Get your head in the blogging game

Blogs are a great way to connect with your audience. They allow you to share information about your organization, your successes, and even some helpful tips. But, like everything else around your marketing and communications efforts, blogging requires a strategy in order to be successful. Without one, you may start to feel like you're yelling into a void.

So buckle up and get ready to learn how you can set your blog up for success every time:

Determine your purpose. Every blog needs to be moving your message forward. So, determine your purpose for writing when you start your blog to give you some direction and guidance. (A good way to do this is to reflect on your mission to ensure what you’re writing is in line with it.) Whether you want to inform, inspire your community, or show transparency within the organization, establishing a purpose helps guide your writing as well as topics for future blogs.

Be consistent. We’ve said it before but we’ll say it again: when it comes to blogging, consistency is key. Whether you’re posting once a week or once a month, keeping to a schedule increases your engagement and makes it easier to attract new readers. The easiest way to keep to a schedule is to plan ahead and build an editorial calendar. 

Share the work. Occasionally bringing in an outside voice to a blog can add credibility to what you’re saying. Whether that’s a program director or someone who has used your services, people trust “experts” in the field or others who have first-hand experience.

Spread the word. The great thing about having a blog strategy is each post can be so much more than ‘just a blog’. Share it on your social platforms and use it in your email newsletter. It’s the easiest way to make sure that one piece of work is seen by as many audiences as possible — giving you a great bang for your buck! 

Now that you have a couple best practices to keep in your pocket, you can ensure you’re setting every one of your blogs up for success.