Time, Money, And Blogging

Time is money. You need to make some hard decisions about how much time you want to spend blogging and how you plan to profit from this time spent. There are few deductions or expenses involved in this form of social media- it’s mainly time you are investing. What the heck are you going to blog about?

• Your product- Are you going to show photos of available designs to purchase? Experts say you can’t do the hard sell when it comes to social media. You can’t just blog week after week about products you want to sell. Instead, you have to entertain. It's important to share some kind of information the customer wants to know and will return loyally to your blog. This isn't always easy. Balance again plays a role because you need to educate the readers that you are selling finished goods to, but you don't want hound them or bore them. This type of blog takes the least amount of time in my opinion.
   
• Your services- Maybe you are a designer, teacher or demonstrator looking for work. How do you showcase your talents and abilities that are for sale? I think this is a little easier. In essence, you are creating a visual portfolio. You’ll need to learn how to self-promote while not feeling uncomfortable or bragging. Self-promotion isn’t easy for everyone. Instead, think of it as if you were writing about a friend. Step outside of yourself and describe and promote this wonderful artist or craftsperson.
   
• Your expertise- This might seem like a combination of the above two themes. In fact, it might very well be. Many bloggers position themselves as experts. They become personalities, celebrities, divas, and queens. You might know what they do and you might have an idea of what it is they create or what service they provide, but what it comes down to is that you know the personality. It's as if they're acting, and for many this has proved profitable. Just keep in mind that this type of thing is a 24/7 commitment and the work is endless. Profitable, but endless (just ask Martha Stewart). Many in this category end up hiring a social media service to keep the content flowing.

You’ve got a choice to make. Only you know how much time you have to devote to blogging. Only you can decide if the pay-off is worth the effort. I made the choice to hire out when it comes to blogging. You’ll see me more as a guest blogger on sites/blogs. I like getting paid when I write. It’s my profession and when you label yourself as a professional it means you get paid for any effort. I’ve done just fine without a focus on blogging, but I still pay attention and try my best to stay informed and up-to-date, which is just part of staying successful as a business. I do believe that blogging is now part of the mainstream and an important piece of our culture. When all is said and done, we need to include it in our business toolbox.