Lots of people considering social media strategies for business and personal reasons [like job seeking] may not fully appreciate the value of blogging.
- the TIME
- the SKILLS
- the COMMITMENT
Is Blogging Worth all That?
Absolutely, according to Dean Guadagni, Social Media Marketing/Director at Inner Architect and source for two of my previous articles — Networking Tips and LinkedIn Profiles.
Dean recently conducted a workshop on the value of blogging for a Group of Marin Professionals. He began with his own experience:
“My own career really took off after I started to blog. It created a platform for me to position myself.”
“All consultants should have a blog,” Dean advised.
“Blogs are the Hub or Centerpiece of your online presence.”
He listed TEN BASIC REASON YOU SHOULD BLOG:
- Publishing Platform
- Control your Message
- Delivery system for your Messages
- 24/7 Online Network
- New Skill Development
- Increased Perception through Web 2.0 Sources
- Visibility
- Reputation Management [your silence allows your critics to win]
- Build Google Presence
- Research required increases your Expertise
Here is my representation of a diagram Dean offered to represent the BLOG ECOSYSTEM:
Dean also described six common myths that hold people back from blogging:
- Length: Some people think you have to write a lot. But the truth is that blog articles can me any size that a writer wants or needs to share the message.
- Daily consistency: Mistaken impression that bloggers all write every day. Some may, but most don’t. [See previous article with report on how often people blog.]
- Fear: Natural human feeling: “You’ll get over it,” Dean said.
- Resistance to new technology: Much easier than people think.
- What to say?: “People wonder what’s new that they can say. Probably not much, but it’s how you say it. What is your differentiating factor?”
- Who will read my blog?: Good question — No One unless you promote it.
For help in starting your own blog . . . from scratch, check out my two earlier articles:
How to start a blog – step by step
BONUS: Here are six of the most popular type articles:
- How-to’s
- Top Ten Lists
- Case Studies
- “Best of” Lists
- Interviews
- Breaking News
JUST DO IT — and when you have, please send me a link!
FURTHER READING:
Yes – I believe that YOU want to blog all the time. I assume that the same rule applies for blogging as it does for public speaking: It is not what the speaker (writer) wants to say, but what the audience needs to hear (read).
I can speak all day but it does not mean my audience wants to listen…
Ethan, one wonderful difference between blogging and public speeches is that audiences can tap in at their leisure. Now, of course, with all the technology, speakers can do videos and podcasts and put them online for anytime consumption.
🙂
But you are definitely right that Social Media and business is that it really is all about what the customer wants and needs.
Thank you for your articles – I find them helpful.
I struggle with my blog – not the content portion – that is easy for me. I am not clear on how often to post and the best ways to promote it.
Your lists and advice have been encouraging.
Interesting that you bring up the subject of How Often, etc. to blog.
I WANT to do this all of the time because there is so much to share. Of course, we do have to eat, sleep, go to yoga, and maybe even, go to a job.
I’m coming up on my first year as a blogger and will be setting some kind of publishing schedule for myself, so stick around and you’ll see what I decide to do . . . still ruminating the ideas, though.
Like most people new to Social Media, blogging was the furthest from my mind. Before success can be achieved, concise and measurable objectives must first be determined. Once accomplished, clear sailing.