Social Networking for Gen Y A Guide to Starting a Blog

Social Networking for Gen Y A Guide to Starting a Blog If you have ever thought about starting a blog, it is very important to make sure you do as much preparation as possible. Starting a blog has been one of the best things I have ever done.   I have learned that I love to write, connect, teach, help and learn.   If you are thinking about starting  a blog, here are  five things to think about with help from Alison Silberts great new book called  Boost Your Revenues By Turning People Away: How to sell more to your ideal client online. Make a long list of  great ideas that you will blog about.   You should have a common theme so  that every blog post should be connected in some way.   When I first started I had close to 50 post ideas so I knew that I had a topic that I was passionate about.   Make sure it is something you enjoy and you can see yourself writing about it for a LONG time! Think about your ideal visitor.   This will help you know who to write to.   Each time you write a post, you should think about writing it  directly to that person. Create a website name with short simple phrases to help your ideal visitor remember the name.   A website name can cost between $9.95-$45 US and can be purchased at companies such as godaddy or whois. Know the pros and cons of working with a website designer.   Some of the pros are that you can choose a unique design for your site and it is easier to fit your needs.   But, the downside is that  it can be very expensive and you can lose control of various areas of development.   (If you need a great designer, check out my designer at Strosgirls Designs). Plan out your writing schedule.   Will you post once a week or everyday?   Make sure that you have the time in your schedule and take it one day at a time. You never want to feel like you HAVE to blog but it should be something that you enjoy doing. For more information, make sure you check out this video by J.T. ODonnell about whether or not you should start a blog.   I love her advice to identify 4-6 key skill sets from your resume you want to leverage in your next job and plan to build blog posts to support each one.   What a great idea! Are you a young professional with a blog?   If so, leave a link! (photo credit: Mike Licht)