What’s the deal with blogging?

I've been talking a lot about blogging lately. 

I created a blogging card deck, a 30-day blogging challenge, and I'm working on a program to help solopreneurs and small business owners jumpstart their writing confidence along with their blogs.

It's been "Blog this, blog that, blog, blog, blog, blog, blog" around my house for a while.

So I wasn't surprised when my husband said to me last night, "Should you create content that, you know, tells people why they should blog? You're assuming they want to blog already."

He's right. I do want to work with people who want to blog, as well as with people who want to send emails and create other content that speaks to, educates, and gently sells to readers. 

But as I've been transitioning into the blogging space, I've run into several people who've said, "Yeah, that sounds interesting, but I really don't think I want to blog."

Opportunity!

If you're one of those people, I must ask: Why don't you want to blog?

Why don't you want to create helpful, inspiring, aspirational content that gives readers a sense that you're credible, an authority in your field?

Why don't you want to create content that builds up the know, like, and trust factor so people feel confident about taking the next step?

There are other reasons to blog as well:

• To generate leads
• To draw people to your website from social media
• To get known by people far and wide
• For SEO purposes (Hello, Google!)
• To have non-salesy reasons to email your list (Hey, I just published this; go take a look)
• To win the love, respect, and cash of more customers

What's that? You're not a writer?

Doesn't matter.

What's your prospective customer going to say when she arrives at your website and sees "Sorry, no content here; I'm not a writer" as the headline? 

Not being a writer is no reason not to blog these days.

There are writing coaches and editors. (Hello!)

There are methods to build confidence in your writing ability, if that's your block.

And if all else fails, there are writers galore out there waiting to write in your stead.

What's that? You don't have TIME to blog?

Same thing. What's your prospective customer going to think when she visits your competitor's website, which does have a blog, and your website, barren of content?

Who will she think is more credible? Likeable? Trustworthy?

Who would YOU think is more credible, likeable, and trustworthy?

Blog posts don't have to be long. The general consensus these days is that 300 words is enough. 

Can you write 300 words?

Here's what 300 words looks like.

That content is the first 300 words of my Manifesto, or my statement of what I believe and why I do what I do. 

That might make a good blog post, although I'd have to give it an ending.

What's that? You don't know what to write about?

So you think.

If you and I spent 30 minutes together talking about your business, I guarantee that you'd leave that conversation with at least 24 ideas for blog posts. Probably more.

If you blogged just twice a month, those 24 posts would carry you through AN ENTIRE YEAR.

Then, when Mr. or Ms. Prospect arrives on your website, they'd have something to do other than to look at your list of services. 

They'd be able to get a better sense of you.

See your style.

Begin to trust.

And when that happens ... when trust blooms ... anything is possible.

So there you have it.

THAT'S the deal with blogging.