Aspire Magazine: Inspiration for a Woman's Soul.(TM) Oct/Nov 2017 Aspire Mag Full Issue: Feminine Wisdo | Page 84

anywhere, often in the strangest of places. (I don’t know about you, but my best ideas seem to come when I’m in the shower — so always keep a notebook handy, even if it’s on the bathroom counter.) It’s best to keep your posts non-political and non-controversial, unless you can give a professional, factual analysis (or you’re a political analyst). I follow people I admire on social media. When something strikes a nerve for me, I note what it was about their post that struck me. Sometimes these brain tickles are just the thing to spark new ideas worth developing. 3. SHARE A STORY Sharing a personal story is the perfect type of post to build that “know-like-trust” factor. A blog is just the place to be vulnerable while building your brand. Open up and let readers into your world with a short tale or wacky thing that happened recently. Even a quick but intriguing conversation you had while waiting in line at the coffee shop can be the start of a post. It’s relatable and real, thus invaluable. People love to know who you are and what makes you tick. We all want to deal with people who understand us. For additional information on storytelling, here’s a post I recently shared. 4. WHAT’S NEW? If you’ve created new products, programs, or offerings, sharing the news on your blog is an excellent marketing technique (a word of warning: this type of post ought to be 84 used sparingly lest you start to sound like an infomercial). Here’s how I position new offerings: I post news on my blog first and then create a call-to-action to share at the bottom of following posts. If your company is growing, share post highlighting your new staff member — this goes far in building teamwork as well as giving the impression of increase. Pulling back the curtain on your business makes an interesting “writes-itself” post. What’s working for you? What apps have you discovered? What would you do differently? Are you speaking anywhere or being interviewed on a podcast? This type of information can be parsed in several ways. You could post about the facts (e.g., dates, times, channels) or you could share a story about the experience and what you learned. 5. SCOUT OTHERS As an entrepreneur, it’s a good idea to follow other bloggers. Often what you read or watch can inspire you to create your own spin on a concept or thought. It’s a great way to get those creative juices flowing. www.AspireMAG.net | October / November 2017