Do you ever get those days when you know you need to blog, but the sight of the empty word document fills you with dread? I’ve been there! This is a great blog post from Christina Robinson at Green Umbrella Marketing for us, with some really easy tips.
Blogging is a chore for some and a pleasure for others but why is it important and what should you do about that blank page?
Why recruiters should be blogging regularly
Blog content can make a huge difference to a recruiter’s visibility and brand. For a lot of people though, the thought of writing an article, particularly a longer one, fills them with horror. We have all sat in front of a computer screen staring at a blank page and wondering what to write at some point and it can be really frustrating. The internet is full of tips and tricks from professional writers that all seem great but, well, you are not a professional writer and sometimes you can’t help thinking ‘it’s easy for you to say’ about their hints for this and tips for that. You are in recruitment not journalism. Still, that blog needs to be written.
Most of the time, when you are struggling with getting a blog done, it is down to process and approach rather than any problem with the subject itself. After all, you are a professional recruiter, so you know your subject. So how do you solve the problem of the blank page?
- Can the team help? It may be that some or all your team will embrace blogging and pick up a bit of the content production for you. If not, they are the ones with their finger on the pulse of the market so ask them what clients and candidates need to know right now. Even if they don’t write the blog, they will give you some great ideas.
- Is guest blogging a possibility? Not only will you get a blog you will get more reach because the writer will usually promote their contribution for you. You may need to do a blog in return of course, but that seems only fair. With guest blogs you will also have access to content that would otherwise not be available. It’s all about being creative with what will appeal to your candidates and clients. Could you accountant write something on tax for contract workers? How about asking one of your friendlier clients to do something about their industry? Whatever works for you and them.
- Can you ‘vlog’ instead? Yes, of course you can. This is all about you reaching out to your marketplace and providing useful content for your candidates and clients. Just make sure that if you do use video instead of a full blog you also make sure it is visible. That means social media posts, the right platforms, making sure the text around it is right and generally promoting it is available.
- You don’t like writing so does the word count matter? Well, it sort of does so try to get above 300 words, but a smaller or larger word count is probably less important than you think. If you write to produce engaging content and forget the word count you will usually find you end up a decent length blog anyway. Try breaking it down into smaller goals. Map it out first with a brief note(s) for your opening, things to remember to mention and the summary. Remember, most writers will say that good writing is re-writing, so you are probably best to take regular breaks and review what you have. The Pomodoro method, where you work for 25 minutes then take a break, is a really good way of breaking down a writing task into smaller workloads.
- You can re-use old content with a new spin if you like. There is nothing wrong with re-visiting your blogs from the past and either updating them or using them as inspiration for writing a new piece around part of them. There is probably a whole article on blogging in each of these five sections for example.
When it comes to blogging, consistency is important, so you need to schedule it into your calendar and commit to doing it. The more you create a process and method, the better your blogging will be. Sitting around waiting for inspiration to strike is unlikely to work and, even if it does, it probably won’t next time. Make a list of blog areas to focus on such as hints and tips for candidates, recruitment news and views, client success stories/case studies and so on. Each time you put another piece of structure in place you chip a little bit out of that wall stopping you writing.
One final thought for you. Writing teaches writing. Even if it’s something you never use or a masterpiece, the important thing is to write something when you sit down. That blank page is only blank for as long as there is nothing on it. The more you write, the more you will be able to write and you may even start to enjoy it.
