Here are a few tips to help you get started:
Write about what you know!
This is true especially for our first-time bloggers out there. Most people fear blogging because they think they need to be expert writers or credentialed in the topic they want to discuss. “Why would I be an authority in this area” is a phrase I often hear about two minutes before someone talks themselves out of blogging.
You don’t have to be an expert on anything – but you have to have an opinion and it should be well thought out. So start off with what you know really well. So, if you are an amazing cook, you could easily write a review of a local restaurant, blog about tips for first-time cooks or discuss your biggest mistakes in the kitchen! Maybe you are a mother of three and have a ton of advice to share with other moms around organizing a playroom or you have been in the business world for 12 years and you have a story to share about how you got to where you are.
Start off with what you know – and you will enjoy the process much more.
Don’t write a book!
By definition, a blog is something that is an update. So it is meant to be a piece that lives in the moment. So blogs should be fresh and relevant to what is going on now. Most people read blogs to catch a glimpse of a topic or to engage in meaningful conversation. It isn’t meant to be a long, extremely detailed paper.
On average, blogs are anywhere between 400-800 words. Some can be shorter and a few can be longer, but remember, humans have shorter attention spans than goldfish. We want a quick read with a strong message that can teach us something or open our eyes to a new perspective. Don’t be long-winded. You will lose your audience fast.
And remember, don’t be afraid of bullets and lists – easy and quick to read but still get your point across!
Understand Your Call-To-Action
Ask yourself before you start to write, what am I asking the reader to do? Is it to understand something better, stop doing something, start doing something, comment, etc.? Know this before you start to write because every blog should have a purpose. How are you engaging your audience? Once you figure that out – your fingers can start typing!
Be You!
Believe it or not, this is the issue most struggle with. They read other blogs or articles and get confused on tone or approach. People are reading your blogs because they want to hear from YOU. So don’t write like others – write like you. The beauty of blogging is self-expression so take a deep breath…and just be you!
Tell People!
Because most blogs are published on blog sites like this – it is incredibly important for you to send out your blogs to your own networks. Whether it is on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter or through email. Once we notify you that your blog is published, you need to share the hyperlink to your blog via all your social channels and/or email lists. We want people to read your post (and other posts on our site) so the more you can do to get the word out, the better.
