Novemb
er is National Blog Posting Month in which thousands of bloggers pledge to post every single day, including holidays and weekends, to their blog site. Some people wonder why would someone want to blog anyway. One reason – blogging positions you as an expert in your industry. It can also help you land a job, get promoted or even get the job of your dreams. If you are looking for a job or thinking about a career transition, consider using blogging as a part of your strategy. Before you begin, here are a few things for you to consider.
Be clear on the reason why. You first need to identify the underlying purpose of your blog. Will you write about your job campaign; the process of looking for a job and what you experience? Are you writing to get recognized by key influencers or leaders in your industry? How about blogging to gain sponsors that will pay you to advertise on your site or are you just writing to earn some extra money from your articles? If you are considering
writing to earn extra income, a good site to look at is Reader’s Legacy where you can develop as a writer, belong to a creative community and earn some extra cash.
Manage Your Budget. You don’t need a lot of money to start a blog, but there will be some very enticing programs out there eager to take your money. Start off small, especially if you are unemployed and looking for work, with a free site on Blogger or WordPress.
Topics to write about. If the thought of starting a blog has peaked your interest but you are thinking, “How could I start a blog, I don’t know what I would write about”, don’t let that stop you. You can interview people, write about conferences or events you attend, discuss trending topics in your industry, and more. You can search on the internet for keywords in your industry. See what topics and articles come up and get some great ideas.
Use social media to promote your blog post. You will want to pick a primary social media platform to promote your blog posts. I prefer Twitter, but you might prefer LinkedIn or Facebook. It all depends on what platform is more responsive to your specialty area. You may have to try one platform and test it to see how the audience responds to your articles. You will also need to build a following. This is something you can do yourself or hire a Social Media Career Strategist to assist you.
Network. Bloggers share their articles all across social media, making it a very social activity. You can use your site to network and meet new people through techniques like guest blogging, interviews, and exchanging links. Ask your readers to share your articles with their friends and followers. You can also share blog posts from other bloggers to your friends and followers.
Gain Knowledge. As you are researching information and writing your blog posts you will gain valuable knowledge and skills that will increase your worth to potential employers. You will be up to date in your field and gain influential connections. This is an asset for any job candidate or someone seeking a promotion.
In today’s competitive job market, you have to look for ways you can stand out from the crowd and get noticed. Having a blog is a great option that many job seekers don’t consider. In my next article, I’ll share some effective strategies to have a successful blog for your job campaign. If you have any questions or would like additional information on working with a Social Media Career Strategist, send me an email at cowens@infinitycoaching.net. Until next time here’s to your success!
Carolyn R. Owens has over 25 years of proven experience and serves as a Career Strategist, Leadership and Life Coach. She is the Chairwoman and CEO of Infinity Coaching, Inc. where they help you up-level your skills so you can up-level your income. Infinity Coaching, Inc. provides one-on-one and group coaching, organizational training, personality assessments and a signature program, the Infinity Coaching Inner Circle. Find out more at https://infinitycoaching.net
