Using a Blog to Promote Yourself

While media hype about blogging over the last several years continues to ebb and flow, the blog remains a great way for writers and artists to promote their work and network. But just how can a blog or online journal, often derided as a daily account of salad one had for lunch, help you get your work noticed?

One of the significant cultural changes the Internet has wrought is that it's now possible for anyone to be a celebrity in their niche interests. Despite this vast expansion of the ranks of who is a celebrity so somebody, human nature hasn't changed and people still want to hobnob, even virtually, with those they consider to be part of an elite class. This phenomena is something your blog, regardless of its subject, should try to take advantage of.

But setting yourself up to be an Internet expert or celebrity can be tricky, and there are key things you should remember as you work on your blog:

If you lie in your blog, or anywhere else, someone on the Internet will catch you. You don't want to be caught. Don't lie in your blog.

In your blog be sure to balance professional content with personal content. Many people when starting a blog to promote their creative or professional efforts make the mistake of being all business all the time. While your business is what you want to promote, it is critical that you provide not just a human face to your endeavors, but a persona that people can feel privileged to know a little bit about in a "behind the scenes" fashion. Always think of your blog as the DVD extras disk. Your blog may focus on your writing, art or other endeavor, but it must also reveal glimpses of you and your process to get and keep a loyal following.

Remember that the Internet is forever. Be judicious about the type of personal information you share on your blog. If you don't want to have to explain it to your mom, your boss or your spouse next week, next year or next decade, don't blog about it.