As business and technology become increasingly interconnected, the ways we receive, study, and share information have increased exponentially. From Twitter feeds and Tumblr posts to blogs and forums, the digital world offers myriad methods for both students and experts alike to gain and share knowledge.
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Blogs in particular come with a variety of benefits to the reader as well as the writer – regardless of subject matter. While there are several traits that finance students should look for that hallmark a finance blog as a good one, blogs are one medium through which finance students can learn, discuss, and ask questions of experts and their fellow students – connecting with financial professionals from around the world.
Policy Updates
A great number of finance blog writers keep strict tabs on policy updates and legislation concerning the financial sector, from tax law to accounting practices. Finance students who want to keep on top of policy updates without digesting a lot of jargon can follow blogs of this sort, with a wide range of choices depending on the student’s intended specialization. Blogs can distill policy updates into a comprehensive format that’s easy to read and – best of all – won’t take students hours upon hours to read.
Trends
Some finance blogs report on changing trends in the financial industry, from new financial software platforms being popularized to changes in the leading stock market industry. For finance students headed for the stock market or investment banking, blogs that help identify emerging or waning trends might be of particular benefit – and when they graduate, it’ll be a lot easier to walk into a job already updated on current economic and financial trends, with just an hour or two of reading a week.
Discussion
A lot of blogs offer discussion via commentary, allowing readers not just to receive information, but to actively participate in discussion about it. This is one of the best benefits of blogs for finance students – they can ask questions, pose their own ideas, or ask for clarification either from the blogger or from other readers who may be more expert in the field. As learning is a dynamic and interactive process, blog discussion can be an integrative part of a finance student’s education.
Information Absorption
Most blog posts are relatively short – five hundred to a thousand words seems to be the norm – and even the longer-winded ones don’t usually top two thousand words. Because they’re so short, the reader can absorb more information more quickly than with longer texts. As being a student of any discipline is so work-intensive, blog reading is an excellent way to keep up with the field without cutting into study time.
Q+A
Some blog writers actively encourage readers to ask questions of them, and will willingly answer them either via comment or email. Some also take topic requests, and finance students shouldn’t hesitate to take advantage of this if their favorite finance blog offers this – it’s a fantastic opportunity to get more information or clarification on a topic they want to know more about or don’t fully understand yet.
Regardless of what area of finance the student intends to pursue, finance blogs can offer a wealth of information for minimal time investment – and arm them for a brighter professional future.
