In my last post, Blogging 101 for HR Professionals, I talked about why blogging in the HR world is a good idea. I promised a follow-up list describing how to get an HR blog started. Here it is.

7 Easy Steps for Starting and Maintaining an HR Blog

1. Get permission from the boss. Unless, like me, you are the boss. Then just do it.

2. Ask a few questions, then limit. What does your company (or HR department) do for people? How does HR contribute to the bottom line? What’s one trend in HR that you’re a part of (and why)? Once you get going, you’ll find plenty to write about. If you’re intellectually engaged in your job and in the HR industry, the real trick, in fact, is limiting yourself. This blog, for example, is focused on recruiting software, the staffing industry, business leadership, and employment patterns. I find lots of other things interesting, of course, but this isn’t the place to write about them.

3. Start writing. It’s not an essay or a novel – it’s a blog post. Something around 200-500 words is fine. Present your question/puzzle (“I’ve been thinking about…”) and your thoughts.  Remember to have someone look over it before you post. Being good (or even great) at your job does not mean you are good at writing about your job – but with an editor and practice, you can become a good writer.

4. Keep writing. A blog really isn’t a blog unless you’re posting at least once a week. Twice or three times a week is better. If you approach it as a way of working – that is, a way of getting better at your job by reflecting on it – it won’t seem like a chore. And once you start getting feedback, you’ll probably find that you wish you could blog more than you do.

5. Spread the word. Start telling people about you blog: your colleagues, your peers in other companies, your mom, whoever. Solicit feedback (especially feedback online) and make changes.

6. Don’t worry too much. I’d like to think that this blog is better now than when I started it. Remember: the internet is forgiving. If you misspell something on your website, you can make the correction without reprinting anything. If you write a poor post, you can write a better one in a few days, knowing that most readers won’t remember the poor one.

7. Interact. A blog is more an ongoing conversation with an audience than a soapbox. That’s what’s great about it. I regularly get feedback from my readers/peers that teach me something and gives me fodder for future posts. Which leads to a request…

If you have any further ideas, hints, suggestions, or warnings about writing an HR blog, please leave a comment below! I will definitely follow up in a future post.

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