This blog post is a first for me. I don’t mean I’m new at blogging; I’ve been doing that for a while now for other people. This is the first time I’ve sat down and written about myself.
That’s because I recently decided to turn freelance and now I’m the proud founder of “Bill Blogs”, my own web content business.
Why businesses should blog
I’ve got a new website, new business cards and now I have to put my money where my mouth (or keyboard) is. I’ve been telling my clients how important regular blogging is for a number of reasons:
- It keeps your website looking fresh, giving a good first impression.
- It attracts new visitors who you can turn into new clients.
- Google notices and likes busy websites, so your business climbs the search ratings.
Blogger’s block
I know the value of blogging for attracting new business, which is what I want. So why have I been putting it off?
Well I’ve had a revelation. I now understand why busy businesspeople would rather pay me to do their blogging “homework” for them.
I’m a former journalist and I enjoy listening to other people’s stories and writing them for others. If it wasn’t so poorly paid, I’d still be doing it. But it’s surprisingly hard to look at your own life or work and spot what might interest other people.
Lewis Hamilton – life in the dull lane?
Familiarity breeds contempt and I bet even a Lewis Hamilton or Taylor Swift see their jobs in terms of repetitive, dull routines and hard work, even though questions like what they eat or how they stay fit would fascinate the rest of us.
If you’d like to liven up your website then a regular blog is a great way to do it, but if you’re struggling for ideas…
- Ask a partner or your kids how they see your work
- Write about new products or services you offer
- Answer some of your customers’ FAQs.
Alternatively, ask a web writer to interview you. They’ll come up with half a dozen more great ideas over a cup of tea.
And maybe I’ll come up with an idea for my next post by next week!
