Last week, I had the Silver Lined opportunity to participate on a panel (hosted by the Santa Barbara chapter of Women In Communications). The title/topic was: To Blog or Not to Blog, That is the Question.
It was a fun and engaging night. One that really helped me think about/reflect on how and why I blog. As many of you know, I started the blog as a way to keep my friends and family apprised of my goings-on during my ’bout with FBC (f-bomb breast cancer for new readers). Over time, it became a way for me to share my physical, emotional, spiritual and often ridiculous experiences with the f-bomb disease. Because of my clinical experiences as a nurse, social worker, child development specialist and educator, I couldn’t help but write from both sides of the bed. In other words, I have always written from both a personal and professional experience.
It was interesting to be a part of this (terrific!) group of women, many of whom are interested in or who have started a blog as a business endeavor. This has never been my intention so I felt a wee bit like a fish out of water…but what’s new. Sometime I feel like a fish who lives out of the water.
So, in addition to sharing my experiences, I learned a whole lot about the world of blogging as well (Silver Lining)! Wow, it’s amazing how much there is to learn…and how truly clueless I am! Sometimes I swear that it feels like blogging is the (new version of the) Wild West!
Lorrie Thomas Ross was the panel moderator (who did a super job!). She is the CEO and The Marketing Therapist® of Web Marketing Therapy®. I love her philosophy that: “There are no ‘shoulds’ with web marketing, only ‘coulds’.”
Lorrie believes that the Secrets to a Healthy Blog include having:
- Voice: Blogs are about conversation. They put a human face behind an organization and help convey your authentic self – showing your realness and personality.
- Theme: When visitors come to your blog, they must know immediately what your blog is about. Bring your personality and passion with you. The best blogs are a marriage of fact and opinion.
- Content: The key to a booming blog is having killer content.
- Design: Create a blog design that is appealing to your customer/reader.
- SEO: Blogs are a great tool to help boost search engine visibility. Use priority key phrases in copy, headlines and in hyperlinks to make the blog search delicious.
- Outreach: If you want to use a blog as a tool to boost your business, then you have to network and do web marketing outreach to build blog traffic and attract new readers. Include an outreach plan in your blog strategy.
Hollye, you are too modest about your blog. I think you pass with flying colors on all 6 points of Lorrie Ross's "Secrets to a Healthy Blog". Granted you don't run your blog as a business endeavor, but you write an informative, creative, and inspirational blog on a subject, F-bomb cancer, that you are passionate about. I am quite sure that you added a great deal to the panel. Keep on blogging, my friend. 🙂
Thanks so much, dear Carolee. I really appreciate it! If you keep reading, then I'll keep on blogging! 🙂