Have you ever noticed when you are looking at videos or reading blog posts to get ideas about something you specifically searched for and the creator of that blog is advertising a product, and if you use their code, you can get a discount off of the product they are promoting? I have, and those advertisements encouraged me to buy products creators have announced to get discount codes. Have you ever asked yourself if they are getting paid to advertise this product? Well, the answer to that question is yes! They are getting paid. That is because individual blog creators monetized their blogs. According to (Lawrence, 2022, p.88) "Individuals typically monetize their blog with advertisements, product sales, or affiliate links to generate revenue from their blog traffic." There is another type of blog called business blog. "Business blogs are typically not monetized in this way...Instead, companies will use their blogs to funnel traffic to their main sales pages or even just to create brand awareness"(Lawrence, 2022, p.88).
Blogging has many benefits for students, and it is a healthy way for students to express their ideas and interests through writing. Students are always finding ways to express themselves, and starting a blog is a great way to express themselves; this can develop critical thinking skills where they are learning how to research topics they are interested in at a college level. Blogging may also help mental health because a blog is similar to an online journal (David, 2022). "They can be used to share feelings, thoughts, concerns, and even encouragement and inspiration between individuals and groups" (David, 2022). It is an excellent way for students to use digital writing because it promotes active engagement within the classroom. As an educator, I highly suggest students start their own individual blog.
When I go through my personal social media accounts, I also notice many young business owners today who are kids. Some students want to start their own businesses in the school that I currently teach. Now that I have gained knowledge about blogs and their benefits, I will begin encouraging the students in my school to create their own blogs or business blogs to promote their businesses in the future.
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References
David. (2022, June 6). 5 benefits of blogging for students. Paid for Grades. https://paidforgrades.org/5-benefits-of-blogging-for-students/
Lawrence, D. (2022). Digital writing: A guide to writing for social media and the web. Broadview
Press.Zafar, F. (2019, May 23). WordPress vs blogger: Which one is better? Webful Creations. https://www.webfulcreations.com/wordpress-vs-blogger-whos-better/
Why we blog: The truths behind blogging for business. (2019, June 25). Advantage Internet Marketing. https://www.advantageim.com/why-we-blog-the-truths-behind-blogging-for-business/
