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Blogging Tips: Creating Valuable Content

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Blogging is a tool that anyone can utilize; the accessibility of free blogging sites, the availability of copy-&-paste templates, and the blogging sites' ease of use, blogging can be done in any home (or office) and on any topic imaginable.

In order to leverage the multitude of blogs everywhere, create content worth reading that offers value.

Here are some ways to do that:

  • Write on topics you are passionate about. Even if you are not in the industry, if you are passionate about the topic you write and are genuinely interested in writing about it, it will show in your posts. If you are otherwise, you may not get much of a readership. You may feel inclined to write about the industry you work in, but you can also write about an industry you are interested in. Even if you don't know much about the industry, do your research, and share your findings. You will soon become knowledgeable on the topics you write about.
  • Write often. Writing daily is ideal, but at least 2-3 times a week would do your blog good. It will also help you become more informed on the industry, if you were otherwise unknowledgeable about the industry's specifics. If you are experienced in the industry, this will help to showcase that expertise.
  • Write on relevant topics. Though this doesn't mean that you must write on current events, it does mean that you need to write on things that matter to those perusing the Internet. Write on keywords searched for often, or write on things that are basic, to-know tips for people in your industry that might stop by your blog.
  • Write quality posts. Length does not always denote quality. While you might have been able to get away with that in high school, it won't do you much good on your blog. With so many sources online for readers to go to, your content must outshine other blogs, or offer something that will keep readers coming to (and staying at) your blog. You may be able to say more in a shorter post. Either way you go, ensure that your post has a purpose, offers tips, answers common questions, and perhaps evens offers solutions to problems people in the industry may be faced with.
  • Connect and respond to your readers. This is a vital part of becoming a respected source of information. It also shows you as being helpful, someone that can be approached with questions. Encourage contact and involvement, and respond; this can personify the blog and the company it may represent.
  • Offer your content for free. Like the eBook now available here, give things away that your readers may find of use. Write a white paper, offer useful newsletters, compile an eBook. Any other the above will help your visitors to trust you more and see you as an authority in the industry. If your content is not very good, however, you may not get far; try not to advertise yourself too heavily in the content you give away. Make it simply a gift you're giving away. This may also help in the long run when the sales funnel comes into play and you've got a product you want trusted.
  • Connect with other bloggers. This is a great way to add valuable content to your blog if you are able to do guest posts, interviews, or case studies. Often times, other bloggers who have great content to share are knowledgeable about the topics they write and may even times have more experience in the industry than yourself. Utilize your connections, but ensure that you offer something of value to them as well. At the least, read other bloggers, respond to their blog posts in your own blog (citing them, of course), and encourage others to read the entire article. You may get a wide array of responses, but the majority of bloggers will find the reference beneficial.

While there is little demand for more blogs to emerge in the blogosphere, there is always room for a good blog. The Internet has made it easy to reach niche markets that were otherwise ignored because of the sheer cost of advertising and marketing. With the right tools (such as blogs), these niche markets can now be served without the high costs experienced in the past. Utilize the opportunities that blogs and other social media tools present to PR professionals everywhere.




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