Jacob S. Paulsen.com

When helping my clients set up their own blog they often ask me what they should be writing about. Today’s blog post is to answer that question.

Determining your content will also help you configure your site categories. The WordPress blog categories are designed to help search engines categorize your content and are therfore crucial.

Before we get into the specifics of your content let’s outline the general ideas. I suggest you consider the following types of content:

1. Informative. The greatest reason why people will visit your site will be to learn and discover. In the beginning of creating your site you should determine your own niche. What specific topic or arena can you be an expert in? Write content specific to informing or educating your readers on that topic.

2. Entertaining. Your readers need to enjoy their visit to your site. Entertaining content should still be specific to your niche or topic but should be light and easy to read.

3. Personal. Your readers need to get to know you. They deserve to know who you are and what you are about. Share your goals, trials, and life especially as it pertains to the niche/topic.

Hopefully you noticed that all the content on your site should be specific to your niche. I would also suggest mixing informative, entertaining, and personal content together as much as possible.

Now let’s get more specific. Once you have found your niche and have discovered how you want to break that niche into categories you can begin writing posts. Try to think ahead by writing different types of posts and they apply to your different categories. Don’t post too often at first. 3 to 4 times per week is plenty to show people what you are about without asking them to make a daily commitment to you.

Be sure to use various mediums including audio, pictures, video, etc. This does wonders for search engine optimization but more importantly will allow you to attract all types of readers.

Be consistent. Your readers need to form a relationship of sorts with you. This is done by giving them good information. Your credibility will come from your ability to do that consistently over time.

Jacob S. Paulsen

Today despite it being Sunday I’m working a 12 hour security shift in Salt Lake’s Gallivin Center Plaza. I don’t like working Sunday but I am a part of an industry which demands 24/7 work and it’s important for me to take my turn.

I’ve been warned about watching for loonies and homeleass people but so far the last 8 hours have been pleasant and peaceful. I’ve never been here before today and for being in the middle of downtown it is amazingly gorgious. There is a large reflection pool, a huge sundial thingy, an amplitheatre with stage, bird aviary (though currently empty of birds), a small river with waterfall effect, and a lot of tree cover, etc.

The river has a poem written in the stone behind it and there is also a long story written on stone tablets that requires walking most of the park to finish reading.

It makes me want to bring Ami and Simon back next Sunday after church so we can enjoy it as a family. Here you see some of the pictures of the place.

As the internet becomes flooded with entrepreneurs and home based business owners I have a few words of caution that I would like to express. A lot of the training content on my site is an explanation of what to do; but this post is to inform you as to what not to do.

1. The change from employee to entrepreneur was designed to be a transition and not a leap of faith. In our current economic crisis a lot of people who are losing their jobs are turning to network marketing to replace their income. BAD IDEA. Despite the many rags to riches stories you may have heard I can virtually promise failure if you attempt this. Secure a steady income before starting your part-time business! Become an entreprenuer to supplement your existing income and if it goes well… then continue the transition.

2. Marketing is not sales. You are a home based business owner of some sort and have a product/service/opportunity to share with people. Marketing as a professional includes doing some research, discovering your target market, setting a budget & schedule, building a network (making a list), and establishing a relationship of credibility with your network. There is a place for sales but only after marketing is done. Sales without marketing is called SPAM. Done online spam will ruin your credibility, d spamming those you meet will ruin your friendships.

3. Don’t waste all your time. Your greatest investment of time when starting out will be in education. If you think adding hundreds of friends on facebook is going to build your MLM you are clearly uneducated. Find the experts and learn from them.

Jacob S Paulsen