10 basic tips for beginning bloggers

image by Foxtongue

I shared this list on a career industry e-list this morning. The initial question was what lists should I put my blog on and how do I know they are the right ones. My answer went a very different direction but it is the way I have built my business on Design Resumes.

If you are a beginning blogger or thinking about starting to write content, this is a good place to start to better understand how to make content marketing work for you.

1. Start by building content on your own blog. You need to let Google do its own work. When you own your own real estate by putting the content on your blog ripe with great and interesting content as well as the key words that will attract people to your niche in the industry, you will bring the traffic (and Google) there.
2. Blog regularly. You need to build blog content. In the beginning, start with as many times a week as you can handle. Blogging 2-3 times a week is a great start.
3. When looking for ideas for content, make notes when you are away from the computer or better yet keep a pocket recorder or use an app on your phone to record blog topics. (they come easier when you are not staring at the screen.)
4. As you write, link to your own copy when appropriate. Each blog post should have at least two links and your own or someone whose content fits your topic is great.
5. Make your blog comment friendly. Andy Bailey’s Commentluv plug-in is a great way to reward your commenters for stopping by with links to their site.
6. Make it easy for others to share your content. The plug-in, Sharethis is a reliable one that connects to multiple networks.
7. Use the common social networks to promote your blog: LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, and Google+. But build community on the them by posting other content and by communicating with other.
8. If you want to go outside, start with Business Exchange from Business Week. Traffic will come back. You connect with your LinkedIn account and can share your own and others content there by topic. I was first alerted when Laura DeCarlo asked that we make Resume Writing a topic on Business Exchange but there are many other career-related articles.
9. Read good blogs. When you read others, you will be inspired. And besides career industry content, read marketing experts. My favorite is Jim Connolly. Others you might be inspired by include Danny Brown and Copyblogger.
10. Comment on other blogs but make sure you have your Gravatar set up with your photo and link back to your own blog. A rich commenting strategy will build those links you want, especially with CommentLuv blogs.

There you have my initial thoughts. Hope these help. After you master all of the above, then carefully study where the best in the industry are sharing their content. This comes after you have been out there and you may or may not want to do this depending on your marketing goals. Blessings!