Conceiving and crafting a successful blog requires a commitment to connecting with people. In a recent Mashable.com post, Is Your Business Guilty of These 6 Blogging Mistakes? blogger Nellie Akalp calls out some of  the Blogisphere's repeat offenders. Worth reading and heeding, not because the blog police are watching, but because your readers are reading. I  employ a four part strategy for every client engagement. Acquire, Configure, Connect, Master. If you are fixing to acquire a blogging platform, I believe you need to understand what you can do with a blog, and why. Nellie's chief point is that blogging is marketing, not sales, not advertising, not PR. A blog works best when it connects with qualified prospects, when it connects Here with Now, when it presents your valuable expertise and insight. In the heat of blogging battle, writers often forget that it's all about engagement, building relationships, listening to your tribe. It's not about SEO metrics or impressions. It's about impact and building a community. Al Borowski of ConnectAllTheDots.com recommends Your Business Writing Should Match Your Personality. I recommend that before you compose your next blog post, sit quietly and reflect on your audience. Picture a single individual reading your post on a tablet or smartphone. Once you have a clear picture of who your are writing to, you are well on your way to connecting with people.

Insight

It's about connecting with people, not search engines. It's your voice your readers need to hear. It's a dialog, not a monologue.

Resources

• Mashable.com reports on the importance of digital innovation and how it empowers and inspires people around the world.
• ConnectAllTheDots.com - Al Borowski's communications skills resource center
• Making Technology Work in Four Easy Steps - This is the essential game plan for Making Technology Work