Finding Inspiration For Your Blog

There are two common challenges faced by professionals and small business owners entering social media, one is technically knowing how to get their communities set up and the second is knowing what to blog, post, share and talk about. The second challenge is far worse than the first, because it is ABOUT YOU. Many business owners, marketers and even professionals suddenly find themselves faced with bloggers writers’ block or a form of stage fright.

A recent social media coaching client of mine, with many years in experiential marketing, branding and digital campaigns is getting back into blogging but is faced with the fear of judgement. She says that when she wants to write, she cannot get the words out (I know this is despite years of document creation for clients, as we worked at the same ad agency in the late ‘90’s). I know she has experience to back up her ideas, and that they can sometimes be polarizing opinions (which both Seth Godin and Mike Michalowicz says indicates you will be successful), so I had to get her talking about what she could blog in specifics.

“Success is achieved by getting some people to be emotionally attached to your message and others to be pissed at your message. This gets the people that love you, defending you. And the people that don’t like you, talking more and more about why they don’t like you. The result is you get increasing exposure and more feverish loyalty.” From The Toilet Paper Entrepreneur by Mike Michalowicz

While we were chatting, to uncover her passion for her field, I asked what she thinks about the majority of people who are media buyers in Toronto and what she would say to them if they were paying her to advise their careers. Her response flowed with ease, was passionate, developed from years of client experience and observation, and included the f-word. I told her to blog exactly that; in 300 words to write the thought, and then just edit a bit and POST. She was shocked I said she should even include the swear, suggesting that it makes her content much more authentic, impassioned and authoritative, and to back it up, I sent her a link to a video of a Gary Vaynerchuk keynote speech in July 2012 where he is passionate and authentic the way he is, and he drops the f-bomb at least 20 times in a 1 hour keynote.

The whole conversation also reminded me of this great little video interview I shot at Social Media Week Toronto 2012 (in February) where I asked Jon Sinden who is the social media lead for MLSE (The Toronto Maple Leafs, The Toronto Raptors, The Toronto FC and The Toronto Marlies) about finding inspiration for new sports bloggers. He confirmed that although my insecurity in my new position sports blogging and social media for the Toronto entertainment district venue The Ballroom was not unusual, it was definitely unfounded. I could be casually involved in watching MMA UFC events and was able to blog about them with some interesting fact, research and community tactics that made my blog posts draw in some of the higher traffic to their website, until the MMVA’s in June.

We can all feel unsure about what we’re doing, the key is just to do it. You will get better with time & experience and that is the only way to improve from your starting point.

What do you do, say to yourself, or who do you talk to to stay inspired? Let me know in the comments below!

Want my take on your blogging, social media or business challenge? Email me at [email protected] or request to join my Wednesday 8pm weekly meetup on Google+ Hangouts on Air by sending me a message at [email protected]