Get Started Blogging for Your Business with This Helpful Guide
You’ve just started your blog. You sit down and see the blank document on your screen, the cursor blinking right where your words should be. The only problem is you find that you have no words. You can’t think of anything you want to say. How did that happen and what do you do?
What to Write:
After you decide to write your blog you need to figure out what to write about. Simply put, find your focus and write about what you know and what you discover. Write about tips and tricks you’ve found that work in your industry. You can also write about current events in your industry and new things you’ve heard about or tried.
If you’re a veterinarian, you might write about new medications in your industry. Or, you might write about a great experience you had with an animal, especially if the experience is something you see common with pet owners.
Most pet owners aren’t experienced enough to stay on top of new trends and medications, but they love their babies with a passion. Speak to that passion – what are things to look for in aging pets? Is a particular symptom indicative of a common problem, or something worse?
What NOT to feed your pet at Thanksgiving. Explore all aspects of your interest. remember, the Internet is full of information, but much of that can be misleading or just plain wrong.
As a blogger, you’re creating relevant content that will be found by people searching for answers.
How to Write:
Blogs are a good resource for people looking for information about a subject. That’s good because you have information that you want to share with people. In fact, you have a vast knowledge on subjects you want to share. The problem comes with communicating that information.
The gap of knowledge between you and someone who knows nothing or little about a subject is huge. Just remember to write on a level that is easy to understand. That means no industry jargon, technical terms or abbreviations that people won’t understand unless they have the same knowledge on a subject that you do.
For example, if you are writing a legal blog, instead of writing, “The defendant, pro se, said she wasn’t there at the time,” write, “The defendant, representing herself, said she wasn’t there at the time.”
This will minimize confusion of those unfamiliar with the term ‘pro se’. This is not to say don’t ever write on a higher level of knowledge, just keep your audience in mind.
Length to Write:
Sorry to say, but there is no one right answer here. The length of a blog post will depend on the message you are trying to get across. If it takes 600 words to get your message across in a clear way, then there is no sense in adding more just for the sake of making a post longer.
On the other hand, if you are trying to explain or talk about a topic that is complicated or needs more space to discuss, a 1500 word or more blog article would better suit you. Don’t try to condense an article to a point that it doesn’t make sense just to meet a length requirement.
You can also split blog articles into a series, if the topic is something that would be best served in several installments. Blog article length is going to vary even in within your company. Don’t be afraid to go short or long, just focus on writing a good article.
To sum up, write about what you are interested in, in a way that everybody can understand and remember to not worry about the length. But, most importantly, keep blogging!
Meredith Kisow is a senior at LSU majoring in Mass Communication with a concentration in public relations. Meredith enjoys reading in her spare time.
Work with Catapult Creative Media Inc. Catapult Creative Media Inc. is a digital marketing and design agency serving clients over the United States but is proud to call Baton Rouge, Louisiana home. Founded in 2007, Catapult provides digital, social and mobile marketing solutions backed by relevant strategy and measurable results. Catapult works the web to their clients’ advantage, launching them to their next level of success.
