Five reasons I'm asking my students to blog

This term I've asked my students to publish their own blog and produce at least one article a week. I'm convinced that blogging has become another must-have skill for graduating Marketing students. Blogging well helps:

1. point to your ability for independent thought;
2. showcase creative responses to today's issues;
3. build a network of people interested in your ideas and concerns;
4. reveal your personality & humanity;
5. demonstrate your work ethic.

Why is it important?

These points combine to provide a solid demonstration of the writer's ability to be a thought leader. Inside any creative industry, people who are thoughtful have more to contribute to a team's success than not. For students about to graduate, showcasing this ability can be crucial to their success landing that first job. Heck, it'll probably help with every other job too.

A huge tip of the hat to my colleague, Frank Armstrong at St. Lawrence College, for blazing the blogging trail for faculty and students in the School of Business. His first-year students response to their Writing for Marketing blogging assignment has been inspiring and outstanding. This winter's third-year MCOM4 class is following in their footsteps.