5 reasons smart people find blogging intimidating. And 5 ways to tame those blogging fears.
You understand the theory that creating the kind of content your clients are looking for is a good way to show your expertise and pull leads into your business. But understanding the theory and actually writing a blog article are two very different things.
Many of our clients are experts and consultants of some variety – exceptionally talented individuals with huge amounts of knowledge – yet the majority find blog writing very difficult. Why is this?
Five reasons why clever people find blog writing intimidating
Fear of offending someone. “My client/my colleagues/the partners might not like the opinions I express.”
Not knowing what to write. “It’s impossible to know what to write about. Are people really interested in this approach, framework, spreadsheet, idea? Even I find it difficult to be interested!”
Not knowing how best to use knowledge. “I can write narrative, but I can’t say what my expertise is. That’s like asking me to summarise “King Lear” in a sentence. I have a lifetime of experience.”
Fear of being boring. “What I do is not original. Everyone does it. Why would it be interesting?”
Not wanting to appear unprofessional. “I know the right tone of voice for official reports, but for a blog post do I have to say “don’t” and “you’re”? I’m uncomfortable writing in that style, it doesn’t suit my professional image.”*
Any one of these reasons is enough to tie you in knots. In most cases it’s a combination of these fears and worries, (plus a few more you create especially for yourself) and the cumulative effect leaves you sat at your desk staring at a blank screen, feeling frustrated.
There is a way through.
We believe that anyone can learn to blog. There are rules and techniques that you can learn, and like any skill, you will get better with practice. But it’s more than rules and techniques. The biggest thing you can do to help you blog is to adjust your thinking.
Don’t see blog writing as a chore. See it as an extension of the way you help your clients deal with their challenges.
Five useful ways to think about blogging
It’s not all about you. If you write blogs that answer the questions your clients are searching for you it means that you are not the centre of the frame. Some experts or consultants don’t like the egotism of blogging ‘Look everyone! Read what I have to say!’ and approaching it as a helpful activity rather than a self-promoting one is better for both you and the blogs you write.
It’s not all about you. Write blogs that deal with specific issues your clients face. Deal with real-life questions that real clients want answers to. Let that be your starting point, and you will always have something to write.
It’s not all about you. It might feel like everything you have to say has been said before, but it won’t feel like that to a client who is facing up to a problem for the very first time. And you’ll put your own twist on it - you won’t be able to help yourself. A blog is an opportunity to share something really useful. Don’t worry about being original, just opt to offer something valuable to your connections.
It’s not all about you. You can learn the techniques for blog writing, but the best way to approach your writing is to imagine you are explaining something to a friend who is sitting next to you. You would use the simplest clearest words in a conversation, so use the simplest clearest words in your blog. It’s not unprofessional, it’s just plain helpful.
It’s not all about you. Yes, you have years of experience and it can be hard to know how to begin to use that in this format. Decide to use your unique experiences and insight to help your clients, and prospective clients. View blog writing as an extension of your work as a helpful consultant, rather than as a diversion from it, and it will be easier to do.
If fear of blogging is stopping you in your tracks, we hope this helps. What’s stopping you? Do let us know.
