A blog is an important element for building your online presence, and writing your own blog is a perfect way to brand yourself. You need a blog if you want to differentiate yourself, rise above the noise and stand out in a crowed marketplace. It’s your place to present your unique perspective and offerings in a way that’s engaging. Here are a few reasons why a blog is so important:
- It’s Your Social Resume. Your blog is an online resume that shows people what you can do and what value you bring. It shows off your strengths.
- It Keeps You Relevant. In order to establish an effective personal brand, you need to establish your expertise.
Your blog shows that you’re up-to-date on what’s going on in your industry. - It Builds Trust. One purpose of branding is to build trust. People want to know who you are before they buy from you or hire you. Your consistency in your blog posts helps to build this trust.
- It Gives You an Avenue of Communication. Blogging is all about networking, communicating and sharing interests with like-minded people. You can build relationships with other bloggers and with your readers.
- Image Control. Your blog is your ‘home on the Web.’ It can help you manage your reputation.
- You Can Tell Your Story. A compelling story is important in branding. It shows who you are and where you came from. Your blog gives you a chance to tell yours.
Naming Your Blog
The best name for your personal blog is simply your own name. However, there are a few things to keep in mind. For one thing, if you use your name for your personal blog, you should be the only person writing content. It’s okay to occasionally accept guest blog posts, but the purpose of the blog is to sell you, not other writers.
One more thing to keep in mind is that you should only use your name if you plan to blog long-term. If you think you may someday sell the blog, use something else. It’s nearly impossible to sell a website named with a person’s name.
What Should You Write?
When writing your blog, focus not on what you want to talk about, but what your readers want to hear. What would help them the most? Answer their questions and offer tips to help them with their problems. You might also post news about your industry or other topics that you know about.
Try to focus your blog posts on getting some dialog going. Ask questions or present arguments and encourage your readers to voice their opinions. You want to get as many people commenting as possible.
Don’t forget that the personal touch is what really sets a brand apart. This means that it’s alright to sometimes write purely personal posts. You don’t want your blog to be all about what you did today or how you feel about something you saw on TV, but it’s good to let your human side out sometimes. Remember, people like doing business with people. Your readers want your helpful advice, but they also like to know more about you as well.
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