So, you created your blog. Now what? Return to Work Center May 13, 2010

So you have a blog. Now what? Return to Work Center May 13, 2010 Today’s agenda ✦ Assumption: you have created a blog ✦ This is the ‘what-to’ ✦ Why blog? ✦ Relation to personal branding ✦ Look at some examples of blogs ✦ Examine advice from those who’ve been there

So you have a blog. Now what? Return to Work Center May 13, 2010

Why blog? ✦ Key component of your personal brand ✦ Establish credibility ✦ Maximize SEO ✦ Hone writing and expertise ✦ Update LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter ✦ Reinforce your website OR ✦ Serve as your website

So you have a blog. Now what? Return to Work Center May 13, 2010 Personal branding across platforms ✦ Establish your brand, consistently ✦ LinkedIn profile ✦ Twitter name ✦ Facebook ✦ Purchase domain name ✦ Multiple addresses ✦ Your blog and/or website ✦ Make it look right!

So you have a blog. Now what? Return to Work Center May 13, 2010 Where to start blogging? ✦ Blogger.com ✦ Part of Google, free ✦ Relatively easy to use, many options ✦ Typically ‘blogname.blogspot.com’ ✦ TypePad.com ✦ Also free (paid options) ✦ Many templates ✦ Good reputation among blogging community

So you have a blog. Now what? Return to Work Center May 13, 2010 Where to start blogging? ✦ WordPress ✦ Free and paid options ✦ Highly customizable ✦ Easy to use (in 5 minutes!) ✦ Clean, elegant look and feel ✦ Growing use for both blogs and web pages

So you have a blog. Now what? Return to Work Center May 13, 2010 How a blog can build your personal brand ✦ Chad Levitt, personalbrandingblog.com: ✦ Search engines love blogs ✦ Blogs are link sticky ✦ You are creating an enduring asset you own ✦ They increase your opportunity to get found ✦ ‘It’s all about eyeballs’ -- they’re social tools

So you have a blog. Now what? Return to Work Center May 13, 2010

Steve Phelan ‘Your Virtual CMO’

So you have a blog. Now what? Return to Work Center May 13, 2010 Steve Phelan ‘Your Virtual CMO’

So you have a blog. Now what? Return to Work Center May 13, 2010 Lisa Haneberg Author and consultant

So you have a blog. Now what? Return to Work Center May 13, 2010 Lisa Haneberg Author and consultant

So you have a blog. Now what? Return to Work Center May 13, 2010 Lisa Haneberg Author and consultant

So you have a blog. Now what? Return to Work Center May 13, 2010 Michelle Lentz ‘Social Media Adventurer’

So you have a blog. Now what? Return to Work Center May 13, 2010 Michelle Lentz ‘Social Media Adventurer’

So you have a blog. Now what? Return to Work Center May 13, 2010 Did you have job search in mind when you started your blog? ✦ (SP) Not for transition. It is for keeping me top of mind with people who might have need of my consulting services. ✦ (LH) Yes, and no. I was an independent consultant, so I wanted to attract more potential clients. I wanted my blog to build and strengthen my professional platform. ✦ (ML) I got a job blogging by tweeting to the right people. My other blog - the wine blog - hasn't exactly gotten me a job. It's just fun.

So you have a blog. Now what? Return to Work Center May 13, 2010 What topics do you post on? ✦ (SP) Marketing thoughts. See the blog to get a flavor. ✦ (LH) Mostly management, leadership, and personal success. ✦ (ML).

So you have a blog. Now what? Return to Work Center May 13, 2010 How frequently do you post? ✦ (SP) Once a month. ✦ (LH) When I started, I posted nearly every day. After 5 years, I now post 1-2 times per week. I would recommend that new bloggers post every day until they build up many posts and a readership. ✦ (ML) I do recommend to my marketing clients that they create a blog and leave it hidden/unpublished for about a month while they create content. Once they go live, I recommend posting at least 3x per week for the first 6 months to a year. That's what drives visitors and differentiates you from other blogs. My wine blog tends to have 2-3 posts per week (although I've been busy lately, so I've been lax at posting) to continuously drive traffic.

So you have a blog. Now what? Return to Work Center May 13, 2010 What has been the most valuable part of your blogging experience? ✦ (SP) The thought that goes into writing it helps focus my thoughts as well. ✦ (LH) My blog has helped me stay fresh - it helps me think through topics and keeps my mind fresh. And the blog, now with over 7,000 subscribers, has helped me build a global network.

So you have a blog. Now what? Return to Work Center May 13, 2010 How has the blog led to a new lead/opportunity/job possibility? ✦ (SP) Several times it has reminded people of my existence at an appropriate time (right people and right product are easy--you have to be top of mind at the right time.) ✦ (LH) Because the blog is informal, blog readers get to know me. This has helped them pre-qualify people who might want to hire me for a project. I have to do much less to convince people of my credentials, because they know me and know how I approach my work.

So you have a blog. Now what? Return to Work Center May 13, 2010 Overall, has it been worth it? ✦ (SP) Definitely. ✦ (LH) Yes, my blog has been an important part of my professional life and has paid back, in terms of relationships, leads, and gigs, more than the effort I have put into it. I also feel more connected to younger professionals, who tend to read blogs more than their older colleagues.

So you have a blog. Now what? Return to Work Center May 13, 2010 So, what will you blog about? ✦ 10) Review or flag books and articles. ✦ 9) Comment on others. ✦ 8) Get links. ✦ 7) Give links. ✦ 6) Post regularly.

So you have a blog. Now what? Return to Work Center May 13, 2010 So, what will you blog about? ✦ 5) Collaborate. ✦ 4) Make illustrations illustrate. ✦ 3) Enjoy what you post. ✦ 2) Know your audience. ✦ 1) Write what you know.

So you have a blog. Now what? Return to Work Center May 13, 2010 Goodbye.

So you have a blog. Now what? Return to Work Center May 13, 2010 Cleve’s new job... ✦ ✦

So you have a blog. Now what? Return to Work Center May 13, 2010 Cleve’s contact info ✦ ✦ LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/clevecallison ✦ Twitter: clevecallison ✦ Blog: bit.ly/clevesblog