How to Make Your Blog Career Worthy

How to Make Your Blog Career Worthy Worthy Career Blog Many of us enjoy our personal blogs. Unlike the superficiality of Facebook or Twitter, blogging is a way to really express ourselves and our interests. But can having a blog help you land a job? Can it further your career aspirations? Or will mentioning your personal blog on your resume cost you a job offer? The choice is up to you. If you want your blog to be something you would be proud to have potential employers check out, then try these tips to get your blog career whipped into shape. Worthy Career Blog The first thing you need to worry about is your content. This is more than just the personal details you put into your posts, though they also count. You need to remember a few things when it comes to a blog you want to share with employers. Do not get too personal â€" I know this is your personal blog, but if you want employers to look at it without knowing the intimate details of your life, then you need to censor yourself a bit. You can always have another blog for your really personal thoughts, or even a private diary. Correct spelling â€" I know that proper spelling, grammar, and punctuation is unimportant to most bloggers, but you want to highlight your professionalism here. Make sure you use spell check and avoid abbreviations and text or Twitter speak. Photographic evidence â€"No one in the business world wants to see a bunch of photos of you and your friends partying and drinking like fish. You want to come across as stable and responsible, not the party person who will come in late and hung over every Monday morning. Proper citation â€"This is the business world you are trying to impress, remember? If you add photos or links to your posts, then you need to properly site them. Businesses look down on plagiarism and outright theft, even online. Authority â€" If you know a lot about something, then great! Share your knowledge. But if you are faking it, then you are better off leaving it out. Someone will point out your error and it will reflect badly on you. Only talk about what you know or your INFORMED opinions. Back it up with accurate and cited facts for further stability. Watch your links â€" Who you are friends with reflects on you. If you do not want your business contacts to know about your obsession with cats or your fascination with tight leather clothing, then do not link to those sites on your blog! Aesthetics â€"I know you want your blog to reflect your personality, but remember, if you want to succeed in the business world, you may have to tone it down a bit. Being loud and proud has its place, but a blog on your resume is not one of them. Keep it simple, stylish and memorable. You will be better off than flashing orange and purple. Effort â€" Potential employers will see how much effort you put into your blog. If you post once a month, have not touched it in a year, or just slap together whatever, then you are better off not including it as part of your portfolio. However, if you spend a lot of time and effort to make your blog great, that will strike a chord with employers. If you work hard in one aspect of your life, they can be pretty sure you will work hard in your career life as well. Marketing â€"You are trying to sell yourself to employers, and your blog should be selling itself to readers. Is that how it works for you? Do you properly tag and categorize your blog posts? Do you make it easy for people to search and find your blog? Does your blog topic match your search results? Are you good at marketing? While that is not a necessity for all jobs, it is a bonus. The better you are at marketing your blog, the stronger the possibility is that you are equally good at marketing yourself. Selling out â€" No one likes a sellout. If your blog is filled with product endorsements and obvious money-making ploys, then do not send it to employers. It is great that you are making money off your blog, but that is not what a blog is for. If your blog has changed to one big add, do not even bother including it. In fact, including it on your resume may actually hurt your chances of getting hired. Having a blog is a great way to show employers what you can really do. If you go about it properly, a blog can be a window into your potential. However, if you are not taking proper care of your blog, then you are better off leaving it out of the limelight. Dazzle your potential employers with your creativity, effort, and communication skills. Your blog can be that step up you need to get the job you always wanted.