Blogging provides students a soapbox

This week I did something that I never thought I would do — I started a blog.

Blogging has become a nearly ubiquitous hobby for our generation — at least, that’s how it’s sometimes portrayed by the media. While the blogosphere is quite vocal, not everyone has a blog, especially not every college student. Still, we really should give blogging another look.

Amid today’s profusion of social networking sites, what makes a blog unique? Unlike Facebook or Twitter, a blog offers more than just a list of interests and facts about yourself: A blog offers the blogger an outlet to comment on anything and everything.

But a blog is more than just a virtual soapbox on which the socially awkward can stand and air out their opinions online. The possibilities of what to do with a blog are limitless.

There are blogs about sports, college food, Los Angeles happenings and weddings. It’s a popular misconception that blogs are somehow required to discuss either politics or celebrity gossip.

I enjoy writing — poetry, prose, anything — so I launched a blog to have a place to focus on and showcase my work. Sometimes a blog is just that, a showcase of your opinions and thoughts. A blog allows the blogger to cultivate an audience and create a personality around which people with similar interests can convene. Want to be known as an expert on indie rock? You can. Want to be the source for information on local concerts? Make the posts, update often and that can be what you are known for.

If that’s piqued your interest and you want to start blogging, the first step is deciding on a host website. There are many blogging platforms out there, each with their own pros and cons. Three of the most popular are Blogger, WordPress and Squarespace. All are great, but Blogger is probably the simplest of the three options and the best for those who are unfamiliar with coding or website building. While there are not many add-ons, the free, easy-to-operate website is a great way to dive into blogging.

For those who prefer to record their thoughts on video instead of typing, Squarespace is probably the best platform. It has the option for text posts, but it features a great video player and offers a sleek, stylish layout. It starts at $8 a month for the basic package, but the features make it a great platform for more professional websites.

WordPress is definitely the most expansive of the three major platforms. It comes in two manifestations.

The first is a lot like Blogger, a free blog hosted on WordPress.com with some good add-ons but limited customization.

The second option, self-hosted WordPress, is one of the most popular on the Internet. Users who download the WordPress software are able to create completely unique websites. It requires some computing knowledge and a unique domain name, which costs additional money, but the site’s unmatched capacity for customization makes it a winner.

For my blog, I chose Blogger. While it’s not the most customizable, I didn’t feel familiar enough with website building to warrant spending money on the option to customize. For now, Blogger suits my purposes just fine, and while I might someday upgrade to WordPress, right now I’m very satisfied with my experience.

There is another perk to blogging: ad revenue. If your blog eventually gets enough hits on a daily basis, that silly hobby could actually earn you money. Having a website allows you to use programs like Google AdSense. If you register your site with AdSense, it installs a code, putting ads related to what you write about on the sides of your site. Income is based on clicks on the ads, and, while it is not a lot, it is a great way to generate passive income.

There’s also Student Bloggers, created by college students to link blogs to advertisers. The site not only promotes your blog but also actively recruits revenue sources. And since college life isn’t exactly cheap, a little bit of extra cash is always a good thing — especially when that cash comes from writing about something you love.

If you have an idea of what to write and you are registering your website, take that idea and find similar blogs. Networks of sites allow you to find content that may interest you and also put your site out to a larger audience. It not only increases your readership but can put you in contact with people who have similar passions. Blogging can be personal, but it can also be social.

So go ahead, lay claim on your piece of the Internet. I don’t expect that my blog will have a huge following at any point in the future, but it’s fulfilling nevertheless to have that forum to broadcast my opinions. It’s the Internet age, and a blog is just the way to get your thoughts out there.

Nicholas Slayton is a freshman majoring in print journalism. His column “A Series of Tubes“ runs Thursdays.