I’m a huge fan of blogging, and I’m clearly not alone, based on Blogging Statistics reported by Bob Yeager last month. There’s no question that blogging can be rewarding, both personally and professionally! But if you don’t think blogging is for you, or you’re not ready to commit to maintaining your own blog, there are a number of ways you can increase your online presence through other people’s blogs.
Leave Comments
Locate and read the blogs that are likely to interest the people in your target market, and leave comments. Most blogs allow you to include a link to your website so other readers who may be interested in knowing more about you can easily do so. Make sure that your comments are insightful, not just self-promotional or something vague like “Great post!”
Answer Questions
Many bloggers occasionally post a question, and compile the answers in a future post. This is a great way to put your name out there! I’ve recently participated in a number of such posts, answering the following questions:
How do you organize business cards so that you can do the right follow up?
What is the worst networking faux pas you have seen?
If you could start your business over, what would you do differently?
What one piece of technology empowers you to conduct your business better?
What Internet App for business NEEDS to be created?
Keep your eyes open for opportunities like this on Twitter and Facebook, and sign up for HARO to become a source for bloggers and other media.
Become a Guest Blogger
I’ve been invited by a couple of my clients to write the following posts for their blogs:
Questions to Ask Before Hiring a Virtual Assistant
Organizing Your Job Search Schedule
Organizing Your Job Search Workspace
Organizing Your Job Search Contacts
If you don’t have a blog yourself, your chances of being approached are slim, but there’s no reason you can’t make the first move. Contact someone whose blog is read by the people in your target market and let them know that you’re interested in writing about [your topic]. It could even be a colleague in your own industry, as many bloggers welcome the opportunity to take a break from writing and to give their readers another point of view once in a while.
Get Mentioned
If you treat your clients well, they’ll be happy to recommend you. I was just thrilled to see my name in these recent posts:
How to find and use a Virtual Assistant to get ahead
Most bloggers promote their posts on one or more social media sites, and readers also share them with their networks, so the potential for exposure is more than you might think. What’s especially great about being mentioned on a blog, whether it’s as a commenter, a topic expert, a guest blogger, or a recommended service provider, is that it stays there forever (or at least until the blog is taken offline), so you can continue to get noticed for many years to come.
Great post! Couldn’t resist saying that! Very useful advice for people who say they can’t blog. I will be sharing this with my Social Media for Newbies Page tomorrow.
Thanks, Nicky – I appreciate it. I’m a fan of your page myself!
Janet, for a beginner in blogs like me, these little steps are always are reminder of both, what I can do to improve and of how much is to be learned!
I love your postings. I’m always learning.
Thank you!
Helena, your comment made my day! It is so gratifying to know that doing something I enjoy so much is also benefitting others. I hope your blog brings you just as much satisfaction!
Like your advice … really .. I am a web developer and still not that much in blogging.
I mean how is that even possible
Ibrahim, try out some of these steps and let me know how you make out. Who knows, it might even make you want to start your own blog?