Are you thinking about starting a blog for your Firm? You’ve come to the right place.
Blogging can position yourself as an industry expert, widen your digital footprint, boost your website traffic, improve your search engine optimization, and build rapport with potential clients.
The benefits of content marketing cannot be understated. Want a leg up on your competition? Start blogging ASAP.
With some structure and a few tips, you’ll be a rock star blogger in no time.
Here’s how you get started…
Be a Content Sponge:
Not sure where to start? Forget about writing. Instead, consume as much content as you possibly can. Be a content sponge.
Magazines, newspapers, blogs, twitter, food labels, billboards, the dictionary – read it all.
Okay, maybe not the dictionary. But you see where I’m going with this. Read EVERYTHING.
Be sure to broaden your preferences though…
If you are a family law attorney, switch things up and read about real estate or movies or black holes or Mexican food or foreign policy – literally anything.
When you read diverse material, you energize your imagination.
After feasting on an all-you-can-eat content buffet, something magical happens. Ideas start popping into your head.
You’ll be walking in the grocery store. Drooling over the double-stuffed Oreos. Thinking about how shitty your diets been since you started that trial. Then…Eureka!
You remember that your clients’ health often suffers during trial too. Why not write an article about the importance of staying healthy during trial?
Congrats! You just got hit with an idea for your first blog post. Now write it down!
Ideas are easily forgotten, just like dreams. So when you get hit with a majestic idea, like the one in the above example, write it down.
You might want to invest in a pocket notebook. Or just use your smartphone. Either way, get that shit down so you don’t forget it.
Once you’ve got a solid idea, you then need to turn it into a blog post.
Here’s how you do it…
Pick a Format:
Pick your blog post’s format before you begin writing.
Will your post be list based or subject based? For example, your article could either be “5 Tips to Eating Healthy During a Divorce” OR “Eating Healthy During a Divorce: Everything You Need to Know.” The former’s format is self-explanatory. The latter’s format is broken up into headings and subheadings.
List based articles tend to be easier for writers new to the game.
Okay, so you’ve picked a format – what’s next?
Outline Your Content With Headings:
When you craft your headings before you begin writing, you set yourself up for success.
It keeps you organized and gives your content a clear road map.
If you’ve gotten this far in the process, take a deep breath because the hard part is over.
It’s easy peasy lemon squeezy from here on out.
Give it Some Meat:
Now it’s time to write the body of your blog post. This is the easy part.
You need to dive in headfirst. Dump all of your knowledge onto the page. And don’t worry about sounding funny or clever – that all comes on the rewrite.
If you consulted any outside sources, cite those sources with clear hyperlinks.
Draft Your Intro & Conclusion Last:
Intros are critical to a good blog post. They either hook your reader or turn them away.
Be sure your intro answers the following two questions:
- What is your article about?
- Why should your audience care?
Remember – you’re writing to provide value for your current and future clients. Therefore, it’s critical to articulate the expected value in the intro.
Make it Pretty:
Congrats! You’ve finished your first draft! Now it’s time to clean it up and make it pretty.
I recommend stepping away from your content for at least a few hours before jumping into editing.
Grab a cup of coffee or hit up chipotle for some fuel.
I recommend a burrito bowl with white rice, black beans, double chicken, mild salsa, sour cream, cheese, guac, and lettuce. Just sayin.
Do whatever you have to do to ensure you are editing with clear eyes.
A wise man once said, “clear eyes, full hearts, can’t lose.” And he was right. Shout out Coach Taylor of the Dillon Panthers!
Here are a few tips for editing your first post…
- Comb through your content for spelling and grammar mistakes. Be sure to check out Hubspot’s 30 of the Most Common Grammatical Errors We All Need to Stop Making.
- Shorten your sentences. Dispose of unnecessary words. Here are a few tips from the Center for Plain Language.
- Shorten your paragraphs. Double tap your enter key often. White space is friendly on the eyes.
- Ensure you are using active voice and not passive voice. Active voice makes your sentences direct and punchy – further strengthening your content.
- Use contractions. They make your writing less formal.
- Use pronouns like “you,” “your,” and “yours” as often as you can. This connects you with your audience.
- Limit your use of adverbs. Be creative with your word choices. For instance, instead of saying “he’s very mad,” say “he’s furious.”
Conclusion:
Remember – your first post is likely to be the hardest to write. But with a little curiosity and careful planning, you’ll be cranking out quality content in no time.
In the words of NBA superstar, Joel Embiid, “Trust the Process.”
You’re well on your way to becoming a blogging superstar!
via The Lawyers Post
Brendan Bald 