Recently, a client asked us for tips on how to start a blog. Coming up with fresh ideas and writing a blog that appeals to your audience can seem like a daunting task, but really, blogging is just another way to communicate and make yourself likeable (and valuable) to current and potential customers. And if done with the right attitude and goals in mind, blogging can be a lot of fun! I’ve decided to share my blogging tips here — on our blog! — for anyone who is thinking about starting a blog, or who needs a few tips for refreshing an existing blog.

Be personable

• Approach blogging as a way to show the more human side of your business.

• Use a conversational tone to engage readers — think coffee shop rather than conference room.

• Share insights and tips from your professional experiences with like-minded readers.

• Try to end each post with a question that invites readers to take part in the conversation — and don’t forget to respond if they do!

Be creative

• Open with a sentence that grabs readers’ attention — start with a funny anecdote, a clever metaphor, a riveting question…anything that makes the reader want to find out more.

• Find ways to tie current events to your business; in other words, show readers that what you do every day is relevant to what is going on in the real world.

• Use photos, graphics, and videos to make your blog more visually appealing (and personable).

Be brief

• Readers want information that is easy to obtain and digest, so keep blog posts as short and sweet as possible.

• Break up your post with bulleted lists — they make it easier to scan quickly, and will keep your readers’ attention better than lengthy body paragraphs.

Be conscious

• Even though a blog is a more informal way to communicate, use common sense to decide what is appropriate and what is not — at the end of the day, you still want to be professional.

• Always be aware of the consequences of publishing content on the Internet; like any form of online content, blog posts are not free from legal, political, or social liabilities.

• Watch for grammar and spelling errors, and be consistent with punctuation, numbering, etc.

Be committed

• If you have an interesting, engaging blog, you will soon have a fan base that will come back regularly, so make sure you are blogging at least three to four times a week.

And lastly…

• Don’t forget to integrate keywords into your blog titles and posts so that people looking for what you offer will find you first!