Why You Should Start a Blog

Hey guys!

I've now been blogging at Ramblings of Another Uni Student for over two years and a half, and I don't regret it at all! Blogging has been so much fun and I've ben able to attend some really amazing events, as well as meet some awesome bloggers. Although there are some days when I lack inspo and don't feel like blogging, I feel that keeping a blog has really improved my writing skills. I'd definitely recommend starting a blog, especially if you want to work in journalism, PR or design. There are so many benefits of blogging, which I will list below:

1. You'll have a place to voice your opinion - A blog is your own corner of the web, where you can post about things close to your heart. It can be heard to make people listen to you, but your blog will enable you to do exactly that. You can literally post about anything you like on your blog, and you can always make it anonymous if you want to write about something controversial or embarrassing.

2. You'll develop new skills - Keeping a blog can help you gain new skills which will help you in your current or future career. Time management, organisation, proofreading, HTML and hosting are some examples. Many bloggers, myself included, only blog part-time, so we have to juggle it with other commitments, for example school, work and university. A lot of work goes into a blog, and I can't imagine how difficult it must be for people with a full-time job.

3. You'll meet new people - Contrary to what some people believe, blogging doesn't just mean sitting at home and posting once or twice a week. You actually have to go out and interact with other people. When you've been blogging for a while, you'll have the opportunity to attend events (which may include product launches, premieres and holidays if you're lucky) and work with brands. My blog may be small, but I've had the chance to work with a few brands, for example PureChimp and Teatu. Of course, getting freebies isn't the sole purpose of blogging - it's more of a perk - and it does take a while to get there.

4. You'll become more familiar with social media - Social media has recently taken over the online world and many brands and companies are choosing to move online. As a blogger, promotion is key, since it will build up your readership. Sites like Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest are essential for this. Businesses also use these platforms to bring in new customers and clients, so being a social media whizz will help you when applying for jobs.

5. You'll build up a portfolio - This can be useful when applying for jobs in journalism and design. A portfolio is used to showcase your best work, and will give employers a taste of what your writing or art skills are like. Many bloggers choose to include links to published work on other websites on their blog.

6. You'll become an expert at SEO - A.K.A. Search Engine Optimisation. SEO is so important for marketing your brand and making sure your blog comes up high in Google Search.

7. You'll become an expert about a particular topic - Though this does depend on what type of blogger you are.

8. You'll be better at photography - Any blogger knows how important photography is when maintaining a blog. It requires a high level of creativity and it takes a while to get that perfect image to use in your blog or feature on your Instagram page.

9. It's a productive hobby - and one you can definitely add to your CV. Well, maybe not for finance jobs...

10. You can even make money - thanks to AdSense, affiliate programmes and sponsored content. Your blog may also help you get other freelance work.

Why did you start your blog? What skills do you think it has given you?

Hasta luego!

Serena