According to Wikipedia 'A blog is a Web site (a contraction of the term "Web log"), usually maintained by an individual, with regular entries of commentary, descriptions of events, or other material such as graphics or video. Entries are commonly displayed in reverse-chronological order.'
Some blogs provide a commentary or news about a particular subject. Other blogs may just be a personal online diary. Whatever you think a blog is, it probably is. There are very many types of blogs and just to name a few - personal blogs, corporate blogs, question blogging, by media type, by device, and by genre.
What is the value of a blog? All web designers will tell you that it is there to enhance your search engine statistics for your web-site; but another advantage of a blog for an organisation is that it allows a number of 'authors' to write and publish their own information, thoughts, stories, or news in a very simple way.
Take for example the ECI's blog - this blog allows all the senior Leadership team to publish information about coaching or the world of coaching. Take my own blog - it is more of a personal online diary with hints and tips about emigration! Oh that dream I'm sure that we all have - yes I am doing it!
Technorati as of December 2007 was tracking more than 112 million blogs around the world! This means that if you are looking for information, news, someone's personal experiences, not only do you have the formal web-pages and web-sites available to you for research you also now have regularly updated 'web-sites', in the technical world, called blogs, that provide information. I am sure that 112 million sounds a lot, but when you put it in the context of the several billion web-sites available - it isn't that many and yes, there is a lot of space for more.
How do you promote your own coaching business? I've heard many coaches say that they must have a web-site, but do you really need one? From a business perspective my thoughts are that you do, as linked to this you will have a business image and business email addresses. It just shows that you are taking your business away from the one-person style of business into the realm of the 'corporate' style. I just think it makes you look more professional, but how does your blog fit into this business or corporate image? For some it is the opportunity to allow free publishing of news, information, etc. about the business, or others it's a tool to promote their web-site. Whatever the reason it does provide you with more marketing opportunities.
Does a blog take a lot of time? No!!! The setting up of any new facility, marketing tool, etc. does take a little time and setting up a blog is no different. You need to think through the look and feel of what you are trying to portray - image, logo, etc.
If you are thinking about putting a blog up - it's really important to think about a number of points:
- what is the focus of your blog?
- what type of information do you want to publish?
- what type of promotion will you be doing through your blog?
- what type of image are your portraying to your readers and to your prospective clients and to your clients?
- how much time do you have to publish your blog?
- how often will you be publishing information?
- which blog provider will you select?
- which email address and web-site link will you be promoting on your blog?
- how will you use your blog to promote your own marketing?
How do I do my blog? I sit down at my laptop with a cup of coffee on a Saturday morning every week and spend a hour just writing. The great thing about the blog systems available to you is that you are able to write, review, update, change, review, and only publish when you are ready to. You can also go through the whole of writing and reviewing and setting a future date to allow your blog to be published at a time that suits the blog entry. This hugely beneficial when you are about to go on holiday or be out of the office for a period of time, as it allows you to have your blogs published at a regular interval even when you are not available.
Barbara J. Dalpra, MNMC, FECI
Accredited Fellow Coach (ECI)
Deputy CEO (Operations, IT, Finance)
Want to make a success of your coaching business? Take this opportunity to benefit from your membership with the ECI - promote yourself through the International Coaching Register or as an Accredited Coach through the ECI's Coach Referral Service. Joining the ECI is a simple process - click on this link and select the type of membership that will benefit you and your coaching business. Any questions, contact the ECI to get your answer.
Barbara's biog can be found on the ECI's Volunteer page for Barbara or her coaching business details can be found on either the ICR or Coach Referral Service by using this link!
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