There are three primary reasons for publishing articles on the web;

1. The first is to create a portfolio of clips - perhaps even free - to launch your career publishing articles on the Web.
   
2. The second reason is that you want to make money from these articles that you sell to Web publishers.
   
3. The third reason is that you just yearn for recognition and the satisfaction of seeing your byline on an article of which you can be proud.
   

If you're starting out as a freelance writer the 'catch 22', as it is for many professions and trades, is that you need experience and proof of your ability to get the job but you can't get the experience or proof of ability because no one will let you try - due to your inexperience.
The way around this dilemma for hordes of writers is to write for free - temporarily.
Publishing articles on the Web is the best method, as just about every one of the billions of Web sites in existence needs fresh text on an ongoing basis.
The Web is the best resource for publishing free articles.
These clips will open the door for you to get paid for publishing articles on the Web.
The second reason for publishing articles on the Web is to make money - to make a career or avocation of it.
While there are many other places besides the Web to do this;

• print
• broadcast,
• video
• and so forth

...
the Web offers a much broader reach, ensuring that your name and your reputation as an excellent freelance writer spreads far wider than with any other medium.
You generally get paid more quickly when you write articles online.
Most print periodicals pay upon publication rather than acceptance, and going to print - especially in magazines - can take months.
Not so with the Internet.
You might write something and have it appear within days, or that very day.
Payment for publishing articles on the Web is often through online payment vendors such as PayPal - much quicker than waiting for the accounts payable clerk to write out that check and drop it in the mail to you.
Then there are those who have long had the dream of publishing their articles on the Web because they just want the satisfaction of seeing their byline.
They love to write, and they yearn for the recognition.