Many months ago my technology advisor told me to start blogging as a way to establish a branded online presence and attract a wider audience. Of course I countered him with, “But I don’t have anything interesting to say! Why would anyone read MY blog?”
His advice? “But you DO. You are knowledgeable. There are things you do in your every day work life worth writing about.” Hence began my first attempts to finally jot down some ideas for blog topics. It was challenging. I mean, I wanted to write about something that had VALUE for readers. So my first few attempts were a bit awkward. And then, with a bit of practice, I finally got the hang of it. Here’s how…
1) Don’t get discouraged. I know it can be daunting to think about but try to stay positive. Focus on your unique knowledge and abilities; believe that you have interesting information to share.
2) Practice, practice, practice. Like anything, blogging takes practice so you must keep at it. Try keeping a journal by your bedside table and when an idea comes to you – as it usually does me when I try and settle down to sleep – write it down.
3) If at first you don’t succeed…Sometimes you may be onto a blog idea but can’t seem to commit it to print. Just set that aside for now. Create a Storage Unit for your blog ideas and keep coming back to them.
4) Write about what interests you! That will keep it authentic and personal. If you’re experiencing writer’s block it’s probably because you’re trying too hard – don’t try and be who you’re not – just be yourself and ideas will come to you.
5) Read other blogs. Yes, read other blogs for ideas. I often absorb blog ideas from my Twitter feed or iGoogle Reader blogs.
6) Organize your news feeds. I subscribe to blog RSS feeds with Google Reader and organize them on my iGoogle page. Makes keeping up with the many blogs and news publications I follow a snap (actually, lots more to say on this---but for my next blog!)
7) Keep It Simple Stupid (KISS)! Don’t try to put forth too many ideas in one post. Try and zero in on one or two key thoughts.
8) Have fun with it! Next time you’re walking down the street and see something that inspires you, snap a pic with your iPhone or record your thoughts with Voice Memos or use any number of other apps to create topics for posts.
The thing is, if you’re updating on Facebook or Twitter or LinkedIn, then you’re already an author of sharable news. Blogs are just another iteration of the same thing and the opportunity to go deeper on topics.
So start your engines – ready, set, go blog!
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