Executives: Brand Yourself With Your Own Field-Specific Blog

It’s not easy for an executive job seeker to compete against dozens of candidates vying for the same positions. Finding ways to stand out requires an unbelievable amount of ingenuity. One ingenious step executives have taken in recent years is getting onboard with the Internet, specifically blogging. It works well as a branding tool by showcasing expertise in a chosen field. But how can an everyday executive start the process of building a field-specific blog?

1. Purchase a Domain in Your Name

Many companies like WordPress allow users to set up free blog sites with a few clicks of the mouse. The only problem with these sites is they don’t allow you to show your individuality as a blogger due to domain names that look like this: johndoeblog.wordpress.com. The idea is to set yourself apart—and brand yourself – by purchasing a domain in your own name (www.johndoeblog.com). You can still use applications like WordPress to help you design your blog with ease.

2. Choose Your Focus

A great way to help you become recognized as an expert in your field is to create a blog that zeroes in on your field. Because it’s your blog, you have the opportunity to be as general or specific as you’d like. For instance, if you work as an executive in pharmaceutical sales, you may want to focus your blog in this area. But if you know more about sales overall—or have always wanted to explore additional topics—you can expand your focus to accommodate your desire. Just note that it’s always good to at least create one section on your blog that highlights your specialized field.

3. Choose Your Format

Next, it’s important to choose a format that you feel comfortable with. For instance, are you fond of the format that features photos—with small captions underneath—and allows readers to click through to blog stories? Or do you prefer a content-based format that lists links or short descriptions that must be selected to find your stories. The beauty of creating your own blog is you get to choose everything from format to font size and color—and, of course, if one format doesn’t work, you can also create a new one, or find premade templates that suit your needs.

After you’ve taken the above steps, you can begin writing your blog content based on the audience you want to speak to. Of course, be sure to update your blog regularly with fresh content and use social media sites like LinkedIn and Twitter to promote your work.

Once you really start developing your blog, you’ll likely run across great information to make it more dynamic, like social media feeds and SEO optimization. But even if your blog remains aesthetically simple, it will help you fulfill your most important goal, which is to add your site address to your resume to show employers just how committed you are to your field.

It’s important to remember to brand your resume before applying to each new position for more information on branding check out my recent article 5 Key Areas to Target When Branding Your Resume. You can also get additional job search and career related advice by checking out our blog or following us on Twitter @GreatResume.