Blogging is an excellent way to share your experience, and skills, and get involved on campus. Plus, running your own blog provides you with an opportunity to write, i.e. boost your writing skills. The theme for your blog can be literally any – from general on or off-campus news to traveling and personal issues. If you are a college student wondering how to become a successful blogger, we have some tips below to help you get started.
Table of Contents
12 Tips to be a Successful College Blogger
1. Pick a Good Name
That’s a tough task. After all, you have to take into account many things – do you want to focus on college life? Would you like to discuss stuff like college loans, research paper writing, Greek life, and so on? Do you want your readers to know who the blogger (you) is? If you are going to keep blogging after graduation, do not put the word college in the blog’s name. If you are John Smith and plan to name your blog JohnSmith.com, think about your family members or potential employer. Are you OK with them seeing your blog one day?
2. Pick the Platform
When choosing the best blogging platform, go for something that is easy to set up and doesn’t require you to be a professional coder. There are free and paid options out there. We’ve listed some of the most popular free solutions below:
- WordPress. WordPress.org is a popular blogging platform among users all over the globe. Established in 2002, today, WordPress.org runs nearly 44% of all sites online. The platform is self-hosted. In other words, the users have to sign up to start an account at WordPress.org. Excellent options for blogging beginners.
- Blogger. This free platform is a great solution for bloggers who do not have the technical skills to start a blog ASAP.
3. Produce Simple Content
Unless you create a blog to discuss the peculiarities of the Large Hadron Collider, make sure to create content that is simple to read and comprehend. The truth is that people browse websites and usually stay where information is presented in a simple and logical manner. With that in mind, keep your posts brief, clear, and concise. Don’t forget to break the text into paragraphs and, if possible, use lists.
4. Write About Topics You Truly Care About
Don't just randomly pick subjects. Choose areas that you are genuinely interested in and passionate about - whether that's movies, sports, music, video games, or anything else that gets you fired up. When you blog about the things u love, your enthusiasm will shine through.
5. Stay Consistent
No successful blogging is possible without consistency! You should be prepared to post on a regular basis. To do that set a regular posting schedule and stick to it. Whether you choose to post once a week or multiple times per week, make sure you're consistently delivering new content to keep your audience engaged and coming back for more.
6. Don't be Afraid to Open Up and get Personal
Sure, you want your posts to be well-written and informative. But don't be afraid to inject some of your own personality and experiences into your blog too. Share funny stories, rants, musings, random thoughts - whatever feels true to you. This candid, unfiltered voice is what will help you truly connect with readers on a personal level.
7. Ask Your Readers What They Want to See
Your blog may start out mostly for your own creative expression. But as you build an audience, get their input! Ask them what topics they'd like you to cover or what kinds of posts they enjoy most. This feedback loop will help you tune your writing to really deliver value to your loyal readers.
8. Stay on Top of the Hot Trends
While you'll have your core topics, don't ignore what's buzzing and trending in the broader online world. If you can creatively weave your thoughts on those hot-button, of-the-moment subjects, you'll grab new readers looking for that topical content. Just don't sell out - stay authentic to your unique blogging voice.
9. Benefit from Social Media
To become a successful blogger in college, make sure to take advantage of your social media pages. Whether it’s Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram, do not miss a unique chance to tell your followers about every new post you write. At the same time, Pinterest can work magic when it comes to driving some traffic. In addition to the social media platforms, benefit from the on-campus community to find new readers for your blog.
10. Optimize for SEO
To drive some organic traffic to your blog, consider search engine optimization (SEO). It is highly recommended to learn the basics of SEO and optimize your blog posts with relevant keywords, meta descriptions, and alt tags to improve your search engine rankings. At the same time, make sure to focus on creating valuable, shareable content that naturally attracts backlinks from other websites.
11. Take Advantage of all the Free Blogging Tools Out There
You don't need to spend a ton of money to deck out your blog. There are so many awesome free tools, resources and platforms that can help take your site to the next level. From editing apps like Grammarly to design tools like Canva for creating title graphics and featured images. Do some digging and you'll find all kinds of handy free stuff to enhance your blogging game.
12. Don't be Shy About Monetizing
Blogging can actually turn into a nice little side hustle to make some extra cash. You could join an ad network liek Adsense to display targeted ads on your site and earn money that way. Or set up a Patreon where your loyal readers can pay a few bucks per month to support your work. You could even explore affiliate and sponsorship opportunities down the line as your audience grows. Just be careful not to sacrifice your authenticity for a quick buck.
Benefits of Blogging in College
Whether you are a college student, business owner, or a busy housewife, blogging is equally beneficial. When it comes to the academic world, you can avail of running your own blog in a number of ways:
- You become better at self-expression. If there’s something in your inner world that itches, your blog can become a great surface to let it out.
- Blogging boosts analytical and creative skills. When you post regularly on your blog, you keep your brain working. There’s no way you won’t be able to generate new ideas whenever needed.
- Blogging hones soft skills. When you interact with your readers on the blog, you learn to become a better communicator. So next time they write some comments on your blog, do not hesitate to respond as soon as possible.
Finally, blogging in college is one of the most exciting ways to expand your worldview. After all, you’re living your best years now, and your experiences are SO unique!