-27) spend almost twice as much time online in a typical week, compared to Older Boomers and Seniors (52+). It’s time to broaden my online experience and let it naturally progress. As much as I listen to the landscape, I want a meaning way to get involved.
  3. There is plenty of content and opinions to go around. No, one day I didn’t have an epiphany regarding my views and the fact I have something to say. As the Marketing team’s consumer data researcher, there are a lot of data points out there not easily digested. Hopefully I can provide some insight around them, and perhaps relate a story or two on how and why they matter.
  4. If rockstars like Charlene Li, Josh Bernoff, and Peter Kim can do it, why can’t I? :). There are more than I’ve listed here, but the blogosphere in many ways reflects a virtual mentorship of sorts. The best way to learn — given my handful of years in the workplace — is by experience (good and bad) and by example. I’ve learned so much (already!) from the people around me that it seems natural to "Just try it!" So, here it goes. 

What’s your advice for a blogger starting out? What do you wish someone told you before you started to blog?

I’d love to hear it.

I’ll be making my debut at Forrester’s Consumer Forum — helping out people like Pete and Jeremiah Owyang. Hope to see you there!