Blogging - not just for hipsters and sicksters*
‘Blogger’ is a serious job title these days, and if by chance you manage to get yourself a gigantic following, you’ll be able to manipulate everything from lipstick purchases to political policies. Really influential blogs, such as The Huffington Post or Perez Hilton, are quoted and referenced worldwide (albeit for very different reasons!)
It seems like everybody’s trying their hand(s) at blogging. Your Nan probably has one teaching knitting techniques. You can’t move on the internet for people jostling for attention, shouting their opinion of the latest episode of ‘Game of Thrones’, telling a funny story about their goldfish, or chronicling their latest thrilling trip to the dentist’s.
So with all those ear-shattering voices screaming so impatiently to be heard, why bother getting involved yourself?
I can’t be the only person who visits a company website and immediately clicks on the ‘Blog’ section. I do this because a blog gives me a fantastic idea of the real people in the business behind all the slick, official showmanship of the website itself. Well-written blogs can convince people to sign up for newsletters, contact the company with a question and even buy something they didn’t think they needed!
Here’s how you can use a blog to promote your company, or even yourself, and become an influencer in your own way:
Tell people who you are. By their very nature, blogs are chattier and more natural than the standard formal web copy you tend to see when you first enter a site. If someone clicks to read your blog then in that moment, you have their attention and potential interest, so use the opportunity to tell them more about you, what you do and how you do it. Being you is one of the very best ways to stand out from the competition.
Post regularly to increase your following. If you post on a regular basis, people will start to anticipate hearing from you again; you could end up being someone’s favourite regular columnist! The added benefit of posting regularly is that you can post links to your latest blog on your social media accounts, earning more Likes, Shares and retweets in the process…which in turn will drive even more people to your website!
Interact with your audience. Encourage comments and feedback on your blog posts to get a feel for the sort of issues people want to talk about, giving you ideas for future pieces. Keep it all fresh by describing some of the latest projects or jobs you’ve been working on. You could even ask your clients if they’d like to be featured – most people will love this!
Show up in web searches. Posting regular pieces and increasing clicks to your website (regardless of whether or not people interact with you when they’re there) will help your visibility in search engine results – a much better and more authentic method than stuffing your site with stale keywords.
Maybe you don’t have time to write your own blog posts, which is where professional writers can come in very handy! If you’d like to talk more about how blogging can help you increase your personal or professional following, please get in touch.
*I made this word up. It’s a merger of ‘sick’ and ‘hipster’ – two words that are very now. Aren’t I clever and trendy?
Related Articles
Writing to Sell? Weird Words and Crazy Phrases To Avoid
This is a blog post unlike any other.
Read moreThe Trials and Tribulations of the Freelance Holiday
As a freelance writer, taking a break is always a challenge. But I push on through the guilt, and here's why.
Read moreThe Magic of Kismet Marketing
Has your marketing strategy got room for some unexpected magic?
Read moreSEO Copywriting (and Other Ways to Make Your Business Sound Boring)
Don't write for search engines, write for people.
Read moreOK, so you got a six-figure business. That don't impress me much
Where's the value in empty business gurus?
Read more
Is your business preaching to the converted?
How to sell your amazing ideas to a brand-new audience.
Read moreThe foolproof formula for blogging success
How regular blogging will boost your business - as if by magic!
Read moreThe Art of the Written Compliment
If you're too embarrassed to give (or receive!) compliments, writing it all down can work wonders
Read moreLooking for a way to beat the January blues? Start with a letter
It's Universal Letter Writing Week - how will you celebrate?
Read moreStuck in a career rut? Get someone else to write your CV – and thrive!
"The right person will help you come across as yourself, but in a prouder, more polished, 'look what I’ve achieved' kind of way"
Read moreStraight from the heart: how to write irresistible words
When you give people a piece of yourself, you will naturally engage them.
Read moreHow to choose the right coach or training course – at the right time
"If you like someone, you might be tempted to look for excuses to work with them, even if their particular skills aren’t what you need."
Read moreBeware of the flowers: why customers don't care about your business
Focus on telling interesting business stories that reflect your ideal customers’ lives back to them.
Read moreIf you can’t take criticism, don’t be a writer!*
You can always learn from other people's insights - good or bad
Read moreRamp up your summer content to reap winter rewards
Keep your summer content fresh and updated to be remembered all year long.
Read moreAppreciate your freelancers, and be rewarded with their best work
How to become every freelancer's favourite client!
Read moreWhy a degree doesn't equal real-world competence
Sometimes, just putting the work in is enough.
Read moreFreelance reflections in the snow
Just like building the perfect snowman, carving out your freelance identity can be tough!
Read moreWhat's in a name? Captivate and connect with simple business stories
Finding the 'what's', 'whys' and 'hows' of your business will help people connect with you.
Read moreFive New Year's Resolutions for Freelancers
Are your social media posts crushing your business?
How to write interesting content for any business (even yours)
What are your customers really saying about you?
You're writing great content. So why aren't people reading it?
It takes time to craft compelling
Got a book or blog to write? Beat the block and get it done!
November means #NaNoWriMo - so whatever you're working on, it's time to get it done!
Read moreHow will I sound like me, when you're doing the writing?
Ironically, it's when you're writing about yourself that you will sound least like you. Hiring a writer to do it for you can bring a whole host of benefits.
Read moreWhy storytelling is your secret weapon in business (and how to do it properly)
Learn how to live happily ever after through the power of storytelling
Read moreDecoding the mystery of SEO
"SEO" is an often confusing term for those not well-versed in website maintenance. In reality, it's not quite as confusing as you might think!
Read moreWhy writing short copy takes a long time
Writing short copy is often much more frustrating than long tomes! Get started on something short and snappy with these tips.
Read moreWhy you definitely shouldn't write a book in a weekend!
Writing books is big business - or at least it can be, if you get it right. For starters, this means not rushing the process!
Read moreThe Ultimate Guide to... the Ultimate Guide!
A how-to guide for writing the ultimate downloadable guide for your business.
Read moreTry this simple formula to create a killer profile headline!
Headlines are always difficult to write, so here's an easy way to craft something original for your personal and professional profiles.
Read moreRead this before you publish you're next blog post!
Do you edit your work before you publish it?
Read moreCreate a schedule you can stick to (it's not as hard as you think!)
Creating a schedule can be a difficult task, especially when you're planning for work you're not being paid for - or that nobody is expecting! Here's how to get started on crafting a time plan that will work for you.
Read moreOn creating a writer's life
This week I'm responding to the questions people have asked since my Careershifters' Success Story was published recently - all about creating a writer's life.
Read moreDiscovering your unique writer's voice is easier than you think
You don't have to be a professional writer to discover a unique writing voice that speaks to its readers. Finding your own voice is often easier than you might think, and it all starts when you write from the heart.
Read moreFor that special person who has everything, give the gift of words
If you know someone who already has everything, give them something truly unique - special words.
Read moreNo job for life? How a tailored approach to job-hopping can win your next career move
Did you know that so-called 'job-hopping' can be an asset to your career search? Whether you prefer stability or excitement in your career, planning your next move is all about packaging your skills and making the right kind of approach.
Read moreWhy it's sometimes OK to turn down freelance work
Going freelance doesn't mean you have to accept every piece of work that comes your way. Being discerning with your time and effort will help you reap the rewards of being your own boss...and you'll get to work with some great people too!
Read more‘CV Greatest Hits’ Countdown – 10 ultimate CV tips to prepare you for the Great 2017 Job Hunt!
'Greatest Hits' countdowns are rife at this time of year - so now, here's one featuring the best CV advice. This list will give you the ultimate steer if you're looking to get your CV on track for the new year job hunt. Wishing you a very happy 2017!
Read moreHow to write your life story
With a new year on the horizon, why not make a resolution to tell your life story? Committing your personal tales to paper can be a rich and rewarding experience for you to write and others to read...for generations to come. Here's how to get started.
Read moreHow to pinpoint useful e-information for your business…without going crazy in the crowd!
Are you often left with the feeling that you don't quite know enough about all the online tools you can use to promote your business? How about website analytics...shouldn't you be checking them every five minutes just like the experts say? Relax - here's how to take advantage of all the advice available online, by defining exactly what YOU want to know.
Read moreFitting in ‘me’ projects – five panic-free time management tips for the professionally overwhelmed
Is time getting the better of you? With a growing business, several passion projects on the go, books to read and friends I'd quite like to see, I was starting to feel overwhelmed...until I decided to take a closer look at planning my time more effectively. Here's how you can do the same.
Read moreUse your sense of style to build trust and win business!
Looking for ways to sound consistent and authentic in your written communications? Here are a few tried, tested and original ways to do just that.
Read moreGhost stories…how shadowy script can light up your life and work
BOO! Like a ripe pumpkin Hallowe'en has rolled around yet again, so what better time to extol the benefits of ghostwriting, definitely not just the province of bargain-bin bound celebrities.
Read more"I'm a Quiet Revolutionary..." she whispered
I'm very proud indeed to be featured as this week's 'Quiet Revolutionary' - a celebration of all things introverted.
Read moreHow I escaped the corporate cage and set myself firmly on the ‘write’ career path!
An encounter with a corporate headhunter made me question my career - why was I still doing something I didn't love? Here's how I formulated my corporate escape plan and found a career I truly enjoy.
Read moreSTOP! Attention-grabbing writing – made easy
Everybody's busy these days - far too busy to read all the words that come their way. Get the right people to read YOURS by honing in on your ideal audience and creating compelling copy that will get them hooked.
Read morePersonal copywriting - attract a new boss AND a new relationship with the perfect profile!
Are your online profiles a bit lacklustre? Don't waste a perfect opportunity to speak directly to the boss or partner of your dreams - use the power of personal copywriting to describe what makes you, you - and get ready to reap the rewards!
Read moreGoing it alone - surviving self-employment
Going it alone, releasing yourself from the shackles of a traditional nine-to-five, is exhilarating. It's also incredibly scary! To celebrate my first quarter-year in business, here are some of the most important lessons I've learned from the front line.
Read moreBlogging - not just for hipsters and sicksters*
Regular blog posts - especially if you run a business - can drastically increase your following, as well as helping you beat the competition by describing how you do things your way. Read on for a few more great reasons why you should join the blogging revolution!
Read moreMaking meaningful business connections…in writing
Speaking up in networking groups used to bring me out in a cold sweat. So I sought out the people I really wanted to talk to and introduced myself in the way I'm best at - in writing.
Read moreBeyond the online dating profile - using the power of words to find a perfect match
Writing an online dating profile that reveals the real 'you' takes time and courage - but that special person will appreciate the effort. Read on for a few tips to get you started.
Read moreScientific Advertising – what a book written in 1923 can teach us about connecting in 2016
How a seminal book written in 1923 can help us connect with customers by using compelling copy in 2016
Read more
