I wrote this article years ago for Socialtik Magazine. It’s amazing how things come into fruition. 🙂

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The world has truly become virtual. Plenty of companies, professionals, entrepreneurs and the like are investing in the power of developing a professional blog.

If you do enough research, you can find a blog for almost every industry that exists. In addition, plenty of professionals are establishing blogs to showcase their talents and expertise.

Having your own professional blog is another way to increase your online presence while connecting with other young professionals worldwide. However, as every other aspect of life, it requires dedication and attention in order for it to reach the magnitude that you desire. Below are a few tips that can help you to start your own professional blog.

Take time to find your voice and niche

There are a lot of blogs out there. What is it about your blog that someone should actually stop and read? What is your writing style? Are you informative? Then you could possibly have a blog featuring the current news of your industry. Are you a critic? Then your blog could feature product designs and reviews on them.

Also, spend some time writing some drafts. It will help you to find your beat and what your passion is. In the midst of your planning,  be sure to visit other blogs to capture a sense of their tone and style of writing.

Search for different hosting sites and formats

WordPress and BlogSpot are popular hosting sites that have free services. However, like all products and markets, the blogosphere has its own set of existing products and channels. Be sure to do your own research and explore sites that are prevalent for professionals in your field.

As such, be very strategic with what type of format you desire to have. Will you update daily, weekly, or monthly? Will you have more of a casual tone or do you desire to be a primary news source? All of this should be properly assessed and researched.

Familiarize yourself with how to drive in traffic

Social media like LinkedIn, Twitter and Face book are perfect for this but there are a variety of other ways to drive in traffic as well. Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is a huge way to drive in traffic. They key to SEO is keywords. Creating your own is a sure way to increase readers and awareness.

Have fun!

This is not your full-time job. If you do not enjoy updating your blog, then stop blogging. Likewise, if you enjoy it, then be sure to connect with some paid bloggers and gain advice on how to make your goal a reality!