If you are interested in developing a professional brand, but don’t know how to begin — a blog is a great way to get started.
When employers Google you, your blog may be the first website that they see. You have the opportunity to shape what they see and read about you. It serves as a digital introduction to you and your work as you start building your online identity.
A blog is a great way to:
- Demonstrate your knowledge and interest in a particular area.
- Create a portfolio of writing samples.
- Build your network and access to a professional community.
- Assist you in staying up to date with trends and news in your field.
The key is to find a topic, theme and/or niche related to your field, choose a platform, and get writing.
When searching for a theme:
- Choose a topic that will maintain your interest over a long period of time. Try not choose such a small niche that will limit you.
- It should be an area in your field that you would be interested in pursuing professionally.
As you consider a platform:
- Consider your brand name/name of your blog and whether you can get access to that web address on that platform. Some platforms to consider are: Blogs@Baruch, WordPress, and Tumblr.
- The platform should have all the features that you are looking for and need like analytics, support for images, video and/or audio, templates, editing features. View other blogs that use these platforms so you can see what’s possible.
Before beginning to write:
- Create a list of topics that you plan to write about. Keep a journal of potential topics with you at all times in case you are inspired.
- Develop a writing schedule that is feasible. Your readers will respond to regular content updates, but you want to make sure it is manageable and don’t lose interest because you are overwhelmed. You might consider writing once or twice a week at the beginning.
- If you don’t think you can manage at least a weekly posting or may need help with editing, consider a co-blogger with the same interest and level of commitment.
- Make sure you are connected to other social media to share your blog postings including Twitter and Facebook as well as reading and commenting professionally on other blogs in your area of interest.
The key is to remain consistent and develop content that is interesting to both you and your readers. It will help you to develop a brand and a reputation in your area of interest.
Author Lisa Orbe-Austin