10 Reasons Why Blogging is Good For Your Career

Write on!
Today is one of those days where I totally got immersed in cyber space, and was enthralled by a bevy of insightful web content on numerous websites. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. You can have my TV (aka the Idiot Box) and the stupid radio. But please don’t disconnect me from the “active” world – er Internet.

Well, here’s some info for IT pros on why you should blog. Are you looking to make a career move? Or do you simply want to progress to the next level in your field of expertise? If you answered yes, then I suggest you dip your feet in this blogging thingy.

Write for the right reasons
Personally, I write because I have a lot of thoughts and ideas running through my head that I need to get out. In IT, I find that writing about a topic or technology helps to reinforce said material in my long term memory. Furthermore, I’d like to delve into the realm of Advertising and Film Production, but from the point of view of creating snazzy ads or flicks that have pizzazz and mass appeal. I don’t know about you, but I find that a lot of allegedly “creative” stuff today is soooooo god damn BORING that I feel like taking a puke in the producer’s direction.

By the way, you should see the ads I’ve cranked out for our new eBusiness web portal here in Africa. I have scripts and details about what each scene entails. Stay tuned!

So, why is blogging good for your career? Well, the dude (or dudette) at this link has 10 good reasons.

1. You have to get noticed to get promoted.
2. You have to get noticed to get hired.
3. It really impresses people when you say “Oh, I’ve written about that, just google for XXX and I’m on the top page” or “Oh, just google my name.”
4. No matter how great you are, your career depends on communicating. The way to get better at anything, including communication, is by practicing. Blogging is good practice.
5. Bloggers are better-informed than non-bloggers. Knowing more is a career advantage.
6. Knowing more also means you’re more likely to hear about interesting jobs coming open.
7. Networking is good for your career. Blogging is a good way to meet people.
8. If you’re an engineer, blogging puts you in intimate contact with a worse-is-better 80/20 success story. Understanding this mode of technology adoption can only help you.
9. If you’re in marketing, you’ll need to understand how its rules are changing as a result of the current whirlwind, which nobody does, but bloggers are at least somewhat less baffled.
10. It’s a lot harder to fire someone who has a public voice, because it will be noticed.

Animals?
Well, since I’m in Africa, I figure it’d be nice to spice up my blogs with some kool pics of wildlife from over HERE.

I hope you enjoy them.

Upcoming blog entries
I have so much unfinished stuff (er articles) stored in my GMail drafts folder that it’s high time I complete them.

Here’s what’s coming soon to MaxTheITpro:

• Way to go Samsung
• Amazing FireFox browser tip
• Experiment a little: TRY a DIFFERENT Search Engine
• Windows Vista: A BAD Corporate Citizen?
• Sportsvite.com looks like a WINNER
• Very Interesting Software – Issue 1
• Are you a People Person? The art of Schmoozing
• Mind Your Business with FREE Open Source Solutions
  (I’ll be talking about FREE ERP/CRM/SCM apps for SMEs)
• How to use GMail to as your Blogger.com editor
  (I use GMail to edit all my entries thanks to its nifty spell checker)
• Kool Mobile gadgets and Accessories

As you can see, I’ve got some good stuff cooking in the wtiting lab.

Oh well…I’m outta here.