Self-employment blogging

Blogging for Business

The marketing of your coaching and consulting services is almost all about marketing yourself. When someone buys your coaching or consulting services they are buying you - your skills, talents, knowledge, experience and interests.

Therefore, among the strategies coaches and consultants can employ to market themselves, establishing credibility and developing a relationship with your target audience should be high on the list.

You need to be aware of a new online technology that has literally caught on like wildfire over the last year and looks to have a permanent place in the marketing arsenal. I am speaking of blogs and blogging.

What are Blogs?
At a basic level, blogs are a form of web site where the author(s) write and post content frequently - weekly, daily, or for some, many times a day. A blogging tool facilitates the ease of publishing and managing content.

How You Could Use A Blog?
* As an add-on to your existing site, a separate site, or even a replacement for your existing site
* To complement or replace your existing writing and publishing efforts
* Focus around a specific niche or interest, as a more intimate window to you, or general purpose
* To post long articles, short articles, 2-line posts, personal journal entries, resource lists, quick commentary and links to interesting sites / people / articles / news that you have found and think are of interest to your readers,
* To post photos and audio clips, recommended reading or listening lists

6 Reasons Why You Should Consider A Blog

1. Ease of Online Publishing & Content Management
It seems easy. Write an article. Put it in your newsletter, and maybe on your site. But when you make your article archives available, and get 5, 10, 20 of them live, links start to change and the whole things gets unwieldy quickly.

Writing and publishing articles in your blog is as simple as entering the text and pushing the submit button. Voila. You have a categorized, catalogued page. Because the column, header and other elements of your page are separate templates, any changes you want to make over time will be reflected across your content.

Blogs also offer great content management features. For example, when you set-up your blog, you create keyword based categories for the topics you will write about. Every time you post, you select which categories your post applies to, and from then on, your posts is catalogued by category and date.

Bonus Benefit: If it is easy to publish and maintain, you will write more!

2. An Effective Way of Attracting New Visitors to You
Google and other search engines love fresh, keyword specific content. It turns out, therefore, that blog posts are like catnip for search engines, delivering visitors with specific search terms to your specific article posts. Visitors who come to you throught the “side-door” are often pre-qualified prospects, because your site had what they were looking for.

3. Establish Credibility, Allow your Readers to Get to Know You, and Keep them Engaged
By their very nature, blogs are an informal means of communication with your reader. You have the means and flexibility to communicate as you wish with your readers and they get to know you better. You can easily establish yourself as an expert in your chosen area. You can surprise your readers with resources and keep them coming back for more.

Blogs also offer a commenting feature, meaning that readers can write comments about your posts. Those comments, if you choose, can be visible to other readers, in effect, creating an article-specific dialogue on your site.

4. Reach More Readers More Often
First, with blogging tools, come a content syndication capability. Readers can “subscribe” to your content and receive “news feeds.” Every time you post on your blog, all those people who have subscribed to your news feed will automatically see what your fresh content is.

Second, they do this through another new form of software called newsreaders. You don’t need newsreaders to visit and explore blogs. If you do have a newsreader, you can subscribe to a blog, and in your newsreader, see a preview of that content. If you like the subject, click on the link to be taken to the site.

Third, with the deliverability of email getting less and less sure, content syndication is fast becoming seen by the experts as the new way that online publishers (that means you) can reach their audiences.

5. Build Networks
Blogs allow, and encourage a high degree of linking between sites, other blogs, and individual posts. You can use this feature to show your readers what is of interest to you, find new sources of support, create alliances with complimentary bloggers, and expand your area of influence.

6. Build Your Profile
The vast majority of blog sites spend a lot of time referring to other blogs. If blog owners like your content, they will refer to it, link to and recommend you.

If you’ve decided that blogging is a fit with you and your business or you are curious and want to learn more, here are the basic steps:
1. Surf to see the range of options and tools available
2. Make decisions about how it will fit within your business and your existing web site, and what you will focus on.
3. Research and choose your blogging tool.
4. Set it up. In addition to style, you will want to identify the keywords for your business, and therefore subject categories to focus on.
5. Write. And Write.
6. Publicize and cross-link.

Of course, blogging may not fit you or your business. At a minimum, you may now start to find and recognize other blog sites as a wonderful resource. For an example blog, please visit mine at http://boldcareer.com/blog.

Personal assistance integrating a blog into your marketing mix is available to my Solopreneur’s Gym customers.

Job Search Strategy 5/6: Network for Referrals & Recommendations

Some time ago, I began a 6-part series on the strategies, or sources of new jobs for you. Recapping, we left off with:

1. Getting Moved Internally
2. The Job Posting Route
3. Getting Called
4. Market Yourself to Target Companies

So, what is #5? Networking of course. Getting referred. Recommended. Sourcing your way into companies via relationships.

This is almost so obvious, that I hesitate to write about it. But, it is that important. Of all the channels to obtain jobs, the most effective is via networks. That's the way it works.

I once read in one of those men's fitness magazines that you can't call a workout complete without having worked on your abs. No abs, not a real workout.

Well, in my opinion, networking, relationship building and targeted efforts to reach and establish a connection with key people are the "abs" of the job search process. If it is not already a part of who you are and how you operate, you are likely resisting this avenue.

Don't.

Do you know that you could literally build your whole career on this skill? (Not to mention how important it is for doing business.)

There are two basic ways.

1. Incoming referrals. When you have planted the seeds, and tended the garden, you will be able to eat. Over and over again. I wrote about this in Getting Called, and will not repeat myself here.

2. Outgoing...building and working your network. This is the real guts of it. Marketing yourself to people you know, people they know, and the people you want to know.

Of course, being effective at this strategy isn't about what, but about the how. Sending an email blast to your friends and family when you are in need of work is all well and good, but very rarely will it produce the desired result.

a.) One approach is to network your way into target companies and I wrote about this in Market Yourself to Target Companies.

b.) Truly working the network means understanding what you offer, what you want, and where you fit, and then having focused conversations / communications / touchpoints with the people you know. They go something like this:
* This is what I have been doing and this is what I have achieved
* This is what I want to do next, this is where I am going
* This is what I can offer
* I would value your feedback (listen)
* The kinds of organizations I am targeting are ________ or the kinds of opportunities I am best suited for are_______
* Do you know anyone at Company X, or Industry X, or do you know anyone working in the field?
* Who is doing interesting work in this area? Which companies, which people?
* Etc.

You get the picture. Notice how this approach is far removed from "I am on the job market. If you know anyone who is hiring, can you please pass on my resume."

c.) Purposefully targeting individuals in your target field or industry is a highly effective activity. You can do this via referral, or you can go direct. When direct, it really helps to have mutual touch points that you can refer to.
* I notice you worked at Company X. The company I was with did business with you.
* We share a lot of the same contacts.
* I am a fellow member of the ________ Association.
* I have been following your articles / or have been a reader of your blog, or.. (i.e. you have taken the time to do homework on this person)
*...You get the idea.

The trick with this technique, and I am telling you it can be hugely effective, is to be clear that you have value to offer. That organizations generally are always interested in quality talent. And, if you are focused, and "invested" in your target market, you can do well.

You can take the approach that you are looking for your next opportunity. Or you can approach based on a desire to know the person. Or, you can approach based on seeking out industry information - not the basic kind, but around what you want to do and where the movement is. Or, perhaps you are in a position to make a connection for them that would be valuable. Or...

Again, you get the idea.

TIP: If you haven't realized it yet, this approach, when done successfully, is a side-door to the recruiting process. Why?

1. Companies can be inundated with unqualified resumes. A qualified referral can go to the head of the line.
2. The quality of the referral conveys status to you.
3. Often, the referral provides you with the opportunity to meet the decision maker, an opportunity not provided to the majority of job applicants.
4. Often, you end up being a candidate for an opportunity that hasn't been released yet. In other words, the short-list for the job is very short indeed.
5. Jobs often get shaped at an early stage, and might be shaped to take the most advantage of your offering. Pretty cool.

All in all, it sounds like a worthwhile use of your time.

Career Development During the Holidays Series: The New Beginnings Phase

Okay. You've socialized. You've reflected and planned. What's next?

Action!

On what?
Internal career development. Job search. Career change. Increasing your profile and personal brand in your market / community. Launching that product or service. Personal development. Personal or family projects. Health. You name it.

Here are some powerful ideas for getting a strong start to your year:

1. Schedule your year: Major events and milestones. Self-set deadlines for goal achievement. Vacations. Long weekends. Weekly fitness activities. Putting something in your calendar has power.

2. New Year's Letter: A business, or professional-oriented New Year's letter can be a great way to get the word out about what you are doing and where you see your market going in 2006. Provide some value. Create a touchpoint with your network and clients.

3. New Year's Meetings: Follow-up on those meetings you couldn't schedule during Christmas and book others. Agenda? Kick-off for the year. How can you help. What are they working on. Sharing what your goals and plans are. Works with your network, clients and colleagues.

4. Make Decisions: Have you been procrastinating on making a decision? Career change? Going for a promotion? Starting a new project? Now is a great time to be decisive. Decide yes or no, and then get on with it.

5. Make a Plan: Create a road map for your projects. For your job search. Be clear about next steps. Don't get stuck at the implementation phase.

6. Take Early Action: Making a strong start to your projects in January / February will create excellent momentum in the first quarter.

7. Remove Roadblocks: Let's face it. We can have a lot of baggage. Commitments we haven't delivered on. Unfinished projects. Promises we made but don't want to keep - with others, and ourselves. My advice is try and clear as much of these as possible. Removing baggage has a powerful way of freeing us up to take on new things. How?
* Decide which you need to follow-up on and which you should abandon, based on your priorities, and take the appropriate action. Perhaps renegotiate some of your deliverables to better fit your current priorities and situation.
* Blitz those that you have committed to completing.

8. Consider Partnering with an Expert: If you aren't making progress, want to move faster, or want the expertise of a professional, consider getting some help. On your internal career development. Job search. Resume. Career change. Solobusiness. Fitness or financial goals. Investing in ourselves is one of the best investments we can make.

Of course, there are many more ideas. The point of this article, and the previous two in this Career Development During the Holidays Series, is that there is a natural opportunity to make significant strides in your career development during the Holidays.

Happy Holidays!

Career Development During the Holidays Series: The Reflective Phase

Beyond strengthening bonds with those around you, the Holidays offer an invaluable opportunity for reflection.

In recent years, the New Year's resolution has been battered in the media. However, there is a natural cycle occurring that we can and should benefit from. We are hardwired to wind up the old year and ring in the new. It is a natural time to reflect on where we have been and where we want to go. The Holidays also offer the potential for time off, or, depending on the business you are in, a quieter workplace.

Take advantage of this convergence to invest in some reflective alone time.

Action Item: If you haven't already, consider booking some time for yourself and your favorite tools for journaling. (For me, that is my trusty Moleskine diary.)

Here are some questions to get you started. I recommend that you apply this process to both your personal and professional life, examining the various roles you play in your life.

1. What happened this year that I want to record?

2. Where did I meet the targets I set for myself and where did I fall short?

3. What behaviors helped me to succeed? What behaviors caused me to fail?

4. What did I learn?

5. What unfinished business do I have going into the New Year?

6. What do I want for the coming year?
* What do I want to start doing?
* What do I want to stop doing?
* What do I want to achieve? Happen? For me? For those around me?

7. Why are those things important to me? What different will they make in my life?

8. What would success look like in the various aspects of my life?

9. What decisions do I need to make?

10. What am I resisting doing?

11. What goals am I setting for myself?

12. What is my plan to achieve those goals?

13. What structures can I set in place to increase the probabilities that I will succeed? Here are some ideas:
* Scheduling
* A mentor, coach, or advisor - to help clarify, strategize, execute, and hold you accountable
* Teaming up. Joining a group working towards a similar goal
* Telling people about my goals.
* Putting review days in my calendar
* Making and acting on the decisions necessary to achieve your goals

Of course, your exploration can go in many different places. It might be the beginning of a powerful year. You might also simply confirm and validate that you are on the right track. Either way, the process will make you feel more certain and energized as you hit the New Year.

Career Development During the Holidays Series

The Holidays are not a career development wasteland. In fact, December & January are a powerful time for career development. There are 3 time periods, or natural phases that take place during the Holidays and each phase has its own inherent opportunities. They are:

1. The Social Phase

1. The Reflective Phase

1. The New Beginnings Phase

How can you make the most of the Holidays? I will look at each of these in turn over the next day or two.