With the rise of social networking, companies big and small are beginning to look for younger employers with experience in the field of blogging.

Abby Lee Hood, a freshman majoring in journalism is a freelance writer who has contributed to sites such as StyleQuirk, an online go-to for all things fashion, lifestyle trends and celebrity gossip.

“I decided to blog because I wanted to reach a larger audience,” Hood said. “Blogging makes the entire Internet your stage if you do it right. I am no longer working for StyleQuirk, but I spent a year working with that website, writing “fluff” articles very similar to personal blogging.”

Blogging establishes an online presence for various companies, be that tangible or strictly website-based. Young people, who are already more experienced with online mediums, can help to launch companies into a more pivotal and profitable role amongst their competitors.

“Writing for the web makes you visible,” said Janet McMullen, communications professor. “Using social media is a whole new form of media. It’s about more than just connecting with friends, it’s a way for businesses and companies to pay attention to how they’re doing geographically.”

Forbes magazine staff writer Eric Savitz foresees global media expansion within companies involving ways to “streamline the application process.”

He also said the potential for multiple platform usage is expansive and critical for the collaboration process.

He wrote in a blog post that “instant messaging and wikis have already become office fixtures, allowing for real-time communication and centralized information sharing.”

The constant updating is critical to the success of a writer and to the company.

“It also helps to post regularly,” Hood said. “People will know to come back and keep checking (your) site. Read blogs in your topic area and build a network; advertise yourself on Facebook and Twitter. You also have to establish yourself as something of a credible source or icon.”

McMullen agrees that timeliness is crucial.

“You have to be committed,” she said. “You have to be able to maintain blogs and social media and include raw facts. Immediacy, permanence, flexibility and mobility are what is defining accelerated journalism and allowing for more user interaction.”

In 2012, Harvard Business Review Analytics Service discovered an estimated 79 percent of companies use social media for “future-oriented” purposes, though only 12 percent are using social media to their full advantage. Though these companies are not currently maximizing their potential, 45 percent plan to hire marketing specialists to enhance their social media outreach.

“You need to really establish yourself,” Hood said. “Your success is directly related to your credibility (which also) determines how much money you’ll make, so, choose a direction — financial advice, fashion, baking, crafts, hiking, etc. — then research much as you can.”