If you’re not already blogging, you probably know that you should be. The problem is, many great articles and thought-provoking pieces that show the importance of blogging fail to distinguish between different types of blogging.
Knocking out a few posts a day on trivial subjects won’t do much for your reputation, but a quality post every week that is related to your industry can makes you an industry leader! It’s important to know how to write effective pieces that make you a star, so here are some tips to get you started.
Keep up with industry news
You should always be aware of what’s going on in the industry. If you’re in the web hosting industry, read blogs like VirtualHosting to find out what new providers have popped up and get information on them; if you’re in the restaurant industry, subscribe to Restaurants & Institutions.
Set up Google alerts on key phrases in your industry to be alerted when new pieces are posted that include those phrases, and comment on important developments with your own spin on things.
Take a stand, but not to provoke
Many people won’t take sides on key industry issues such as the future of cupcake shops (in some industries like boutique and bakery industries) or the effect of recent financial measures (in other, more financial industries, of course).
Find the hot button issues in your industry and talk about them – especially if nobody else is. Don’t take a stand against the majority just to stand out, or you could quickly be labelled a phoney and written off, but do express your opinion about important matters.
Write about things that matter to other leaders
Find out who the industry leaders in your niche are, if you don’t already know, and follow what they say and do very closely. See what they write about, what bothers them, what kind of publications they produce, and so on.
Things that matter to them should probably matter to you. Don’t be afraid to reference other industry leaders in your niche, either – it can attract their audience to your site and makes it clear that you know who’s who in your niche.
Say things that your readers really want to hear
Rather than making your blogging all about promoting yourself, figure out who your target audience is and what they want to hear and know. If you’re a coach, provide free worksheets and offer people a free 15-minute coaching session to talk about the results of their worksheets and whether they would be a good fit for your coaching program, for instance. Figure out what value your readers need, whether they’re looking for inspiration, statistics, or help, and provide it.
Make sure you focus your blogging efforts so you look like an industry leader, if you’re determined to become one. Your reputation should match up to your efforts, and before long, you may find that people take notice of you and give you opportunities solely on the credibility of your blog posts and personal brand!
