Recent articles suggest that starting a blog is a good way to build your brand, build your business, support your career goals, and help build an online presence.
A blog affords one the opportunity to share your knowledge, tools, tips, cutting-edge information, industry trends, and late-breaking news. You can also share what you read on the web or someone else's blog related to your field of expertise.
Sharing useful links, news related to your field, inside information about your business, or recommending the work of others, tends to brand you as someone who posts valuable content that others will want to share with their friends.
Blog to build your online brand and land your next job
Many recruiters and some hiring managers are keyword searching online for matches on blogs and social media sites for potential candidates.
Meg Guiseppi offered thoughts below from her recent article, 'Executive Job Search and Blogging: Perfect Together'
"I hear stories all the time from recruiters and other colleagues in the careers industry about executive job seekers who landed plum jobs as a result of blogging.
Their stories have a common theme. Recruiters and hiring decision makers found their blogs, or articles they guest-blogged on someone else’s site, when they were keyword searching online for viable candidates.
These hiring professionals were impressed by the writing skill and subject matter expertise of the bloggers. Some of these executive job seekers were offered opportunities in the “hidden job market” — positions not posted anywhere — because their blogging activity positioned them as a good fit for a company."
Boost your career with a good blog and separate yourself from the pack
- Make yourself valuable & memorable and others will want to make you a part of their network
- Become a source of cutting edge information and share it with others
- Find a way to add value, help and support others, recommend industry leaders
Penelope Trunk's 'Blogging essential for a good career' article offers the insight below
"Blogging is good for your career. A well-executed blog sets you apart as an expert in your field.
Ben Day blogged his way into a career as a high-earning software consultant while maintaining the freedom to schedule frequent jam sessions and performances as a keyboard player. Blogging gave him the opportunity to stand out enough to support the life he envisioned for himself.
Employers regularly Google prospective employees to learn more about them. Blogging gives you a way to control what employers see, because Google's system works in such a way that blogs that are heavily networked with others come up high in Google searches."
Blogging can help build a small business
A blog can have several benefits for a small business. It is a good vehicle for communicating, engaging, and maintaining customer loyalty with frequent posts offering valuable information, late-breaking news, free downloads, specials, or other items of value.
Maintaining an online presence and communicating frequently, and on regular basis, strengthens the customer connection, keeps them engaged, and can increase in-store traffic.
"Blogs hold tremendous power that every small business needs to utilize. Blogs bring traffic, blogs promote your knowledge, blogs help people, blogs build links, blogs create customer and brand loyalty, and blogs increase sales."
- Excerpt from 'How a Little Blogging Can Make a Big Difference for the Small Business' by Stoney deGeyter
Think of blogging as a chance to help others and build your brand at the same time. As you create an online presence as someone who brings valuable information to the table, you will attract and engage new followers, build better relationships, and strengthen your connections.
- Daulton West, Jr. , aka "DWestJr” on Twitter
Other articles that may be of interest:
Social Media and the Job Hunt (SMCEDU-RVA event)
3 sites to help in your job search: the social media 'power trio'
8 tips for creating a social networking plan for your job search
Do you need a social media champion?
Using Twitter for career networking
Nonprofits embracing social media for fund raising
Are you using a blog to build your brand and build your business?
Best practices tip: post high value messages to build your brand
The Legal of Social (SMCRVA - Feb 2010 review)
LinkedIn groups – are you building relationships for job networking?
Professional networking with Facebook
Are you using the power of a Google profile to promote your brand?
Using social media to help Haiti earthquake victims - Together we can make a difference!
Are Twitter lists the new #FollowFriday? Are you using Twitter lists to monitor your brand?
New Hootsuite & Tweetdeck features, Facebook - News Feed / Live Feed defined
More social media news, views, tools, & tips: Richmond Social Media Examiner
Comments
Daulton, thanks very much for highlighting my recent post here on the branding benefits of blogging.
Consistent blogging about topics relevant to your target market can very likely catch the eye of hiring decision makers. Strong writing is just one way to provide evidence of your personal brand and value proposition.
But blogging also strengthens your writing skill, knowledge base, and network.
My own blogging has benefitted me in these ways -- along with bringing clients to me. I've come to know some pretty amazing people as a result of blogging.
-Meg Guiseppi
C-level / Senior Executive Personal Branding & Job Search Strategist
Meg,
I've found your personal branding, resume, and job search blog posts to be timely, highly informative, and reflective of current industry trends. I've referenced them several times in my Examiner articles, and highly recommend your work to others.
I first became aware of Google Profiles’ search results power after reading your '7 Hot Tips to Build Personal Branding Into Your Executive Resume 2.0' post. I setup my own Google profile soon afterward and suggested others read your article and do the same.
Thanks for your comments and quality blog posts that continue to benefit your online community.
-Daulton West, Jr.
Social Media Strategist | Webmaster | Web 2.0 “Personal Trainer”
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