I have just returned to Houston after a week-long trip to Chicago for the RDC (Relocation Directors Council) Conference and the Worldwide ERC’s Global Workforce Symposium. Wow, what a trip! My head is still spinning from the many great ideas that were shared, as well as the many new connections that were made. This post will focus on my attendance at the RDC Conference, as I will be writing a separate post to discuss the Worldwide ERC Conference in greater detail.
This was actually my very first RDC Conference, and I have to say that I was absolutely blown away by the tremendous knowledge and synergy that radiates from this group. And luckily for me, the organizers decided to throw me right into the deep end by inviting me to be a round table moderator at my first meeting. (No worries…the subject was social media). As an RDC member who is well-c0nnected through the social networking sites such as Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter, as well as being an avid blogger, they felt that I would be a good person to lead the discussion on “Social Networking. Is it the New Business Reality?” This is a very hot topic, as we all know, and I was excited to share my knowledge and experience with those who were in attendance, as well as to hear what they are doing at their companies.
During my 3 round table sessions, it was interesting to discuss what we are doing from a social media perspective as Relocation Directors, the tools we are using, our successes, and where we think everything is headed. I admit that I was a little surprised to learn that only a handful of the people at my tables were actually blogging; however, the reasons why they weren’t blogging had a few common denominators, which I addressed:
- How do I get started?
- What do I write about?
- How often do I need to post?
- Where do I find the time?
- Who is going to read it?
- What program do I need?
- What are the benefits?
How do I get started?
I think the two most important considerations before starting a blog are:
- Decide on a theme for your blog and make sure you can stick to it
- Determining who your target audience is going to be
Take my blog, for example. The theme is Houston Relocation, and it addresses a variety of subjects meant to appeal to anyone involved in the relocation industry, and/or anyone looking for information about Houston. As such, my target audience includes, but is not limited to:
- Relocation Professionals
- Corporate Clients
- Third Party Relocation Companies
- Transferees / Assignees
- Anyone considering a move into or out of the Houston area
What do I write about?
I focus on a variety of subjects that are in keeping with my general theme of Houston Relocation. I often write about issues that I think are pertinent to the relocation industry and subjects that put Houston and/or Texas in the spotlight. I get much of my inspiration from my peers within the industry, on-line newspapers and publications, and even OPBs (Other People’s Blogs).
How often do I need to post?
Frequency and consistency of your message is very important in Google indexing. I try to blog a minimum of once per week, and as often as 2-3 times per week.
Where do I find the time?
I won’t lie to you, this is a tough one. As we all know, there are not enough hours in the day to do everything we need to do, much less time to blog about it. For me, I enjoy the late night quiet of my house, and generally write my blog posts around midnight. This practice has earned me the nickname of ”The Midnight Blogger.” You just have to do what works best for you, but trust me, if it’s important to you, you will find the time to do it.
Who is going to read it?
You would be surprised. I have really followed through with my commitment in writing this blog, and as such, I have earned a rather large following of readers and subscribers. In September (only 6 months after I began writing my blog), approximately 1,900 people visited www.HoustonReloBlog.com. Included among these viewers were members of the media, who found my blog by Googling such key words as ”Houston Relocation” and “Houston Relocation Blog.”
What are the benefits?
The greatest benefit is that it positions you as an expert in your field and as a thought leader within your industry. It also gives you the opportunity to strengthen your company brand, while expanding your marketing reach.
All in all I really appreciated all of the knowledge that was imparted by the industry leaders of the RDC. It was one of the most enlightening one-day relocation events I have attended. If you were at one of my social media round table sessions, I hope that I gave you some valuable takeaways that will benefit you and your company. If you have not yet ventured very far into the vast social networking world, but would like a little help in doing so, please feel free to contact me. I would be glad to help!
