 At this point in our series, you’re probably on board with blogging. After all, everybody else is doing it. As specious a reasoning as this might be in other areas of life, in commerce it’s pretty much true: unless you want to look out-of-touch, you have to keep up with the competition. So, what’s keeping you from blogging? “I don’t like to write.” “I don’t have time to do it.” “I have no idea what to say.” “ { Insert your reason here } .” Maybe it’s time to hire a pro, then. When to Hire a Pro Blogger Ideally, you should have your blog up and running shortly after your website - as in, days or hours after. But let’s be realistic: budgets are tight. It’s understandable that you’ll want to watch every penny at first. Hiring a pro blogger doesn’t have to be a budget-buster: depending on the length and complexity of the post, it may cost from $30 to $50; $100 and up at the far reaches. Can you find an extra $120 to $200 in your monthly budget? It’s marketing, PR, and advertising, all wrapped into one package. It’s worth it. Which Pro Blogger Should You Hire? First of all, pick someone whose style you like. Would you feel comfortable with them being your company voice? Next, look at their work. They should have a portfolio, their own blog, or something similar to show you. If you can find testimonials or recommendations, say via Facebook or LinkedIn, even better. Finally, consider their expertise in your area. This doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t hire someone who's not a subject matter expert. Your potential blogger should, at the very least, be willing to do some background research to come up to speed on your industry. A working, even basic, knowledge of your niche is even better. Beware, though, of the lazy blogger. They may give you a great rate (Four posts for $50! Wow!), but they won’t give you quality. You’ll get wordy, meaningless fluff instead of informational posts, and shoddy, error-filled ramblings instead of correct, concise, professional English. Whew! It’s been a learning experience! Join us next week when we discuss our final topic: what your pro blogger wishes you knew! Comments are closed.
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