Friday, January 8, 2010

Six Tips to Use Your Blog to Boost Your Career

As the spring semester starts, upcoming graduates need to find creative ways to set themselves apart from the competition. One way to do that is to start a blog based on your interests and/or the industry you hope to enter.

According to an article posted on WetFeet.com, there are six tips to consider before starting your blog and ways to utilize it as a way to boost your career prospects:

1. Choose a Unique Topic: “Start with your passion and expertise, but if that’s too general, create a niche by catering to a specific audience,” says Dan Schawbel, author of Me 2.0: Building a Powerful Brand to Achieve Career Success.

2. Keep the Content Professional: For example, comment on an industry article you found, review a book related to your expertise, or offer tips based on a previous job or research.

3. Match Your Blog to your Brand: When picking a blog name, URL, or username, stick with what’s on your resume. You might even consider purchasing your name as a domain so you can create www.yourname.com, which can be redirected to your blog.

4. Write Regularly: If you’re going to create a blog, you need to be active enough to show employers that you’re committed to keeping current on industry buzz. Although PRowl Public Relations attempts to update daily, it is recommended to update at least twice a week.

5. Market Your Blog: Once you have a cache of entries, include your blog on your resume, or mention it in interviews or follow-up conversations with employers. On a resume, list your blog with your personal information or under “Relevant Experience.”

6. Don't Isolate Yourself: Search for other blogs (try technorati.com), post comments, and link to them from your blog. Read books and post comments on Amazon.

Click here to read the full article!

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