Missing the joy of a childhood diary? Interested in keeping a journal, but find the time to write things down getting in the way? Try blogging. The face of journaling has completely changed from 20 years ago. Whether you plan to be the Editor-in-Chief of a newspaper, a teacher, a biologist or a stay at home mom, there are many different options and venues to explore blogging.
Blogs are versatile tools that can be used for a variety of reasons. One of the biggest questions is, "Why blog?" People argue that they have nothing worth saying or that they are not good writers. That's the luxury of a blog. A blog is 100% for you. It doesn't matter if you have 1000 followers or just one. A blog is an endless opportunity to express yourself. There are tons of different reasons to blog and endless opportunities. For those who are afraid to "bear all" to the whole world, there are also privacy options that help keep blog content safe.
Blogs can either be private ones that only the blogger can see, private ones with limited access that gives access information to the people the blogger wishes them see, or a public blog. One thing to be mindful about a public blog is that anyone can see it, even people across the ocean in another country. If you plan to write something you would not be comfortable with every single person being able to read, privacy options might come in handy.
Here are some examples of how I have seen the three different blog types used. I had a friend set up a private blog as they recovered from an eating disorder. The individual posted the everyday struggles and successes and shared the journey with a select few. I, myself, keep a personal blog that I vent in when I am seriously frustrated. Only a few key people in my life read the blog. I find it to be an easy and therapeutic venue to work in when I need to get tension out. I also find it easier to write about whatever I am feeling rather than talk it out, and I usually feel better once I get it onto the computer screen. You can also make the blog completely private, so only you can read it. This is perfect for the "diary" aspect.
The limited access blogs can be used as sort of a mass email. It's ideal when the blogger has information that he or she wants to share with a number of people. This is a perfect way to share details about an internship, a study abroad experience or a vacation. A friend of mine kept a blog while she did a summer long mission trip up in New Jersey. She shared the link with all of our friends, and we were all able to easily keep up with her adventures and experiences.
Public blogs are good when the blogger has information he or she wants to share with the world. Public blogs might be on tips in the kitchen, ideas for raising children or personal opinions on politics. The Rotunda has had a number of public bloggers before, and many people who have public blogs place a link on their twitter page or Facebook.
Blogs are also a fantastic way to build an identity and prove yourself as an "expert" in whatever field you are interested in. Want to be a teacher? Blog about different education legislature and articles related to education. Want to go into business? Track trends and express your opinion on what you see. Prove to a future employer you are knowledgeable on certain content. Longwood Graduate Tara Carr maintained a relationship advice blog, and now she is working for Examiner. Blogs really can lead you to great places.
There are several very good, free blog hosting sites. Blogger is a site through Google that offers simple, easy to use blogs. The other commonly used site isWord Press. WordPress is a bit fancier then Blogger. It is more complex to use but offers enhanced features for those who are more technologically advanced. Blogger also has advanced features, but it is a good starting tool for those not familiar with technology or starting their first blog.
Longwood also features blogging capabilities on their homepage. This is another free avenue that gives you a domain name that corresponds to your Lancer Net information. There are a number of other blog sites venues, some free and some paid. All of the venues offer something somewhat different, and each have capabilities to satisfy different needs.
Another big pro for blogging is that it is possible to create revenue off of a basic blog. All a blogger has to do is link Google Ad Sense their blog. Google will run advertisements in conjunction to what the blog is about. For example, Google might run ads for diaper companies on a blog about infants. Google takes in revenue from the advertisements on the blog, and the blogger gets a portion of that revenue.
Yes, you read that right. You could actually be making some money off of a blog. Pick a subject to blog about, be consistent in the blog, and make sure the spelling and grammar is correct. Build a viewership, and get people to keep coming back to your blog. Set up a PayPal account (it is free!) and you might start bringing in some extra dough.
Blogging can be a fantastic way to work on writing skills, a healing tool, a way to keep in touch with family and friends or just a hobby on the side. Try out a blog today! There is nothing to lose and a lot to gain. Okay, that was cheesy. But, seriously, keeping a blog can help improve your writing skills, increase your vocabulary, perfect your grammar use and give you a good break from homework and essays. A blog is no commitment, and you can come back to it whenever you want. You might as well try.
