Blogging is an important step in growing your professional online presence. Without a doubt, blogging, writing, pushing content into cyberspace is a social media and marketing strategy that is here to stay. So let’s go through a few important points to get you started or re-committed to the concept of blogging.
Why?
First, because you have something to say. If you are an expert in a certain area or you have a personal story or testimonial nobody else can say it but you. Second, because blogging is the easiest way to build a presence on the Internet that is “sticky”- and by sticky, that means people visit your website and have a reason to return.
When?
Weekly. WEEKLY. Minimal. Weekly. Some of us remember a time when garnering a weekly column in the newspaper was quite an accomplishment. Well, your blog is your weekly newspaper column. And you are the editor. So hold yourself accountable and blog on time.
How?
Write. 500 words, give or take. If you don’t think you have original thought- repurpose content on your website or from a source you have permission from to repurpose. Or take a current article or headline- give an excerpt– a 100 or 200 words, with quotes or inset. Do not copy and paste the entire article (search engines give a big boo to this). Example:
Yesterday I read about XYZ in the ABC publication. The article said the following:
Inset here and quote exactly…. and if you don’t inset remember to place the content in quotes. Then end the inset with a link to the original source. You are making it very clear that what is inset or in quotes is not your original content.
That becomes your middle. Then “top and tail” the middle. Add an introductory paragraph about the topic- Your initial thoughts- and then close with another paragraph summarizing your thoughts on the subject. Poof Done!
Where?
Just like a newspaper has to be thrown into the driveways of subscribers and placed on the newstands for people to see, your blog post has to be thrown into the driveways of social media- twitter, facebook, linkedin, pinterest… You might not use all the social media sites but choose at least two and push your content there. Programs and apps exist to help you set up your social media campaign so that when you blog it goes automatically to your social media accounts.
Be sure your blog has a social media plugin so that people can tweet, like and share your content.
Here is a blog template youi might consider when you are writing on a topic or idea that is your sole original content:
And you can download a PDF version here: Blog Template
