Blogging has become an integral part of the internet today. It allows people to express themselves, tell stories, share their knowledge, and have a voice that is heard. Blogging is a powerful tool for anyone who has something to say and wants the world to hear it. But what makes blogging even more powerful is writing about things that you are passionate about and have opinions and knowledge different from others in your industry. When you write about something that you are knowledgeable or opinionated on, it gives your audience a sense of who they’re working with. If they’re a good fit, most likely what you write will resonate with them or even better, you may offer a new perspective that intrigues them. Let’s explore why writing blogs can be so impactful to your business and your personal brand and how to get started. 

Finding Your Voice 

When you write about something you’re passionate about and have expertise in, it’s easy to find your own unique voice. Your readers will appreciate your authenticity and be drawn in by the power of your words. Passionate blogging also helps you connect more deeply with yourself as well as your readers because you’re being honest. And if you write truthfully enough, those that resonate with your information and perspective will reach out to work with you or discuss the topics related to your blog posts! 

Developing Your Content Strategy 

Your content strategy should reflect what matters most to you as a business owner, an expert in the finance industry, and most importantly, what’s keeping your clients up at night. When creating content for your blog, think about how your clients (or potential ones) heavily rely on your expertise but also your opinion on these topics. They’re looking to YOU for financial advice for a reason so make sure it’s honest to your craft as well as engaging. For example, in finance you could consider writing blog posts about budgeting tips or investment strategies; if travel is something that interests you then focus on creating content around traveling experiences or destinations; or if dentists are a target audience of yours then why not create content around the experience you’ve had supporting dentists and areas that have been important to them regarding their savings? No matter what topic you choose to write about, make sure it’s something that interests YOU and correlates directly with your business because this will give your content energy and enthusiasm that will attract other passionate people just like yourself!   

How to Get Started

1. Pick your blog’s name/niche: The name is what readers will see first, so it should ideally represent either the general topics you’ll be writing about—or it could be your own name (business name), a catchy combination, etc.
   1. The niche is the general topic you’ll be focusing your content around. Incorporating a word or two that clearly signals what your content is about, within the name of your blog will be very helpful for your future readers.
2. Get your blog up and running: This is where you’ll be selecting the blogging platform and web hosting plan you’ll use to get your blog online. (A common platform is WordPress. Many companies use this to build their websites and can house their blogs here as well).
3. Customize your blog: choose a free template that fits the theme and design of your brand.
4. Write your first blog post: You read blogs because you care about the content and creating high quality content is what will bring you readers. (Furthermore, bring you clients, and $).
5. Promote your blog: it’s time to get readers to your site! 
   1. Start with people you know: reach out to your immediate circle of friends, colleagues, and encourage them to check it out.
   2. Social Media: you can post links to your newest blog posts on your social channels. The power of sharing and resharing will help reach new audiences.
   3. Engagement: you love the traffic headed to your blog posts so return the favor. Comment back to those who interact with your posts but also reach out to others in your industry or inner circle to provide insight or create conversation. 
6. Post consistently: Create a calendar and stick to it. A good blogger posts at least once per week to start. If you have gaps between posts, your followers will drop off and your growth will start to plummet. We didn’t say it was easy to post on a schedule, but the results are worth it. 
7. Start an email list: In addition to getting new visitors, you want to be sure the ones you have come back. Email marketing plays a big role in this. By collecting the email addresses of your visitors (with their permission), you can let them know when you post new content on your blog. This keeps people coming back to your blog, and also allows you to build a stronger relationship with them.

Adding Images: What To Lookout For

If you decide to add an image to your blog, here are some things to consider:

• Original /high-quality infographics: strengthens brand and increases ratings
• Have a reason for it: only add when it makes sense to add visual representation
• Use the correct file type: to optimize images for SEO it’s important to understand what file works best (JPEG, PNG, GIF)
• File size is important: big image files will obviously make pages load slower, use smaller sizes when possible
• Descriptive captions: some readers may not take the time to read every word but will skim and hit the caption of your photo. Make sure it’s detailed and catchy.
• Avoid Thumbnails: too many photos can crowd the page and slow loading.

Consistent blogging truly has its rewards! Not only does it help bring out the best conversations and insight into your business and whatever other topics you choose to write about but it also allows readers to connect more deeply with both the writer behind the words as well as the message being conveyed. When executed properly, blogging can bring forth tremendous success in terms of both audience engagement and growth opportunities within any niche market. Don’t hold back- start your first blog post today!