Blogs 'essential' to a good career - The Boston Globe

Blogs 'essential' to a good career - The Boston Globe

8 Reasons

1. Blogging creates a network.
A blogger puts himself out in the world as someone who is interesting and engaging -- just the type of person everyone wants to meet. ''A blog increases your network because a blog is about introducing yourself and sharing information," says Kaputa.

2. Blogging can get you a job.
Dervala Hanley writes a quirky literary blog that got her a job is at Stone Yamashita Partners, a consulting firm that ''tries to bring humanity to business." Hanley says the firm was attracted to her ability to put her business experience into personal terms on the blog.

3. Blogging is great training.
To really get attention for your blog, you're going to have to have daily entries for a while. At least a few months to get rolling, and then three or four times a week after that. So you will really get to know your topic well.

4. Blogging helps you move up quickly.
To escape the entry-level grind, you can either pay your dues, working up a ladder forever, or you can establish yourself as an expert in the world by launching a blog. High-level jobs are for people who specialize, and hiring managers look for specialists online. ''Decision-makers respect Google-karma," writes Tim Bray, director of Web technologies for Sun Microsystems -- on his own blog, of course.

5. Blogging makes self-employment easier.
You can't make it on your own unless you're good at selling yourself. One of the most cost-effective and efficient ways of marketing yourself is with a blog. When someone searches for your product or service, make sure your blog comes up first.
Curt Rosengren, a career coach, periodically Googles ''career passion" -- words he thinks are most important to his business -- just to make sure his blog comes up high on the list. He estimates that his blog generates at least half of his coaching business.

6. Blogging provides more opportunities.
Building brands, changing careers, launching a business -- these endeavors are much easier once you've established yourself online.
''My blog is a foundation," says Rosengren. ''I'm building an awareness that I can leverage to do other fun things with my future, such as product development, or public speaking."
A blog gives you a leg up when you meet someone new. Dylan Tweney, a freelance writer, says a blog gives him instant legitimacy with clients.

7. Blogging could be your big break.
Visually creative types can blog beyond just text. Mark Fearing has a cartoon blog. ''Cartooning and illustration are very crowded fields," he says.
''My blog has gotten me more notice than any other publicity tool I've used. Plus, the blog gives me a way to have a new conversation with potential clients about other work."

8. Blogging makes the world a better place.
''Blogging is about giving stuff away to a community," says Day. ''For years, as a junior developer, I would go to the Internet for solutions and I would always take, take, take. Now I am happy to be a contributor and give something back."

What about you? Has blogging been good for your career? Why?