A very creative and clever way to get noticed!

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It's always a funny thing to me when I tell people that I blog and receive a "oh.." type of reaction as if somehow blogging makes me some sort of Internet loser or worse -socially inept. The truth is, starting your own blog can only help you. Blogging is a form of expressing yourself - whether through short or long essays, poems, reviews, or just by sharing photos of your everyday life (which by the way, Posterous is great at). What I've found blogging can be is a tool to showcase yourself and build your online social media identity. Anyone can set up a MySpace page or Facebook page, but what differentiates you from your 500 or so friends with similar profiles?

Everyone Has a Voice.. Is Yours Worth Being Heard?

The answer is simply, yes. Whether you're a genius or a couch potato, someone out there is bound to want to hear what goes on in your head. Blogs get a bad rap because sometimes they can stray into the realms of personal diary (think Mark Zuckerberg's LiveJournal in Social Network) or even in what I like to call the TMI (too much information) realm. But, blogs are continually threatening industries such as television, newspapers, magazines, and even education. Nathaniel blogged for his summer internship and learned more about a growing industry than he ever could without conjuring blog topics. JJ uses his blog to share his passion for photography and his experiences being a growing photographer in San Francisco. Paul shares his food adventures in San Francisco by mobile blogging his experiences and reviews.

You Become A Better Writer, Reader, and Learner

A common status update I see on Facebook and Twitter from my peers is how much they dread their upcoming essays or term papers. Aside from the research part, writing should be second nature and fun. Early in college I convinced myself that I would make writing an enjoyable experience and dare I say it, fun. When you blog, you become more aware of the flow in writing and conveying a certain idea to your audience. When you read other blogs you start to take mental notes on structure, vocabulary, personality, and creativeness. Writing isn't easy, but with everything else in life, you get better at it with practice. Once you start to warm up to learning more about a certain subject to write about it, you'll start knocking out papers easily.

Some Employers and Clients Want To Read Your Blog

Owning a blog is probably the easiest way for someone to learn more about you. They can see how well your writing is, where your interests lie, and how professional (or unprofessional) you come across as. I've had several employers ask whether or not I blogged and some even stumble across it by chance. My blog helped me get a free iPhone 4. Nathaniel can now use his blog posts from his previous internship as leverage with another potential employer. Anyone can have a resume filled with static information, but a good blog can make you a golden nugget in a pile of rocks. Paul gained an internship in the food cart business because his blog proved that he was the perfect candidate for the job. Clients gain an insight on JJ's creative process and his personality -- something that puts him at an advantage over other photographers for clients in the market.

Writing Is A Creative Outlet

Creativity can be practiced, so why cut yourself short on your potential? I am always aware of my writing technique and how I can make it better. Don't hold back on your ability to share a message with others. Blogging may lead to better writing, better public speaking, and overall better confidence in sharing your thoughts with others. You may find new interests or build on your current ones. 

So what are you waiting for? Start blogging now and show the world what you're made of!