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Who
Stepped Up
Money Follows Knowledge, So Blog: If you like a huge return on investment and are an expert in your field, you may like blogging more than you think. Blogs showcase your knowledge (and business) better than any public relations tool available -- and they're free.
An increasing number of professionals in Virginia Beach, Norfolk, and Chesapeake, Virginia, are stepping up to blog to increase their brand and public relations, and to help others. However, a majority of professionals are still hesitant to blog because of some common misconceptions. Following are some important PR tips to know about professional blogging:
Myth: I have to blog three to four times a week to be effective.
Fact: You can blog once every two weeks and be very effective.
Myth: I have to be technically savvy to set up and operate a blog.
Fact: Blogs can be set up in less than 20 minutes by someone who's never done it before. If you can operate a TV/DVD remote control, you can click through the blog set-up steps. If you run into problems, ask your teenager, niece, nephew or neighbor.
Myth: I'm too busy to blog.
Fact: An hour or two every two weeks is all it takes. Good blogs take less time and are more effective than many networking efforts. You will reach more people and actually save time by blogging.
Myth: I'll look silly if no one participates in my blog.
Fact: The intent of your blog is to showcase your expertise, improve your public relations, and help those who need your information. Whether 0 or 100 people jump into the conversation does not reflect on the impact of your blog or diminish the value of your expertise. Most blogs have far more readers than participants.
Myth: Dealing with the comments will be time consuming.
Fact: Comments from legitimate readers and annoying spammers will come to your e-mail inbox. Every few days log into your blog and delete or accept the comments. This takes less than five minutes. You may want your public relations agency to do this.
Myth: Blogs look messy and have too many buttons and ads; I don't want to present myself that way.
Fact: You don’t need ads. The beauty of blogs is that you control it. It can be clean, easy to read, and free of ads and other items. If you don't want a busy looking blog, don't add distractions. Keep your content pure and your design simple.
Myth: I already have a good website serving my PR needs. Why do I need a blog?
Fact: Websites are a great 24/7 public relations tool, but for the most part they're justifiably static and take way more effort and knowledge to update than a blog, which is click and post. A blog gives potential clients and reporters a living document that showcases your expertise and line of thinking in a current context. Plus, having two separate items that search engines can find, a blog and a website, gives you a powerful one-two punch when potential customers or reporters are looking for an expert.
Myth: Blogs are dull and impersonal.
Fact: Blogs allow your true personality to shine through. Your audience will really get to know you and how you approach your business. You will develop a connection with a large audience of potential customers in a PR manner that is second only to personal contact.
Positioning yourself as an expert in your industry with a blog offers many PR benefits with little downside, especially as more and more influential reporters and potential clients in Virginia Beach, Norfolk and Chesapeake, Virginia, use search engines to find experts on everything under the sun.
Internet territory and audiences are being developed and going quickly. Have you staked your claim?
About Rourk Public Relations
The Rourk Public Relations agency is expert at PR, media relations, branding, marketing, advertising, web marketing, and web design. It provides public relations help to clients in Virginia Beach, Norfolk, Chesapeake and throughout Virginia.
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