This is a note for all of the COM underclassmen from a Senior: start a blog. Sorry if that came across as dramatic, but I am being serious! I am currently in the job market and something I have learned quickly is how it important it is to have tangible examples of your writing skills for many Communications-related jobs. Yes, as COM majors we practically write one paper a week and while certain papers and projects can be highlighted in our portfolios, having a consistent blog gives a future employer a wide-range of examples to look at while evaluation our writing skills. This may seem overwhelming, balancing class, work, and a blog – this is where I come in! I have cultivated 4 steps to creating a cohesive blog that, if done correctly, can be maintainable for the busy-college student.
Choose a Template Site
Everyone has to start somewhere, and for writing a blog, picking the program is the first step. Lucky for you, there are many options to choose from! Some options include: Square Space, Wix, Weebly, and, the most popular platform, WordPress. Most people, especially beginners, lean towards WordPress because it easy to use and has a free version which gives users access to many features on the site. However, other programs have different features that may better suite what you are looking for. For more information on each specific blog program, visit:
https://www.wpbeginner.com/beginners-guide/how-to-choose-the-best-blogging-platform
This article goes into depth explaining the differences, pros, and cons of WordPress.org, Constant Contact Website Builder, Gator, WordPress.com, Blogger, Tumblr, Medium, Squarespace, Wix, and Ghost.
Find Your Niche
After you’ve decided on the program you want to use, the next step is to decide what you want your blog to be about. Your niche, or specialization, will set you apart from other blogs and give you a foundation to maintain consistency on your page. Your niche can surround a broader topic such as Health and Fitness or focus on a specific topic like Hamburgers. No matter what you decide to write about, I can promise you that there is at least one person in the world who wants to read it. Decide what you want to write about and then write about it passionately. If you feel stuck on a topic, visit Fizzle’s article titled ‘81 Topic Ideas for Starting a Blog that Matters’:
Decide On A Blog Name
Now that you have your program and your niche, it is time to pick a name. Your name can reflect your personal brand, for example if you’re writing about Hamburgers your blog could be called “Hamburger Hot Takes”. However, you can also choose a name that simply reflects you. For example, my website is titled “Caroline Bruce”. There is no wrong version of picking a name, but make sure it is a name you really love. Once you choose a name, stray away from changing the name once the blog has already started. Changing the name will disrupt the consistency of your blog and impact any possible branding you’ve done for your page.
Write!
The last step, and truly the hardest step, is to write. Like I mentioned before, the idea of writing a blog post once a week on top of everything else you have going on may seem overwhelming. The best advice I can give you is to schedule and stay ahead. If you have a light-week homework wise, write a few extra blog posts and schedule them to post in the future. There are definitely ways to make blogging a restful experience, it’s all about putting in the effort and, I promise you, the results will be beneficial.
