You still don’t have a blog? Below, check out seven arguments for writers joining the blogosphere.
Weblogs, universally referred to as blogs, are websites formatted as journals, with posts, or individual entries, that can be accessed in reverse chronological order. (Usually, a few of the most recent posts are visible on the home page, and site visitors can click through to pages featuring previous posts or to an archive page.) They range widely in tone from silly to sober and in topic from adorable cats to international politics and everything in between — but perhaps it hasn’t occurred to you how valuable they can be for your writing or editing business or for the company you work for.
If you don’t already have a blog, or your current one is about your personal life or a topic unrelated to your profession, consider creating one that serves as an extension of your work. Post news, information, and analysis about pertinent topics, trends, products, or events.
Content can take the form of news briefs, essays, reports, white papers, reviews, interviews, polls, surveys, and FAQs (a list of actual or prospective frequently asked questions about a topic), among other forms. Supplement written posts with photographs, graphics, video, and audio. Provide links to related websites and other blogs, and ask webmasters and bloggers to do the same for your blog. Whenever you quote from or refer to an online article or other document, link to it.
Here are the seven reasons you should create your own professional or interest-based blog:
- Your blog is an online advertisement for your writing or editing services, or for documents or publications you write or your company produces.
- Your blog is an extension of your résumé that allows you to present content about your professional experience, as well as writing samples, in one convenient location.
- Your blog will convey your personality, allowing prospective collaborators, clients, and employers to gain a good first impression of you.
- Your blog enables you to network with other writers and editors or other people in your industry or sphere of interest.
- Your blog demonstrates to prospective associates that you are passionate and knowledgeable about the subject area you blog about.
- Your blog establishes you as an expert (or someone with interest if not expertise) and as someone who engages in extra effort to acquire and share knowledge and information about a profession or area of interest.
- Your blog provides you with a forum for developing your communication skills — not just writing but also video and audio, as well as interactivity such as networking, commenting on other websites and blogs, and responding to comments on your blog.
Having just created a blog, thanks for the validation!
I’ve found that, aside from the pluses you’ve aptly pointed out, blogging’s fun. I’ve really enjoyed it so far.
And since I’m here, and in light of the theme of this post, I’ma be a cheeky sycophant and copy the link:
http://www.humansareweird.wordpress.com
*Rebelling on comment etiquette since 2003*
Great post!
My daughter started a blog in her senior year of high school as an outlet for her random thoughts. She enjoyed it so much, and got such encouragement from readers, she has decided to pursue journalism as a college major.
Before the blog she was generally indifferent about writing.
Thanks for the affirmation, Mark.
#1 is the exact reason I created my blog. I was really trying to avoid it at first, but after reading several articles about being an author, I realized it was necessary. Now that I’ve tried it, it’s actually pretty cool. Thanks for the other reasons Mark.
Why yes, I too have a blog, and the reception I’ve gotten from my friends and complete strangers has been more than worth it.
Plus, it’s a great thing to put on a resume.