Better Writing 101 : Enter the Blogosphere

Posted by Lima Al-Azzeh Sep 8, 2008

Though “Blogs” have typically been used as a log of personal commentary or have commonly taken the form of an online diary, they have recently surpassed these traditional notions and are fast becoming a writer’s best friend. Here are some ideas on how creating a blog can help to promote your work.

Creating a Portfolio

A blog can serve as an online portfolio wherein a writer can write professional articles and store them all in a convenient place. It may prove to be useful for employers who are seeking samples of a writer’s work, to just direct them to a professional looking site in which they may have access to numerous examples.

Forum for Feedback

“The blog is here to help you make the most of the web,” says blogging and internet marketing consultant: Chris Garrett. The nature of the blog as a means of communication can help any writer ask for insight or feedback on their work. Though some debates have arisen about the authenticity of comments writers could gain some valuable feedback from trusted and loyal readers or even fellow members of the writing community. After all, despite the changing nature of blogs and their multiple uses, they are still first and foremost a tool of social engagement and communication.

Increase Traffic to Your Site:

Link Building

You may want to consider joining or getting “tagged” on popular social bookmarking sites such as Digg or Del.icio.us-- now Delicious. This will allow your site to become a part of that great big blogosphere and hopefully will direct other bloggers to it. It may even inspire them to link their sites, or other similar sites, to your own, therefore advertising your work for you.

Widget What? -- A lesser known SEO trick.

A lesser-known SEO trick is to add “widgets” to promote and share your site with others. A “widget” is a graphic applet that can be added to a site and allows you to share and promote your site via other social networking agents such as Facebook or Myspace.