Blogging has become a popular way in which Developers express themselves. As a developer, you probably spend most of your time writing code, debugging, and collaborating with your team. With so much to do, you may not have considered starting a blog. However, blogging can be a valuable tool for developers to improve their skills, especially for beginners, share their knowledge and experience, build their brand, and connect with others in their field.
There are so many reasons why people start blogging, this may be to build a personal brand, Communicate with others, or Create a portfolio. The above reasons are very good reasons to start blogging, but it would be quite helpful to have your reasons (Why) to start blogging this will help keep you in check and keep you motivated. I will be unveiling the reasons why I started blogging below.
Why I Started blogging.
For Growth: Over the years, I have found out that helping others understand a course also helps me understand it much better. It helps motivate me to learn more since I enjoy and have a passion for helping others.
For Expression: Blogging has helped me a lot to become more expressive in my thoughts and then put them in writing. Before I start writing any article, I normally think it through in my mind for some hours, most especially throughout the night for the next day I would write it down.
For My Consumption: This might sound weird, but I write for myself, and I read my blog post more than my audience. Most of the time, I use the audio blog feature to listen to topics I have written in the past weeks while doing house chores, this helps me improve on my next post, and be myself more in my blog so that my audience can connect with my personality since I don't want to sound smart but authentic.
For Accountability: Writing what I have learned helps keep me on track, for instance, I might want to start learning another programming language without fully understanding the one I'm currently learning since I document my journey and share with my audience some of which look up to me. I Wouldn't want to disappoint them so I would naturally stay on track.
To Improve Myself: I have had my readers correct some mistakes I have made in my previous articles, I like to be corrected because I grow significantly through them. I have also had my readers contribute to a topic I have written, and I have learned from them all.
(Generally) Why Every Developer Should Start Blogging.
Establish yourself as an authority
By sharing your knowledge and experience through blog posts, you can establish yourself as an authority in your field. This can help you gain recognition and respect from other developers, as well as potential clients and employers.
Networking
Blogging is a great way to connect with other developers who share your interests and passions. You can use your blog to share your thoughts and ideas and engage in discussions with other developers in your community.
Explore and Learn new things
Writing blog posts requires research and learning, which can help you expand your knowledge and skills. By writing about new technologies or tools, you can also deepen your understanding of these topics and become more knowledgeable in your field.
Build your personal brand
Blogging can help you build your personal brand and differentiate yourself from other developers. By sharing your unique perspective and voice, you can establish yourself as a distinctive and memorable figure in your industry.
Land new clients or job opportunities
Blogging can also help you land new clients or job opportunities. By showcasing your skills and knowledge, you can demonstrate your value to potential clients or employers. Your blog can also serve as a portfolio of your work, which can help you stand out from other candidates.
Improve your writing and Communication skills
Writing is an essential skill for developers, whether you're communicating with team members or documenting your code. By blogging regularly, you can improve your writing skills and become a better communicator.
Keep a record of your progress
Blogging can also serve as a record of your progress as a developer. You can document your journey, share your successes and failures, and reflect on what you've learned along the way.
Where You Should Start Blogging as a Beginner.
There are several free websites that developers can use to start blogging. Here are a few options:
Medium - Medium is a popular platform for bloggers, with a focus on quality writing and storytelling. It's free to use. You can write on a variety of topics, including technology and programming. I personally use it for my blog post.
Dev.to - Dev.to is a community of developers that provides a platform for sharing knowledge and connecting with other developers. You can sign up for free, and start writing articles on topics related to software development.
GitHub Pages - GitHub Pages allow developers to create a website for free using their GitHub account. You can use the platform to create a blog, portfolio, or personal website. You can also use a variety of frameworks, such as Jekyll or Hugo, to create your website.
WordPress.com - WordPress.com is a free platform that allows you to create a blog or website. You can choose from a variety of templates and customize your site using plugins and widgets. It's easy to use, and you can start writing blog posts right away.
Blogger - Blogger is a free blogging platform owned by Google. You can create a blog for free, and customize your site using a variety of templates. You can also connect your blog to your Google account, making it easy to manage your blog and share your posts on social media.
Hasnode.com- This is also a free blogging platform for bloggers. I also use this website because it's one of the easiest ways to start a developer blog on a custom domain.
These are just a few options for free websites to start blogging as a developer. Each platform has its own unique features and benefits, so it's worth exploring them to find the one that's right for you.
Conclusion:
Find your WHY, and start your own blog. Blogging is a valuable tool for developers that can help you establish yourself as an authority, connect with other developers, learn new things, build your personal brand, land new clients or job opportunities, improve your writing and communication skills, and keep a record of your progress. Whether you're just starting out or you're an experienced developer, blogging can help you achieve your goals and advance your career.
Thank you for reading through, if you liked this article consider connecting with me on (Twitter) https://mobile.twitter.com/Simply_RiTq?first_run=false.
Cheers!!!
Oldest comments (8)
Great article, I've started a mini blog on dev.to for a while now, it allows and it keeps track of what I've learned, and gives other less experienced programmers a gateway to learn something from another person's perspective, perhaps allowing them to understand.
That's a great way to start blogging Sectasy🥰
Keep it up ✌️
Thanks for this post! I am just starting blogging myself - for now it's just for fun, I am not even sure if I will stick to it, but your article made me more motivated!
You're welcome Francis🥰 hope you stick to it, great things always start from just having fun.🤗
Tangentially related to some of your points, but I started when I was a pandemic layoff and realized I had written a lot of documentation that was the property of my former employer. I realized I needed some place to put (generalized) documentation that I and others could reference when needing to do similar work again. Taking the time to write them up also helped keep them fresh in mind also helped for the "tell me about a time you used x skill?" kind of interview questions.
I'm slow and inconsistent since becoming employed again, but occasional is better than nothing.
Exactly Ryan, "occasional is better than nothing". We need to tell our experiences to the upcoming developers.🧑💻
You're welcome.🥰
And thank you for contributing Rimasharma.🙏
Everyone should start blogging as long as they blog about things they understand. Just don't start giving bad advice with half-baked research and its fine.