You’re in college and have so much to say on all of the new things you’re experiencing. Along with your new classes and friends, you realize that along with your newfound independence you have started thinking and finding the need to jot your thoughts on paper. But, you worry that the things you want to talk about aren’t important or interesting enough for other people to read. And, even if you did write something that YOU thought was interesting, how would you get other students to care or read them?
It’s simple. The great thing about blogging is that there’s no set “rules” to blogging. You can blog about whatever your little heart desires and almost on any topic that you want. I’ve known many people who had an online blog but kept it private so they could just have their own online diary to read back and reflect on. The purpose of a blog is to get your thoughts and ideas out of your head, so you can organize them. Blogs help you share ideas, recipes, DIY crafts, stories, events, anything you want. You don’t have to worry about if other people will find them interesting, because as long as you’re blogging about things that are important to you, other people will follow.
You can blog about your classes, your professors, or even create new recipes in your dorm and blog about how you made them and with what ingredients. If you’re feeling sad one day and don’t have the motivation to do anything or get out of bed, sometimes blogging helps you get those emotions out so you can feel better about what’s going on. When people read your blogs, they can give you a different perspective on what you may be going through and can even help you out.
There’s some great sites online that are free that can help you set up a blog in a matter of minutes. You don’t have to worry about any coding or CSS knowledge because most of them have free-to-pick templates with different colors and prints. Your blog is a reflection of you. If you want a red white and blue background with little nautical anchors everywhere, you do that. If you want your page to be all black with red writing, you do that, too. Think of your blog as your little ‘home away from home’ as you will; you’ll check into it often and post daily about anything you may be thinking or feeling. You’ll over time gain a little family of followers or people who will read your posts and comment.
Having a blog is a great way for people to connect with you and share cool tips and tricks. If you’re thinking about starting a blog, it wouldn’t be a bad idea to sit down and think about the tone or “voice” you want to portray. Maybe you want to review movies and blog about them in a sarcastic, but funny way. Maybe you want to go for the Martha Stewart/Susie Homemaker vibe and share frilly recipes and pink doilies. Setting your theme will help you structure your later posts and give you some ideas for content.
If you’re thinking about starting a blog but don’t have any idea where to start, here’s a few ideas to help you get those gears turnin’.
1) Style- Tons of girls (and guys) blog about style in their everyday lives. Maybe they’re going thrifting and making masterpieces out of thrift store finds. Maybe they’re learning to sew and have mastered their first pattern. Blogging about the latest style and the coolest ways to pair trends and colors is one of the fastest ways to gain an audience. People love to see what’s hot and in fashion and will follow you for ideas and inspiration. Dig in your closet, make an ensemble, and show what you’ve got. Even if you don’t think your style is like anyone else’s, you’ll pick up on other blogger’s style tips from related blogs while sharing yours with other people!
2) Recipes- This topic is huge. Who doesn’t love food? Whenever I go on to Pinterest and see that homemade recipe for Smores Double Chocolate Chip Cookies, I die a little inside. People are always looking for new ways to spice up their recipes. Cooking 7 nights a week can get little dull, so sharing recipes with other people makes cooking in the kitchen fun again. I can’t tell you how many amazing recipes I’ve found through blogs that my family and friends absolutely love. The best part is that many of those blogs are based around organic foods and healthy recipes! If you’re in college and great at those microwave healthy meals, start blogging about it right away. A lot of kids that go off to college haven’t really experienced cooking for themselves before, and even more so, don’t know how to make anything in their dorm room let alone a healthy meal. Giving them recipes and directions on a budget will make your blog a big hit.
3) Fun on Campus- The things that you may take for granted, such as a college football games or a large tournament of oversized Sock Em’ Boppers in the campus courtyard may be things that other people would love to read about. For me, I never lived on campus, so hearing about campus life and activities always interests me. There’s a lot of students who will see your blog; not just other students from your campus. It may be fun to compare and contrast events, clubs and activities that go on at your campuses to get new ideas and share fun pictures.
4) Movie Reviews- Blogging about movie critiques and reviews will get people commenting in a matter of minutes. Maybe you enjoyed the movie with all of its action packed drama, or maybe you thought the first one was much better. People who agree and disagree with you will comment with their thoughts on the flick and get you all in a friendly debate about whether Bruce Lee performs his own stunts or not.
5) DIY (Do it Yourself)- This is one of my personal favorites. I always find it interesting learning how to make my own toothpaste or how to get my tub as white as the day it was installed (nerd alert). The DIY bloggers always have the most innovative ways to make your own jewelry and organic cleaning supplies that are non-dangerous for babies and pets. These are not only really helpful tutorials, but also save you money! This is a perfect venue for college kids who are always strapped for cash. Have you ever decorated your own room with crafted twinkle lights made from cupcake foils and Christmas lights? Or, have you ever created your own shag rug out of old strips of cut up tee shirts and a lot of knot tying? These are perfect examples of types of DIY crafts that everyone loves. Get crafting, document it through pictures and texts and start sharing it!
6) Whatever you want- If you’ve had a long day or are going through some things internally, don’t be afraid to get your thoughts out. Sometimes just venting about what’s bothering you in words will help clear your head and help you reach a solution. If you’re just bored one day and want to post a picture of your Instagramed Starbucks Frappuccino sitting next to your stuffed monkey that sits with you in your dorm room, do it. Blogging about whatever suits your fancy is a great way to show your personality and get creative. People will love to see you having fun and will start doing similar things of their own. The absolute best part about blogging is that you can be yourself, no questions asked.
Remember that whatever you choose to write about is solely up to you. A blog is a form of expression, even if you’re writing professionally. Make sure to stay within your boundaries and write to serve a purpose. Writing is an excellent way to keep your brain stimulated and let everyone else know what you’ve been up to. And, if the busy fluttering world of social media isn’t quite your thing, you can find a private blog site and type to your heart’s content. No one’s setting any guidelines for you so think of an idea and go nuts. You’d be surprised with the things you may come up with, and who knows, maybe you’ll find that writing is a passion of yours. Good luck!
Image: Imagery Majestic
