Blogging about current events is an excellent way to build your blog content. This link has literally hundreds of links to news sites, popular blogs, top traffic websites, and social bookmarking sites. If you have time to dig in and read through some of these sites, it's sure to help you generate some content and links for your own blog! Enjoy!

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Brianna Young, VA and Graphic Artist
www.virtualsolutionsadmin.com
"It's not the piano that makes beautiful music. It's the person sitting AT the piano!"

Wow, Bri not sure how I missed this link but this is a superb resource for rooting out new content. I've been ghostwriting client blogs for ages and sometimes I really do start to need a good kick in the pants for content - this will be most helpful. Thank you!

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It's amazing how much stuff there is to write about out there - it's just hard to know where to look! This link and Stumble are my two new best friends!

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Brianna Young, VA and Graphic Artist
www.virtualsolutionsadmin.com
"It's not the piano that makes beautiful music. It's the person sitting AT the piano!"

I agree, Stumble is superb for content and brainstorming!

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I'm still struggling to find something to write about. The things that inspire me.... my kids, music, animals - don't seem to fit into my business structure. I hope Kathie M. Thomas is reading, she always has good ideas. How can I incorporate this type of inspiration into writing for small business? Although I'm good at administrative work, I find it uninspiring to just write about.

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Sarah Bernstein
Jackson Administrative Outsourcing
www.jacksonao.com

Sarah - I know how you feel. So my blog is not about virtual assistance. I knew there was no way I could enthusiastically and regularly write about it - even though I purely love it as a job!
Anyway, I'd advise you to consider your blogging as an exercise in creativity, self-discipline, writing, observing things, sharing, good presentation -- all that stuff. And go ahead and write about what you love. Others might disagree with me on this. If you're going to blog at least once a week, it just has to be something from your heart. Seems to me, anyway.
Blogging is a whole lot about being in the blogging world, reading and commenting on others' blogs, etc. So in a way, your faithful blogging demonstrates your discipline, thought process, writing skill, reporting skill, and your level of active participation. These are valuable clues for any potential clients you might have as a VA, so if you're ready for the blogging routine, it's a worthwhile use of your time, I think.

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Mary H. Ruth/Virtual Writing & Communications
http://www.writingVA.com

This is an interesting perspective. I'll have to put some thought into this.

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Sarah Bernstein
Jackson Administrative Outsourcing
www.jacksonao.com

Thanks Bri, I think you just handed me some new reading material for the morning

And I have to say that I agree with Mary on making your blog personal. I very rarely post on mine because I can never come up with something professional to post about, its just not me, I'm more a people person with alot of personality and me trying to write professional just makes me yawn

So I either just don't post, or occasionally come up with something simple. But maybe I should do as Mary says and just start blogging about what I love? And let people see who I really am. Hmmm that could be dangerous ut:

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Deb Frawley
Gem's Virtual Office

Haha...Deb, you're funny! Mary is right, though! We have to be mindful that people can become detached from us because of our virtual nature! Getting a little more personal can help ease the transition pains that business owners may have by going virtual.

Also keep in mind that blogging is not for everyone. For example, I really struggle with keeping a blog updated regularly, so I post "newsflashes" instead. This updates my site, keeps my clients informed, and doesn't require a lot of posting that I don't have time for.

And here's an idea for blog content - spotlight one of your clients or a complimenting business each week or month. Write a bio about them and link to their site - maybe they'll return the favor!

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Brianna Young, VA and Graphic Artist
www.virtualsolutionsadmin.com
"It's not the piano that makes beautiful music. It's the person sitting AT the piano!"

Actually since I'm doing alot of local marketing directed towards restaurants and others in the hospitality industry I've been thinking of writing a little review of my favorites in the area, and linking to them if they have a website. Does that sound like a good idea?

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Deb Frawley
Gem's Virtual Office