Blogging4Jobs

One day it happened.  I fell out of love. . . with blogging.

For the past four years, blogging has been a passion, a point of inspiration for me and my business.  But lately blogging has become more of a chore, an action, a requirement, and something that is expected.  Over the last month, I’ve fallen out of love with blogging.

Like folding the laundry, it has become something I avoid, and I’m not alone. . .

Ask any blogger that’s been dedicated to the craft of blogging and you’ll hear about this cycle.  Inspiration, creativity, passion or love is not a constant.  Your level of creativity and commitment ebbs and flows.  About once every 12-18 months, I seem to shift my thinking and sometimes lose some focus around my blog.  Like any commitment or relationship, blogging takes a level of dedication and persistence.  It’s not for the faint of heart.

• Set low expectations. I mean manageable expectations.  Don’t over commit.  Creativity can’t be scheduled and neither should your blog.

• Write what’s easy. Historically, for me a blog post doesn’t take more than 15 minutes because I write about what I know and what I’m passionate about.

• Target your business. (or your personal brand).  The topics I blog about are tailored to my blog audience and prospective clients.  Sometimes I completely bomb on a post and other times I hit a home run.  The point is that I learn from my mistakes and successes driving me to do and be better in business.

• Visual matters. Half the fun in writing a blog post is searching and finding a fantastic photo to go along with it.  Use graphics, photos, and titles that draw the eye in.

• SEO sometimes matters. Everyone talks about links and making your blog search engine optimized.  It really depends on your audience and for whom the blog post is intended.  It only takes one view a blog post to sometimes close the deal.  While I recommend link backs and hyperlinking, it’s not the be all end all solution.

Find your inspiration point or place and bring your intentions and passion with your blog back into focus.  For me, I took a technology time out over the weekend and spent some time writing out my personal and professional goals related to Blogging4Jobs and blogging in general. Having an idea and goal in mind helps me to remember what’s important and stay centered with my goals in mind.  You can too.

As someone who’s been a blogger for four years, I can talk about the amazing benefits personally and professionally.  Blogging is a great way to go beyond 140 characters and share with your readers more about you.  And after being part of the Gotta Love Chevy OK Program, I realized I wanted to bring awareness to this powerful group of people (thousands of us) who live all across the state of Oklahoma.

And after talking with other Oklahoma bloggers who I admire, I thought it would be a great to coordinate a week in Oklahoma to recognize the bloggers from all over the state.  This week will be to network with other bloggers and share best practices and lessons learned along the way.  More information about when and how the week is coming soon.  And if you’d like to be the first to learn about the big announcement and who I am partnering with, please complete the information form (below).  And if you prefer, you are welcome to email me at blogging4jobs@gmail.com.  Please include your first name and last name, your email, and blog or website address.

I will add your name to the distribution list to receive updates BEFORE the announcement hits the internet.

Photo Credit DailyNugget.

Last week I presented to a group of Restaurant Human Resources Professionals as part of the People Report Summer Camp Symposium in Dallas, Texas.  The event was hands down the best conference I have ever presented at or attended.  I led a session titled,  ”Blogging for Dummies.”

Blogging is an interesting topic for Human Resources and Corporate Recruiting Teams.  An amazing corporate blog can help effectively communicate change to your current employee base while also providing potential candidates a look inside your company and corporate culture.  Recruitment and HR blogs should be managed by their respective departments and not marketing.  Marketing should work hand in hand with their talent team and serve as a consultant or advisor.

For the individual, blogging in my opinion is an absolute must to help define and control your personal brand.  Blogs are a great way for companies and clients to learn more about you outside of your professional resume or social profiles like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter.  Blogs can be the difference maker for job seekers and are the Resume 2.0.

My talk’s foundation started with what I call the 5 P’s of Blogging.  Although similar, the 5 P’s of Blogging are different from the 5 P’s of Marketing you might remember from your undergrad marketing class.

• Purpose. Your blog as a corporation, collaboration, or person must have a purpose.  Similar to a corporate mission statement, your blog’s goal must be defined and like any marketing or branding tool must be developed to attract and inform a particular segment of your audience or market that you have defined.  Too often, we start a blog without the proper research or understanding of what we want to write about or who we want to engage.  Developing and defining your purpose is by far the most important step.

• Platform. The decision to create a blog starts with the decision to use a blogging platform or service.  I encourage you to play with some of the platforms before you make this decision.  I say this from my own experience.  My first blog, BloggingforJobs was on a free platform called Blogger before I moved it to its own domain and transferred my blog to another platform called WordPress.  A third and very common blog platform is TypePad which my good friend Kay Stout uses.

• Planning. Hands down your first 10 blog posts are the hardest so it is important for you to plan, research, and prepare for these first few articles.  This is an important part of defining your blog’s writing style, your own style, and setting up the structure surrounding how often, who, and when your blog will release its posts.  If you have a collaborative, corporate blog, I encourage you to work with at least 4 bloggers who will commit to writing at least one blog post every two weeks.  Personally, I commit to no less than 8 blog posts a month myself for Blogging4Jobs and have for the past four years.

• People. Second to Purpose, this is the most important step.  People are the social aspect of blogging.  Ask your entire company to help you promote leveraging their own networks.  Setting up a simple RSS feed or newletter can help leverage your contacts both inside and outside the company as well.  Both these tools allow persons to subscribe to your blog updates while keeping your brand and company at the top of their mind.  Blogging should be a two way conversation and I encourage you to keep the comments open both good and bad.  Candidates realize that companies aren’t perfect and its the conversation and culture that sets companies apart.

• Promotion. Promoting my blog on social networks is a huge part of my blog’s success.  I recommend using social bookmarketing sites to promote your blog like Digg, Stumbleupon, Technorati, and LinkedIn Groups in addition to popular social platforms like Twitter and Facebook.  Your marketing department is key in helping your blog gain momentum and popularity as they are experienced in online press releases with services like Pitch Engine.

Want to bring an corporate, personal, or professional blog to myself and the reader’s attention?  Leave a comment below and recognize them for a job well done.

Photo Credit Farm3.

Original content that you’ve created or written on your website is in fact your own.  Just last week I came upon a website that was using an article I wrote without giving me proper credit.   During a phone call with one of my clients last week, they mentioned a media company’s website and video interview in our course of conversation, and I decided to take a look.  There beneath her video interview was a copy (including picture) of my blog post word for word with the exception of one sentence.

While this isn’t the first time I’ve had this situation happen before, I was upset.  I work hard to provide interesting and relevant content on my blog and website.  It’s my passion and something I enjoy doing.  Copying someone else’s work without verifying and citing them for the content at the very least or asking to reproduce is like putting pictures of someone else’s children in your office and calling them your own.

• Calm Down. I’m glad I took a moment to breath, calm down, and get my bearings on the situation.  I took ten minutes to clear my head and look at the situation objectively.  This company is someone my client knows and trusts.  I don’t want to jeopardize that.  I have less clients than I do blog posts and for me blog posts are easier to come by than clients.

• Just Ask. That’s in fact what I did.  I choose to call the company and leave a message directly with the contact person listed on the website before following up via email.  Asking them to site you or credit you for the article first is the best way for me to play nice in this type of situation.  I provided them my phone number, full name, and website address.

• Play Nice. Decide whether calling someone out on the carpet outside of a friendly email and phone call is worth jeopardizing your reputation or brand.  How will this one situation impact you financially and also be sure to consider the cost and time if you make the decision to legally pursue the culprit if they choose not to do as you ask.

The rise of blogging and social networks has certainly led to an increase in these types of situations because of the ease of access to information as well as led to an increased awareness of copyright, plagiarism, and content theft.  Blogging typically has zero cost and barrier to entry because of sites like Blogger, Posterous, and Wordpress.  Many internet bloggers, writers or webmasters are not classically trained to cite, list, or credit authors, ideas, or articles as well as blogs appropriately.  It’s the bloggers responsibility to educate and train themselves on the rules surrounding this process.  The best defense is a good offense, so it is important for bloggers and writers who publish online to protect themselves as well.  Either way–here are some resources to get you started.

• Copyright, Blogging, and Content Theft from ProBlogger.
• Blog Plagiarism Q & A from Daily Blog Tips.
• How to Defend Your Blogs Copyright from ProBlogger.
• The 20 Best Free Anti-Plagiarism Tools from The Blog Herald

I’m optimistic that my blogging story will have a somewhat happy ending.  The company representative left me a message over the weekend apologizing and asking that I confirm the correct spelling of my last name.  The jury is still out but look for a part two blog entry to keep you posted.

Photo Credit Pendleton Panther.

I have often said that being a blogger has been the best and most important career decision I have made, and it’s true.  I enjoy writing and being a thought leader in my industry.  Bloggers who are serious about putting out quality and interesting content often before major publications and newspapers do, work very hard to write and produce good information.  It requires a lot of research, preparation, and creativity.  For me, blogging it not about making money.  It’s about building relationships and growing your personal and professional brand.  Because I have worked hard to build my name and brand, blogging affords me a lot of benefits.

• Networking. Blogging is a great way to meet with authors and speakers with whom you admire.  You are able to connect with them and establish a relationship while interviewing them for a blog or website.  I have been able to make and build relationships with some very influential people in my professional career as a result of blogging.  Their insight and mentoring has changed my career path.

• Media Access. As a blogger who has worked hard to build my brand, I have the ability to attend conferences and special events as media where I can blog, network, and interview presenters, attendees, and vendors.  Of course, I have to put out articles and content as a result from attending the conference.  It’s nice to be seen at events as a relevant and viable form of media.

• Client Testimonials and Work Examples. A good blog post with comments and conversation aims to make a potential client or customer’s decision to hire you much easier.  I am able to lead a prospective client to my site allowing them to view my work, my thought process, and insight into me and what I value.  It’s a living resume or profile that goes beyond the usual work experience into your passions and revelations.

• Special Blogger Access. I was able to plug in at SXSW and charge my labtop, iphone, and other electronics in a lounge specifically for bloggers at the South by Southwest Interactive Conference.  The folks there treated the bloggers very well with live music, beer, breakfast, and some free goodies.  I met and connected with some amazing folks while I was there while getting some work done at the same time.

• Cool Stuff. There are times as a blogger that I have access to new technologies, products, and articles and publications.  People want to know your opinion and will send you iphone apps, pokens, and other gadets to review or write about if you so choose.  Before writing that review, consider how reviewing the newest gadget or book you received will impact your overall brand and image in the marketplace.  And don’t forget to research and understand the FTC’s view on receiving and reviewing product as a blogger.

With blogging growing in popularity each day, your personal brand and your blog’s message is even more important.  Building your following and relationships takes time, but the payoff can be more than what you expected.

Photo Credit k-12 Online Teachers

So earlier today, I logged on to my blog and realized that March 1 isn’t so far away mainly because of my travel next week to London for the TRU London conference which I plan on discussing later this week.   I was stressing that I wouldn’t reach my arbitrary goal of 8 blog posts this month.  Yes, I set a goal.  I’m extremely competitive by nature and once I attach a goal to most things, I must dominate the competition. You may be surprised to know that I’m the extroverted competitive type.

So each month for over the last 3 1/2 years, I have worked hard to post 8 times a month, and 98% of the time, I’ve accomplished my goal.  And because I logged into my website this morning, I learned that I have been nominated for two separate categories for the Okie Blogger Awards in two separate categories:  Best Business-Related Blog & Best Kept Secret.

The funny thing is I have not ever been nominated for a writing award  in my adult life.  The last writing award I received was in 1990 when I took first place in a writing competition held by the local Kansas county newspaper, the Holton Recorder.  I was extremely proud of the honor and won a bike which is just about what every young kid in the country needs in their early years as their main form of transporation.  Only later did I learn that an entire 5 entries had been received and two of which came from my family’s household, one from me and one from my younger sister.

Please visit the Oklahoma Blogger Awards website and check it out.  While I do hope that you would find it in your heard to vote for me, I am extremely honored to be recognized among so many friends and fellow bloggers within the state I have called home for more than 4 years.  The voting ends on February 14th, 2010 and you must be an Oklahoma blogger to enter.

Photo Credit Style Rules

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Finito. Done. Over. Caput.  Resumes are so 2009.

It’s Friday night.  With the baby in bed early, Greg and I watched Angels & Demons on Pay per View while I added blog tags to old posts from 2007 & 2008 working to update and perfect my blog and website.  I’m the master of the multi-task.

And while I spent almost two hours of my life movie watching, tagging and saving, I was reminded again about the power personal branding using blogs as a resume alternative, I mean replacement.  In the next 12-18 months, resumes will no longer be an acceptable type of professional representation or profile.

Your Resume is Dead.

Blogs and professional websites are a great representation of a person’s interests both professional and personal, and in my opinion are a form of a more organic and fluid resume.  One can view my first ever blog post in September 2007 while also watching my professional progression as I made my way to entrepreneur.  You can see who my influences are by reading my posts or by visiting my blog roll.  Your blog is the way for employers, clients, and other professionals to learn more about you, your beliefs, and what is important to you.

Obviously someone who reads this blog post realizes how important it is for me to have my blog be professional, organized, and polished while on display to the world.  Especially since I spent my Friday night at home in front of the laptop crafting and updating my brand.  One might assume that I might also be the same in person as a professional who values things like work ethic, my personal and professional brand, and technology, gadgets, and information.  Depending on the position or contract, these type of things are important to a potential employer or client.

I recommend most all clients, businesses, and candidates develop some sort of organic online profile or resume to present to employers in addition to your resume and LinkedIn profile.  While hiring manager’s only spend 15 seconds viewing your resume to determine whether or not you receive an interview, employers will spend a substantial amount of time checking references, verifying employment, and viewing your online profiles to determine how you stack up to your competition.  This is certainly the case when the hiring decision comes down between you and another candidate.  Having a blog or other online profile, depending on your position and industry, is the future of how to stand out and differentiate yourself from the competition.

And for now, I still recommend maintaining a professionally crafted resume to use along with a blog and professional website as a way to expand on your skills, qualifications, interests, and experience.  I do, however, strongly encourage you to start crafting and developing your professional blog to find your angle, voice, and niche.

In the next next year to 18 months, blogs and other online profiles will become more important and will replace a traditional resumes.  I’ve already started to see this shift.  Your social influence both online and offline which includes your blog will become more powerful and representative that any piece of traditional personal or professional marketing we use today in the job search.

So RIP resume.  You will not be missed.

Photo Credit WaterMan99

The response from my recent post about blogging and how it can land you a job has created a great deal of excitement and conversation. A couple days ago I came across a great blog that includes testimonials from job seekers who have found a job as a result of blogging. It’s called Blog for Jobs.

The site is great! Check is out a http://www.blogforjobs.com/.

A recent post is from Andrew. See an excerpt below:

A few weeks ago, I was reading Jeremiah Owyang’s blog and saw a post on people who were “on the move” in the social media industry. I thought, well what is wrong with a little bit of self-promotion? So I left a comment, which you are free to go check out for yourself, basically saying “Hey, I haven’t been on the move…but I would like to be!” And as a result of this, Lisa Young from Outrider reached out to me with some information about the company and the industry as a whole..then I spent a day and a half pouring through Google and every other internet tool I could think of to absorb as much information as I could about the company. Well over the past few weeks, about 97.4 emails, and dozens of hours spent researching different aspects of the company and industry I decided that I really wanted to come on board with the firm and so…here I go!

The stigma surrounding blogging is fast becoming no more. Blogging is now being seen as a career move and a development opportunity, a chance for you to become an expert in a field. Blogging is the perfect way for a candidate to give an employer a more detailed sales pitch — to show the employer they can ‘talk the talk’ (as opposed to just filingl a resume with buzzwords).” Many recruiters are considering the blog as a “resume alternative” similar to the video resume.

I received my first testimonial with regard to this blog. I’m so excited!!!!

“. . . I for some reason was drawn to your linked in account and I read your job search blog. I just finished reading The Little Black Book of Connections. I am so excited. I want to work in HR and I know I need better networking techniques and after reading this book I want to share with everyone that is job searching.. so all I want to say is THANKS… “ Carla

And to Carla I say you are welcome! That is exactly what this blog is about. Searching for your dream career doesn’t happen over night and takes a lot of work. It’s about passion and taking the bull by the horns to make things happen.

THANKS CARLA & GOOD LUCK!!

I’m pleased to announce, my sister blog’s debut. It’s called Recruiting for the Non Recruiter and is geared towards professionals who are involved in the hiring process. Now bloggers can understand multiple perspectives–those in the job search and those who conduct the candidate search.

Feel free to check out at:

http://www.ere.net/blogs/Recruiting_for_the_Nonrecruiter/.

The ERE Network is a professional site for those involved in selecting, recruiting, and hiring. I feel very privileged to be a part of their site and the recruiting professionals who use and are affiliated with the site.

My New Year’s Resolution for 2008 is increasing my networking circle both online and in person. It’s obvious if you’ve spent any amount of time online that social networking online is increasingly becoming more and more important. I already mentioned how hiring manager’s are viewing candidate’s myspace pages as part of the background check process. Keeping in touch with your networking connections using online services like linkedin, myspace, and facebook are more important than ever.

I encourage everyone to part take in online social networking and to use it as a supplement to face to face networking. This week alone, I attended 4 different networking events, met a handful of individuals of interest, contacted them either via email or a handwritten note, and have invited them to be a part of my linked in network. The fact is the best jobs are not advertised using typical media methods like newspaper, job boards, or with staffing agencies. Most jobs are not advertised at all which is where social networking comes into play. With the click of a mouse or tap of a keyboard, I can send out an email to my online social network and make them aware of a key position I am looking to fill.

Some suggestions to enhance your online social networking:

1. Create a blog.
2. Develop a networking newsletter.
3. Use linked in or other similar site.
4. Participate in industry networking sites. (For example, I am a member of erenetwork.com, a free site for recruiters.)
5. Blog on a professional site or create your own.
6. Focus on one or two networking sites. Don’t overdo it.

Holiday Tip: Send a Holiday E-card to your network.

Next time. . . The COLD hard facts-What companies want