A lot of people think blogging is for businesses to promote their services or influencers who want to make a quick buck. But the truth is, there is not a single person out there who couldn’t benefit from writing their own blog.
If you’re a student on your way to graduating, or if you’ve just started entering the world of work, you should seriously consider becoming a blogger. It can benefit your life in so many ways, helping you to become more employable and giving you vital skills that will help you along your career journey.
If you are still unconvinced, here are eight great reasons to start your own blog.
Document your experiences
One of the main benefits of a blog is that it gives you the opportunity to document your life. Whatever you are up to, whether you are navigating the tricky world of post-education employment or going on an exciting gap year to far-flung places, this is a time you will remember fondly for the rest of your life. Your blog will serve as a diary of your youthful experience that you can go back to when you want a reminder of what life was like as a student.
You could use your blog as a day-to-day diary, writing down your observations and daily activities. Or you might want it to have a more specific purpose, such as a travel journal or a way to publicize your opinion about current affairs. You can fill it with relevant photos and videos to make it more visual, and you can get as creative as you like with your writing style.
Improve your writing skills
Whatever line of work you end up going into, chances are your job description will involve writing. You may start a career in journalism or publishing, in which case a flair with words essential. But even in other industries, you will no doubt need to send emails, write copy, create documents, and make PowerPoint presentations. The more fluently you can write, the better able you will be to articulate your points, persuade people, and sell yourself.
Getting into the habit of blogging will help to hone your writing skills and improve your grasp of the English language. Make an effort to write something every day. Not every post has to be an epic diatribe about the state of the world, but at least a few paragraphs about any subject you choose will be good practice. It won’t take long to become a much better writer, and you will eventually look back on your old posts and realize just how far you’ve come.
Have a creative outlet
You don’t even have to promote your blog to a wide audience to reap the rewards. Just having a place to write down your thoughts and feelings can be hugely beneficial. Modern life can be quite stressful, especially as a student or graduate with a lot of responsibilities and pressures. Blogging gives you the opportunity to organize your mind and articulate what you are thinking. It allows you to be creative and play around with words and ideas. Use your blog to write stories, poems, or even post your drawings and paintings. There are no rules about how to use a blog, and the options are literally endless.
Impress employers
If you are in the stage of life where you are seeking post-academic employment, having a blog can be a real ace up your sleeve. Employers will be sifting through thousands of graduate applications, and your blog can be a chance to stand out. Posting thoughtful updates that are relevant to your chosen industry will make you more employable, while also showing off your writing abilities and technical knowhow.
Learn technical expertise
If you are going into a technical industry, such as IT, or a creative one like marketing, you will need to know the basics of website development. Starting a blog is a great introduction to building websites. You will learn how to publish posts, customize your layout, and deal with technical issues. These skills can help you later in your career.
Start a business
No one is too young to start a business. People of all ages have created successful enterprises that have stood the test of time. If you are considering setting up your own company, you will need a website with a blog. Publishing regular content will enable you to build brand awareness, establish yourself as an industry thought leader, and attract potential customers. You will need to teach yourself some more technical skills like digital customer experience and lead conversion in order to use your website for business.
Boost mental health
It is more and more common for young people to experience mental health issues like stress, anxiety, and depression. You are in a high-pressured time of your life with exam results, career prospects and social relationships to worry about. Writing is proven to be an excellent remedy to boost mental wellbeing. Simply putting words on paper can help you relax and feel calmer about the things that are stressing you out.
Generate a passive income
Starting a blog can also have more immediate financial benefits too. If you manage to amass a large following, you can use it to generate revenue from advertising. By allowing adverts on your site, you can earn a small fee for every person who views or clicks on one of the ads displayed alongside your articles. You can also reach out to companies who might be willing to pay you for reviewing products or even just mentioning them in a blog post. If you do it right, your blog can serve as a lucrative passive income stream that earns you money alongside a full time job.
Hopefully these eight tips have convinced you of the various benefits that writing a blog can bring. Remember, your blog doesn’t have to be a work of perfection if you don’t want it to be. Just the simple act of writing in itself can be inherently valuable. Good luck with your blogging journey!