Sharon looked me straight in the eye and said: I hate blogging. I don’t know what to say. It takes me forever to write two paragraphs and they end up being nothing but a bunch of blah-blah marketing statements. But I know I have to do it to stay competitive.
Owner of a small consulting business and responsible for “everything,” Sharon echoed a sentiment I hear almost daily: Blogging is a piece of the success pie, and it has become a huge challenge for those not trained as communicators.
What can you do to make your blog better for your readers AND better for you as the producer? Here are three tips to get you back on track:
1) Focus on the Goal of your Blog. Is your intent simply to keep your name Top of Mind with your customers and prospects? Are you focused on Lead Generation, website traffic, or building your reputation as an information hub?
2) Remember What Drew You to Your Industry. Way back when, on the day you started your company or made the decision to take a job in your current industry, you were excited about it. There was something that thrilled you, that satisfied you beyond just the paycheck. What was it? What emotion did it trigger? Find that energy again, and write from that place. It might be helpful to create a list of the reasons you started and the dreams you had about your career.
3) Tell stories. Stories pull the reader into an experience, and the more they see themselves in that experience, the more willing they will be to keep reading and remember you when they need your product or service.
The visual side of your blog is important, too. Here are 5 Tips for Beautiful Blogs: