Are you a software developer looking for the right blog inspiration? This guide will help you to blog as a software developer.
A software developer can write more than programming codes; they can also write blogs! With a blog, a developer can learn how to present their ideas and get to know more about online marketing. A blog opens doors to various marketing opportunities and can help developers position themselves as an authority in their field.
Every software development professional should start a blog. This short, informative guide tells you more about how blogging works for software developers and the different types of technical blogs you can write.
What Are The Different Types Of Blogs?
Think of blogging as a day-to-day online diary. You can write almost anything you want to share and share anything worth sharing. If you’re a software developer, you can start a technical blog dedicated to coding and software development or a personal blog, sharing not just about your work but also about your personal life, family, relationships, beliefs, etc. The following general types of blogs apply to you.
Personal Blogs
A personal blog was the very first blog created online. This is a classic style blog where you can share your thoughts, feelings, or any plans you may have. Also called an online journal, a blogger simply dives right in, writes what they feel, without considering their audience or selling any product or service.
A software developer may keep a personal blog separate from their professional or business blog. For example, a software developer working in a foreign land may blog about his personal experiences and day-to-day stuff apart from his work-related blog.
Business Blogs
Business blogs are as popular as personal blogs and are mostly managed by a digital marketer for a company, business, or group. Companies use blogs as an online tool for announcements regarding their products or services, projects, and more. Blogs improve site traffic and increase conversion rates using content promotion.
Some companies prefer to use blogs to connect to the community or industry that they belong to. It is a good medium to create quality content that’s separate from their business website. With a business blog, brands can claim authority in their industry by promoting their products and services.
Freelance software developers use a business blog to showcase their services, business practices, technologies, and affiliations. This is one way to market their skills in a very competitive market.
Personal Brand Or Professional Blog
Combine a personal blog and a business blog and you have a personal brand or professional blog. Usually, this type of blog starts as a personal blog but later on, the blogger uses the page to market products or services
Creators of a professional blog formulate a business strategy, a business plan, and blogs under a niche. The blogger partners with brands and keeps up with market trends. He is very committed to growing the blog site and looking for new opportunities.
A personal brand blogger writes about anything that interests his audience from the niche that they selected. Usually, these bloggers become influencers as their reach expands and their followers increase in number. Other bloggers work as freelance content creators and are hired by businesses to work on various marketing projects.
Software developers who want to go the extra mile and start gaining more followers may start a personal brand or professional blog. They can market products such as developer tools and apps, computer components, servers, domains, etc. from their blog sites.
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Fashion Blogs
This type of blog has content dedicated to fashion and the industry. The blogger may use this blog to feature a particular fashion style or to write about the fashion industry.
A software developer with a unique fashion sense may start a fashion blog apart from other blogs. You can blog about the latest trends in software developer fashion and accessories or use photos of your recommended clothing, footwear, jewelry, bags, fashion accessories, and much more.
Lifestyle Blogs
Lifestyle blogs are similar to fashion blogs as these cover various topics. Bloggers cover topics such as health, wellness, fitness, workouts, stress relief, nutrition, and many more. People check out lifestyle blogs to get help for their many concerns.
And just like fashion blogs, a software developer may blog about current health, fitness, and wellness trends that impact their line of work. For example, a developer might blog about how too much screen time can affect overall health and mood.
Travel Blogs
Travel blogs focus on different topics related to travel including local or international tourist destinations, accommodations, food, attractions, transportation, travel tips, packing tips, etc. This type of blog is filled with colorful travel photos, videos, and tips and is what people check out before going on a vacation.
If you’re the on-the-go type, the one who prefers to work in cafes, parks, and other unlikely places, then you can start a travel blog as well. You might be coding at the office today and sipping pina colada by the beach tomorrow!
Food Blogs
Food blogs focus on food, cooking, meal planning, dieting, healthy eating, and other related topics. Food bloggers usually tackle a particular cuisine (Japanese, Korean, Indian, Chinese, Italian, or French cooking) or may blog about a specific type of food like seafood, pasta dishes, low-calorie foods, grilled food, etc.
What kind of food gives you energy at work? What kind of diet do you follow to keep fit and strong? Blog about the best smoothie or the most awesome brewed coffee you had while at work in your food blog.
Affiliate Review Blogs
Affiliate blogs or product/service review blogs may provide a review for a specific niche or a broader group. Affiliate bloggers review various products related to their niche with reviews offering the pros and cons, features, and recommendations. The blogs will feature links to the different products on review and every time a visitor clicks on these links, the blogger earns a small commission.
Software developers can review developer tools, applications, equipment, and components they use for their work. Use a comparative review of a few related products to help consumers make the right buying decision.
Multimedia Blogs
Multimedia blogs have that classic blog post style but instead of written entries, multimedia posts are posted. Bloggers feature video blogs or V-logs about their niche or use podcasts, infographics, and other kinds of visuals.
If you’re a developer who wants to share his work online but prefers to show these using videos and podcasts then a multimedia blog can help you reach out to your audience.
News Blogs
News blogs feature the latest news about a specific niche or industry. A blogger may also write or feature videos or photos about local news or international updates. He may blog about specific news topics like a local election, local entertainment, and many more.
Share news and current events that matter to software developers like you with a news blog. You can feature technology news, stock market news, science, and technology news, and so many more.
Why Would A Software Developer Want To Blog?
Aside from being a good way to formulate your thoughts and to free your mind, blogging has other benefits for a busy software developer. What are the benefits of blog as a software developer now? Consider the following advantages:
A Chance To Improve Your Tech Skills
You can use your tech blog to share your knowledge about programming. You can share tried and tested techniques, basic coding, and other advanced topics. You’ll notice as you teach programming, you’ll eventually become good at it. Teaching inspires you to learn more about a topic, to be better at a task for your students and yourself.
A Blog Can Be A Side Hustle
Blogs can earn money, especially affiliate blogs. You can use this money to pay for hosting services, paid programming apps, and tools, etc.
A New Way To Market Yourself, Your Skills And Talents
In any kind of blog, you’re marketing your skills, talents, creativity, knowledge, and experience. It’s one way of telling people they can trust you for any project, product, or service you provide or endorse. Your blog will eventually lead to opportunities and ventures that you never knew existed.
A Great Way To Learn How To Feature Your Ideas
Although you do a lot of coding and programming, the fate of your job relies on how good you are at communicating and connecting with people. And having a blog teaches you how to feature your ideas, especially around clients and partners.
Your Chance To Shine In Your Field
A blog gives you a chance to become an authority in your technical field. You’ll stand out from other software developers because of your influence in the industry.
How Can Blogging Help Your Business As A Software Developer?
Some software developers work as freelance professionals. This means that they manage their own time, look for clients, and make business decisions all by themselves. Blogging is one way to help freelance software developers stay ahead of their competition.
Final Words
Whether you’re working as a freelance software developer or a regular at a company, a blog can do wonders for your career. Software developers dreaming of making it big can start with a personal, business, or review blog to gain traction. You’re steps away from success with a good blog.
This article was provided by Pranjal Bora works as a Head of Product Development at Digital Authority Partners.