Blogging for Business, and Some Updates
One of the things I emphasize as a writer when I work with other companies is to post blog updates on a regular basis. So, you can imagine my chagrin to have not posted here on my own site for over a month.
It’s a classic case of the shoemaker’s children running barefoot.
However, I like to think of it as a sign of the fact that I’m actually getting work done for others. And as a result, I’ve got some nice news to share.
Blogging for Businesses on March 4th, 2015
For one thing, I’ve got a speaking event coming up in Toronto that I’m very pleased to share:
What: Blogging for Businesses, hosted by Canadian Small Business Women
One of the challenges of being a business owner is finding effective ways to promote your business. One way is blogging: at this event you’ll learn the importance of blogging for your business, as well as some tips on how to make it work for you. I’ll talk about:
- Reasons why you should blog
- Reasons why you shouldn’t blog
- Ways you can still add value with regular content even if you fall into one of the categories of people who shouldn’t blog.
- What you should do before you start a blog
- How to craft effective blog/web copy and structure a blog post
- Using the hub-and-spoke model to integrate your blog with your wider marketing efforts
When: March 4th, 2015, 6:30 to 9:30 PM
Where: North York Central Library, Room #1, 5120 Yonge St, Toronto
New Guest Posts and Articles to Share
Secondly, I’ve added new client work to my portfolio. In particular, I’m quite proud of two new pieces I’ve written for others; here are some excerpts to whet your appetite.
What Bloggers Can Learn From Good Print Advertising
The first thing you’ll notice about this ad (despite the blurriness – a result of taking this photo while riding public transit) is that although the main image is in black and white, it grabs your interest.
For one thing, the contrast between the black background and Parlby’s face and neck make the ad stand out. For another, her picture isn’t centered, which creates room for the main quote. In fact, this ad in general makes good use of a design principle called “the rule of thirds”, which adds visual interest to photos by positioning items of visual interest a third of the way into (and not in the centre of) a photograph.
This balance of image and text creates harmony, while the flashes of yellow in the corners add visual interest. Overall, the design here is a winner.
Yes, LinkedIn Can Help Freelancers Make Money. Here’s How.
The most important thing to remember is this strategy works best over a long period of time… The person you contact today may not get back to you until the following week, arrange a phone call the week after that, and then request you follow up a month later. In other words, it will probably take weeks or months for that first touch to result in paying work.
…To many freelancers, LinkedIn is intimidating because the general tone is a lot less personable compared to other social networks. However, for those who know where and how to look, LinkedIn can be a gold mine of freelance possibilities.
