5 Tips for Leveraging Your Personal Blog to Earn Media Coverage
Blogging is a great way to share your personal ideas, client testimonials, information or updates about the coaching profession and more. The value of your blog goes well beyond simply posting such content. In fact, there are ways to use your personal blog to secure media opportunities for yourself and your coaching business. The following tips can help you use your blog to grab the attention of reporters and media outlets.
1. Connect Your Blog to Your Social Platforms
Posting only on your website or blog site is rarely enough to earn media attention. Sharing and linking your blog on your social media accounts can help reporters and others find your work, as many reporters often use Twitter as a resource to find stories, content and interview subjects. Keeping your Twitter feed current with your latest content can help increase your visibility with journalists. In addition, following and engaging with the journalists who routinely cover topics related to your content and business can also help you establish these important connections.
Always remember to drop a link of your blog in the bio on your social media page to make it easily accessible for those who want to read your new and old posts. Instagram also allows you to link websites within stories, providing you another method for driving traffic to your blog.
2. Utilize Search Engine Optimization
Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is a well-established way to increase traffic to your website or blog. Imagine someone searches “life coaches in my area” or “how to become a coach.” If your content is optimized to provide an answer to those queries, Google or other platforms can direct those searchers to your content. The goal is to have your blog or applicable posts appear first on the search results page so that searchers see your content before anyone else’s.
After you’ve written a blog post, it’s important to go back through and emphasize keywords and phrases that are most frequently searched, such as the word “coach.” Think about words and phrases that a reporter would search in order to find information on your topic – then try to incorporate them as frequently as possible, without cluttering your content. This will help search engines like Google find and direct readers to your content.
In addition, keeping sentences short and to the point helps eliminate clutter and makes keywords stand out. You may wonder how this can help you win media opportunities. The answer is simple. When reporters wish to speak with an ICF-credentialed coach, they may often begin with a search online for “ICF coach near me.” When your blog appears on that first page of search results and incorporates a link to your blog, you rise to the top of the reporter’s interview subject list.
3. Include Your Blog in Pitches
As the founder of your blog, you have the freedom to create whatever content you believe is best for your audience, your brand and your business. If you are particularly interested in creating content about a certain coaching subject, your blog is the perfect platform to do so.
Then, if you want to engage in proactive media pitching—contacting reporters directly with a story idea rather than waiting for them to contact you—including a link to your blog in your email or Twitter pitch simplifies their decision to respond. Even if they do not respond immediately, reporters very often file information for future reference when they are working on stories in your field of expertise.
Keep in mind that it is not necessary to have a long-form blog post explaining everything you know on a particular topic. Reporters are busy people, so key points and highlights are enough. This way you have more to offer the reporter when you finally have the opportunity to engage in an interview for a piece in their publication.
4. Incorporate Timely Topics in Your Blog
Reporters often seek relevant and timely stories that can appeal to their audience. Your blog can be used as a tool to showcase your expertise and the ways your thought leadership intersects with timely news events. Reporters are more likely to pursue your perspective on a topic when your expertise has already been demonstrated. Because coaching fits into almost every facet of life, providing context to a relevant news story through the lens of the coach gives you a unique perspective that a reporter might be interested in.
5. Get Writing, Posting and Pitching!
Having your own personal blog is a great way to demonstrate your expertise and knowledge of the coaching profession, but it’s just the first step. Take full advantage of your blog and leverage it for wider attention. You’re more likely to get noticed when you are proactively pitching a story or sharing your blog on your social media platforms. That way, your own content becomes a pathway for broader visibility.
Ezraya Drumgo
Ezraya Drumgo is an account coordinator at Stanton Communications, ICF’s public relations agency of record. Her work focuses on media research and social media community development. Previously, she worked at the Democratic National Committee and New York State Senate for Sen. José M. Serrano. Ezraya graduated from the University at Albany, SUNY. She is a native New Yorker and public advocacy enthusiast.
The views and opinions expressed in guest posts featured on this blog are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions and views of the International Coach Federation (ICF). The publication of a guest post on the ICF Blog does not equate to an ICF endorsement or guarantee of the products or services provided by the author.
Additionally, for the purpose of full disclosure and as a disclaimer of liability, this content was possibly generated using the assistance of an AI program. Its contents, either in whole or in part, have been reviewed and revised by a human. Nevertheless, the reader/user is responsible for verifying the information presented and should not rely upon this article or post as providing any specific professional advice or counsel. Its contents are provided “as is,” and ICF makes no representations or warranties as to its accuracy or completeness and to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law specifically disclaims any and all liability for any damages or injuries resulting from use of or reliance thereupon.
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