Comments on: Writing for Business Blogs – Lessons Learned

By: Writing Lessons from the Confident Writing Community | Confident Writing

Writing Lessons from the Confident Writing Community | Confident Writing — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 07:44:02 +0000

[...] Writing for Business Blogs: Lessons Learned from Brad Shorr at Word Sell Polish is for case studies, press releases, and shoes – not blog posts. Blogs are an informal medium. A blog post should stimulate conversation. If thoughts are too finished, if there’s no room left for argument, you stifle conversation rather than stimulate it. My early blog posts reflected a dissertation mentality. Now when I write, I try to imagine myself in a tavern or a coffee house, talking things over with friends. [...]

By: Brad Shorr

Brad Shorr — Sat, 14 Mar 2009 17:56:50 +0000

Hi Sherri, Thanks for the rustybrick tip. It does look quite useful ... I might give it a try for one or two group blog projects. Brad Shorrs last blog post..Why I Love Working with Consultants

By: Sherrie Sisk

Sherrie Sisk — Sat, 14 Mar 2009 17:39:52 +0000

Absolutely, Brad. That’s one of the best ways to also engage your readers/clients in your work, as well. It becomes more than a blog for you to spout off your ramblings – it’s a TRUE conversation!

Another awesome “catch bucket” tool I’ve found is Rusty Budget. It’s at http://budget.rustybrick.com/. Have you tried it? I started using it a few months ago, and it’s a nice way to collect “blog fodder” across the web, especially if you use the bookmarklet tool. Just click that button then it’s added to this dashboard in your account. Then you can go back whenever you have time to process the accumulated sites. You can add notes, etc., too. It seems to be built mostly for blogs with more than one writer, or for news outlets. But it works really well for someone with more than one blog, too. Just thought I’d mention it. (I am not an affiliate or anything – just an appreciative user.)

Sherrie Sisks last blog post..In Which I Explain More About Paris And the Brazen Request Made Here Yesterday

By: Brad Shorr

Brad Shorr — Sat, 14 Mar 2009 15:26:28 +0000

Cath, I've never heard of anyone deleting old posts - I hope you're not throwing away any gems. Brad Shorrs last blog post..Why I Love Working with Consultants

By: Cath Lawson

Cath Lawson — Sat, 14 Mar 2009 01:01:13 +0000

Hi Brad – Every time I look at old blog posts, I delete them. I think it’s difficult when you’re first starting out. Since I began blogging, I have changed too, so my writing has changed.

But that’s probably a good thing. I used to tell folk that new business owners needed to put in 80 hours a week.

By: Brad Shorr

Brad Shorr — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 19:49:42 +0000

Hi Sherrie, Thanks for stopping by Word Sell and sharing your ideas. It sounds like you and I have had similar conversations with clients. One of the nice things about a blog is the fact that you can have a little fun - throw out a half developed idea, ask for help from readers, experiment with new forms of expression, etc. Through this learning experience will come the material for future flagship posts, don't you think? Brad Shorrs last blog post..Why I Love Working with Consultants

By: Sherrie Sisk

Sherrie Sisk — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 19:42:14 +0000

Great post - I came here via Confident Writing's recommendation, BTW. When I coach bloggers (generally lawyers) the main objection I get from clients is "I don't have time to write those kinds of posts all the time!" "Those kinds of posts" always = flagship content, the really meaty posts that are perfectly reasoned, highly edited, original, etc. I always respond the same way: "You don't HAVE to write that kind of post all the time. You need at least a few, though." That's because for the legal profession, maybe uniquely so, readers are seeking professional advice and assurance. They're looking to hire a lawyer, and most of them have never hired a lawyer in their lives. It's scary, so the lawyer/blogger needs to communicate authority, as well as friendliness, openness, approachability, etc. So yes, they do need those highly polished flagship posts, and they need to be highlighted on their blogs for direct access. There are a ton of ways to keep publishing regularly, though, without all that effort. You can do a quick link roundup, with 5 or so links to blog posts you enjoyed over the last week. You can ask a question. You can set a challenge. You can invite questions in the comments. The ideas are limited only by the blogger's imagination. The main points are to keep it accessible, transparent, and personable (not personal, though). Sherrie Sisks last blog post..In Which I Ask You to Help Send My Daughter and Me to Paris With a Perfectly Straight Face

By: Brad Shorr

Brad Shorr — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 19:31:42 +0000

test Brad Shorrs last blog post..Writing for Business Blogs - Lessons Learned

By: Brad Shorr

Brad Shorr — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 11:36:13 +0000

Fred, You ask a great question. Some writing endeavors, such as writing labels for website navigation, are best served by NOT breaking rules. Terry, Seinfeld holds the answers to all earthly questions. A blog about nothing is a wise choice for personal blogging, at least one that appeals to me. Robyn, You do seem to get many of your fine topic ideas from readers as well. Your posts always raise new questions. Ulla, Thanks for the kind words! When business is all about technical stuff, it becomes pretty dry, don't you think? Brad Shorrs last blog post..Writing for Business Blogs - Lessons Learned

By: Ulla Hennig

Ulla Hennig — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 09:45:43 +0000

I liked what Terry Heath wrote: "Blogging can be so personal people come for the blogger." Brad, your blog reflects your person so well - the marketing side but also your humor, your inspirational thoughts. That's why I am visiting your blog regularly. Ulla Hennigs last blog post..Vivaldi,The Four Seasons: Spring