Blog to Get Referrals

Successful blogs have a theme and successful bloggers consistently add value within the theme. Write about what you know and enjoy the opportunity to learn more. Preparation and research within subjects you know well spark new ideas and expand your mind. Share what you learn because your readers subscribe to your expertise -- that includes your ability to share what is new to you for discussion.

Posting to your blog on a regular basis provides many benefits. 1) Time management. We know you are busy being successful, hold yourself accountable to sharing what you know. 2) Preparation and research makes you smarter. 3) Stay top of mind with your subscribers and growing network.

Unless you are writing about how to be a perfect writer, don't worry about your writing skills to the point of time drain. Don't get me wrong, proof your work and don't be lazy, but blogging is about getting your stream of thought out there. If you are like me, you make mistakes often but you will become a better writer. Practice makes perfect. By the way, you don't have to write big articles of content. Pithy posts are appropriate. Look at Seth Godin, he will post a few sentences of impact. You can too!

The Internet is full of information and the medium is about conversation. Your blog is not a newspaper, it is a conversation. Share what you know and who you learn from. Reference people and resources with links. Practice talking with people not broadcasting self-serving content. By the way, don't be discouraged when your excellent posts don't get 100 comment or even one. If you start your own blog, it takes time to get known and even when you have readers, only one or two percent will participate. When you create your blog on Your Brand Plan, you will benefit from traffic sooner and maybe even comments sooner but the same percentages hold true in general. Be patient, keep adding value and conversation

You better have fun or stop everything. Just like the job you hate or business that is not fun to operate, your blog is something you must enjoy or stop doing it. You will find times where you lack inspiration or have nothing, fine. Come back later. People notice when you are having fun and LOVE when you are being yourself. Be yourself and blog about what you know. In addition to your other on and offline activity, you will see referrals come your way.