Business and Blogging

Blog Challenge Number Four - An Independent Human Resources Professional

by Laura Spencer on January 22nd, 2008

(businessandblogging.com) A few weeks ago Liz issued a challenge to our readers. She challenged the readers to think of a business that could not possibly benefit from blogging.

So far we’ve addressed the following challenges:

• An Illegal Business

• A Quarry

• A Gas Station

Today, I’m going to answer the challenge issued by Heather, who blogs at SpinningSilk Multimedia. Heather presented the challenge to her networking group and got a response that perhaps the owner of an independent human resources firm couldn’t benefit from blogging. The reason given for the challenge was that by blogging they’d be giving away work for free and that it would take time away from paying projects.

I got really excited when I saw Heather’s challenge, because I think that the objections she presented are present as fears in the minds of many independent business owners.

So, today’s post is for the independent business owner! How can blogging help you?

1. Establish yourself as an expert. The concept of using a business blog to establish yourself as an expert is not new. Liz Strauss of the Successful and Outstanding Bloggers posted about it over a year ago. A business blog allows you to do more than tell your clients that you know what you’re talking about. It allows you to show them.
2. Provide additional income opportunities. While a business blog will probably not become a direct source of revenue, once you are established as an expert you may be offered other opportunities. Some bloggers have been offered consulting positions, speaking engagements, and even the opportunity to write a book.
3. Initiate a relationship with clients and colleagues. Don’t underestimate the value of relationship to your business. In today’s world, where everything is becoming increasingly impersonal, strong customer relationships are one area where you can stand out.
4. Your competition is already doing it. In the example given of human resources, I found a number of HR blogs. Just a few of those include: KnowHR, YourHRGuy.com, and CareerXRoads. (I’m sure that I missed finding many others.)

What about the fear of giving away work for free? My take on this objection is that the HR professional’s clients probably come to them for specific advice about their individual situation and not for the generic type of tips that would be provided on a blog. (If the clients wanted generic tips, they are already out there on the Internet.)

What about the second fear, the fear that blogging would take time away from paying customers? In many ways, this is a legitimate fear. However, it need not be. Once the blog has been set up the small business owner need only to post a new entry about once a week and spend a few minutes each day checking for comments.

So, my advice to Heather’s networking group friend: take the plunge. Set up a blog for your business and start posting about once a week. Include the blog URL on your correspondence, business cards, and in your e-mail signature. You may not see immediate results, but in six months to a year you may find that the blog has made a difference.

Let us know how it goes.

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POSTED IN: Blogging, Business Blog Challenge, Small Business