I’ve been blogging for over seven years. Not long enough to be considered an early adopter, but long enough to know a few tricks. Are you a Human Resources blogger? Are you someone who has considered blogging? Here is my best advice.
- Don’t be a Human Resources blogger. Be a writer, be a thinker, and have something interesting to stay. Pick a genre, build an audience and learn to improvise.
- Read more than you write. I consume a tremendous amount of content — from blogs to books to newspaper articles to podcasts. Be curious. It makes you more interesting.
- Don’t ask for feedback. Writers never have an honest thing to say about another writer.
- When in doubt, don’t write. When you half-ass a blog post, you insult your reader.
- Less is more. If you think about the development of a white paper, there are three phases before you even complete the dang thing. There’s an abstract, an outline, and then your (multiple) drafts. A blog post is more involved than an abstract but less involved than a final draft.
- Don’t try to show thought leadership. We get it. You are smart. But blogs are meant to entertain.
- Keep it light. Blogging isn’t therapy although it can be very therapeutic. Readers will grow to love you but they don’t want to hear about your dark, intimate secrets. Help them solve their problems, not yours.
- Don’t rely on lists. Ironic, I know.
My final piece of advice? Don’t take yourself too seriously. Labels such as influencer and thought leader are cute — but they aren’t real and they don’t mean squat.
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I’d add:
9. Post consistently (relatively frequently) — daily or every other day (yes, even weekends — internet is on 24/7).
10. Allow comments – and don’t make me register/enroll to be able to comment.
11. Use the comment section yourself to reply/respond/interact with commenters – this is more fun & entertaining if it is more interactive.
12. Watch out for spam comments, and those that get hateful & attack others – those quickly degrade the experience.
I like all of these and I really like #12. I work hard to moderate my comment queue. It takes up a majority of my time as a blogger. Not easy but worth it.
I follow a professional specific blog – the posts are great, but the comments disintegrate into vile personal attacks (under pseudonyms often) very quickly. Very disappoointing – considering the profession – apparently their frustration needs an outlet….
I’m Stephen O’Donnell, and I endorse this message.
My work here is done.
And if you aren’t already blogging, don’t start. It is a pain in the arse.
Nobody likes to read that — although it’s true.
I just want to make people laugh and draw awkward stick figures. Is that so much to ask of the internet?
Yes. Yes it is.
At least I have a cat.
Where do I mail the check, that some of the best advice on blogging out here. Thank you.
I charge five bucks for this stuff on a 1:1 consultative level.
#6 should be tattooed on the foreheads of a large number of people (and not just in HR blogging).
Yes! I would also add: Be clear on what rewards you’re looking for. Do you just want to write because you’ll find that on its own fulfilling? Or will you be devastated if you’re not on Top 10 lists in your niche? More problematic, are you thinking you’ll make money this way? (You might achieve both of those, but better to have them be fabulous surprises, rather than anything you’re assuming.) Be really, really clear on what you’d be satisfied with and what you wouldn’t be … and if you’re not going to be satisfied unless you become a Rich and Famous Blogger within a year (or ever), don’t do it.
Laurie – concur on all points. I find blogging a great creative outlet with lots of spillover benefits. If you become too attached to what you want it to be, it becomes less enjoyable and more rote. Seems like it should organically evolve to what it’s meant to be. – Emily
I’ve got an addition to g-dog’s 9-12:
13. Remember transparency – We get that you’re plugging/promoting/pimping something but don’t be an ass.
Or if you are going to be an ass – at least clearly identify yourself
Yes to all and one more – I’m with Allison on this: fewer expectations = better.
Post when you have something valid, entertaining, but best of all original to say. Oh, and ignore the lists that tell you to post on some preset schedule-that is the absolute worst advice on bloggging yet written-yet, people keep writing it. Very few people have the time to read all the blogs they follow everyday, maybe even every other day-but those once or twice a week catch ups are priceless. You have no idea how often anyone will click on your link, so post away, when you have something you just have to get out there-sometimes it will “go viral” (remember when that meant the dreaded flu?) and sometimes only your 3 most loyal readers will see it. Doesn’t matter, it is out there, you said it. And you never kow when it might show up on someones Google search.
Enjoy the trip, relax, if your blog is HR’ish, that’s good too, just don’t mindlessly repeat what all the uhm experts have already posted. Be contrarian. I am done.
If you aren’t enjoying your blogging life, your readers won’t either.
@Karin – my post re: frequency is maybe better stated as be somewhat predictable/reliable. From my perspective, if you don’t update fairly regularly – I’ll stop visiting… I actually check the blogs I follow everyday – but I don’t follow many (~10).
Fantastic advice for us ‘wannabe bloggers’ (HR or not) who just can’t seem to make the time to get it right the first time around.
Karin, I couldn’t agree more.
Lately I’ve gotten a shit-ton of positive results from random new people in my network who’ve met me and then find my blog. For instance, I bought something on Etsy and the artist threw in another, more expensive, piece for free because her son-in-law is looking for a job and knew my crappy, updated randomly, blog. My new coworkers found my blog and it broke the ice WAY faster than would normally happen when the new HR VP shows up at a company that laid of 35% of their staff last year.
New readers or people in your network don’t care WHEN you write something, they just like the glimpse into your brain and the helpful advice.
Thank you for pointing out that bloggers should not ask for feedback. I cannot stand when bloggers write, “Tell me what you think.” They are practically begging for comments. Believe me, if Internet-savvy readers want to leave a comment, they will.
I would add, “Don’t be afraid to switch it up.” Change the content, change the layout, try different mediums other than writing posts (e.g., video, podcasts). This will keep things fresh for you and the readers.
And steal shamelessly (but make it your own).
I agree with Keep it Light, we don’t want are dark secrets out in the open, lol thats what facebook is for ;-P
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