Today's title as you may have read just above this first paragraph is entitled: Making Time to Blog. Normally, you would think blogging would be fun-and it is- until you run out of things to write about. Take for example, this Vipa Solutions blog. My co-workers and I were charged with the task of upkeeping the company blog, each person assigned a topic to talk about, and the intention was that everyone would blog maybe once a week. The absence of a post for this blog for the last few weeks until now is a great example of what not to do, and I do apologize for any inconvenience our readers may have had, the idea of the strenuous exercize of my creative writing muscles it would take to write something appealing to readers was not appealing to me, but that will be the last of excuses, and now on to the point.
Company blogs can be good, when they are used, for many things. They add a personal side to a corporate office, they let the viewers know what they are working on or helpful tips for their businesses. Blogging although fun becomes a task dreaded by many especially after a week or two hiatus from writing. But, it doesn't have to be a painful or anxiety ridden task and literally anyone can write a blog, as long as you know how to write, reading helps too.
The lesson this week as indicated by the title, is to make time for blogging. When you make time to write a blog you are doing 5 things right:
1. Writing as a skill, comes easier as you practice and in turn when you don't write for awhile, you become rusty again and will need to work up to your prime abilities through practice. Ultimately this helps your communication skills.
2. Making time to blog whether each day, week or two weeks gives your readers an idea as to when they can check out the blog for the next post instead of just sporadically posting.
3. When you make time to write the blog, you are prepared, ideas come easier and you know that you have time because you scheduled the time
4. Ideas come easier when you know you have to write a blog each day/week.
5. Blogging in general, generates interest by the people who already know you, but the people who don't know you may look to the blog to get an inside glimpse to the company, this could be one of the first impressions an outsider makes and gives a more in depth and personal view of your company. It also gives the reader a look at your writing style and creativity which, for those aspiring writers, can give you some practice and a free audience.
When written and maintained correctly, blogs can become a great tool for your company and an entertaining and knowledgeable base for clients and even outsiders who may then become prospective clients.
Here are some tips to get you started and keep you going:
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Establish the purpose of your blog and who will write the blog, then make sure those things happen.
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When you are null and void on ideas look in the following areas to spark your creativity: industry news, industry blogs, company news and also think about tips/items you may want to convey to your clients.
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When in doubt, have someone else read the blog first
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Unless you are a rockstar at writing, you will probably need to check your work and re-work it a little. Always check your work for typos and misspellations, general gramatical errors, also- no one likes an unprofessional blogger who: TyPeS LiKe tHiS, OR THIS THE ENTIRE TIME or doesn't capitalize a proper noun. When in doubt read it again, then have someone else read it.
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Starting a blog and not commiting to it will not get you any followers, so make blogging a regular practice, keep it relevant and be confident of your abilities.
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Asking for user feedback is always a great way to get feedback. When you ask, you receive. See example of this below:
Need Help?
The Vipa Team would love to answer your questions about setting up a blog for your company and give you some tips on how and what to write.
<JE
