If your school or college is contemplating setting up a blog to promote yourselves, here are a 10 top tips which will make the process a lot more straightforward.

1. Why Have A Blog In The First Place?
There are many reasons why you could be contemplating setting up a blog. Of course there is the obvious reason “because everyone else is doing it”. Yes it is important to be following trends, but get clear on why you’re doing this. What are your objectives? Is it to build a community, share your values or promote a fund-raising initiative? Once you know why you’re doing this – this will dictate the content. Once you’ve tapped into what’s important to you this will help keep you focussed and ‘on purpose’.

2. First of All...
Before you put pen to paper, go away and do some brainstorming around why you’re doing this. Who will benefit, who do you want to reach through your blogging efforts for instance? What would you like to change? Be alert to news and trends that could become interesting topics for discussion.

3. Think about...
The kind of challenges that everyone connected with your school or organisation are facing. What shared challenge could bring them all together? What is a common enemy that frequently is discussed in the staff room for instance, or over lunch? A throw-away comment could light the flame for a fantastic blog post, so always be alert.

4. Really listen...
What I mean is – start deeply listening to people. The people around you who depend on your leadership, and your stimulus for support and inspiration. What are they telling you and what does that mean to them? If you’re scrabbling around for ideas on what to write about – start listening. Even things you hear on the radio or read on the side of a van could be great ideas for Blog posts.

5. When you start...
Don’t use the word ‘we’ too much – keep an eye on that. Remember, yes you’re talking about your own experiences, but you need to relate that to your audience. The fact remains that people are always looking for what’s in it for them. You might have an amazing story – but it has to relate to your audience so they stay interested. Be careful with the language and terminology you use. Some people will be completely turned off if a blog is littered with key words, acronyms and technical jargon. Keep things simple, straightforward and use short sentences.

Long complex explanations and rambling on for over 1,000 words might work for a few people, but most people want to be entertained, educated and challenged in a blog. Don’t make the process so difficult that it becomes hard work. Wouldn’t you agree?

6. Get Over Yourself
A blog is somewhere where you can be yourself. It doesn’t have to be a best selling novel or a great work of prose. What it does have to do is ENGAGE the reader. But how do you do that? Firstly, just be yourself. Be yourself. Use your own words, don’t try and impress everyone with long words that require a thesaurus. Just write as if you’re writing a letter or an e-mail to your best friend and share your honest thoughts and opinions. One word of caution – be ethical, transparent and respectful.

7. Take them somewhere
It’s a well known fact that people love stories. Stories are a perfect vehicle for getting across a deeper message, for building rapport with others and for setting the stage. Add colour and vibrancy to your work by illustrating what you’re saying with little stories. Take a notebook out with you EVERYWHERE...that little book could end up storing a stash of really good content.

8. Share it!
A blog will sit there all alone and feel a bit sad if the content isn’t shared. So if you’ve got a profile on Facebook, Twitter or Linked In – share it. Tell people that you’ve just written a blog and ask for their feedback and comments. Get it out there and invite comments

9. Invite comments
Once you get people commenting on what you’ve said and you get some traction, then you are beginning to build the community and actually starting to make an impact. And don’t be put off if some of the comments aren’t necessarily complimentary. Openly and honestly dealing with comments in a straightforward way will always win other people’s respect and admiration.

10. Just get started
Yes. Just start. Even if your first blog posts are pretty average, don’t let that stop you. The more you write the more comfortable you will be with writing. You will eventually develop your own style which will come through experience.

So, what are you waiting for? – prepare, get set up and get going.

About the author:
Wendy Dashwood Quick is a Social Media and Executive Coach. She is the author of Find Yourself on the Yellowbrick Road - 7 Core Princpals of Success, writer of numerous blogs and e-books. Wendy specialises in Executive and Social Media Coaching, EFT (Emotional Freedom Technique) DISC Profiling assessments and strategy brainstorming. Contact Wendy or Visit her website: resolutioncoaching.co.uk

Setting up a blog for your school

10 Essential Steps for Blogging