Blogging: A launchpad for aspiring writers?

If you are a wordsmith for real and want to unveil your talent, then setting up a blog could be the first right move for you.

What is a Blog?

A Blog is an online journal where you can write or comment on whatever topic you want for anyone to read. While blogging, it is completely up to you to choose the nature of your posts as well as the frequency with which you make your entries. You can also write about your personal experiences and observations.

However, blogging is not just about making text posts. If you are some sort of an artist, you can share your work with everyone by posting your creations on your page.

Why Blogging?

The biggest advantage of blogging is that it gives writers the liberty to put their skills on display sans any apprehensions. With so many blogs available today, it is apparent that creative writers across the globe are not just sitting back to wait for opportunities to arrive. Instead, they are using their blogs to create options for themselves as well as others.

Blogging as a Career Option

While anybody can set up a blog, not everyone can turn it into a money-making platform. The formula to have a successful blog lies in the uniqueness of the content.

For those interested in pursuing a career in blogging the most important thing is to think out of the box, insists Neha Malude, an avid blogger living in Chennai.

Neha, who started blogging as part of a class assignment, says, “My interest was black and white films, so I created one called 'In Black and White.' However, it had to be something different since there are millions who already write about black and white Hindi films. So I thought why not have a blog that would have only trivia about black and white films? And it was so much fun that I continued updating it even after college was over!

Neha, however, insists that becoming a successful blogger is not an easy road.

She says, “Blogging can be a career option but it takes time and effort. Effort on your part to make it as public and far reaching as possible and time to grow in popularity. But it all comes down to how different it is. Just remember, whatever you write on, there are probably thousands out there who've been doing it longer and better, so your best option is to be different. It can't be something run of the mill - it has to be unique. So first figure out : What will be the USP of your blog?”

“A blog can be your ticket to a job as well. I've had offers from film and music magazines because my blog gives me an edge over others. And that's why the language has to be good as does the grammar,” says Neha.

“A good blogger not only blogs regularly (not necessarily everyday) but also comments on other similar blogs to develop a rapport, a community of sorts. Commenting on other blogs makes sure you get blog visits from them - it's how you increase traffic. Promote your posts on social media to let people know you write. It's a great boost. If you make sure your blog gets a lot of traffic you can start charging for ads that appear on it,” she adds.

Some important tips

“A great blog needs succinct writing - as short and yet as informative as possible. You can't expect anyone today to take out half an hour to read a one page long post - so keep it brief and include as many visuals as you can. Visual relief (photographs, drawings and pictures) are important to maintain the reader's attention and keep out the monotony,” says Neha.