Is Blogging “Writing for Free”?

I’ve just started a blog in order to generate more link backs and traffic to my site. Some might argue that this is a form of writing for free. However, I’m doing it for myself with a specific purpose in mind and it only takes me half an hour a day.
What do you think of blogs in general and of doing it like I am, to generate traffic?

Passion, Homework, Confidence By Katherine Hauswirth

Two framed check stubs sit side by side in my office. The first, for $5.00, recalls the first time I got paid to write what I love. There were numerous small steps that followed, and I often doubted I would break into the “big time” publications whose recognition I so craved.