Why write? Is it an opportunity or a time waster?

Here's an interesting real-life example about a blogger who stopped - and who noticed. Why am I telling you about this? Because there is a great lesson here about how writing can help you grow your business.

On many occasions I recommend to clients they should be writing more. As a service provider (especially a Business-to-Business service provider) the art of 'writing' is usually a very important component of your marketing mix. But often it seems like such a waste of time.

Writing can be in many forms. Website pages, articles, 'how to' ideas, tips sheets, commentary, blog posts, reviews.

Just yesterday I was reading this post from the Logic+Emotion blog. It was about the re-appearance of another blogger - Leigh Householder - who blogs under the name Advergirl (a 32 year-old Account Executive from a mid-West USA advertising agency).

Of particular interest was the post on the blog at AdFreak.com...

As a fan of Advergirl, I shared this concern. Had she tired of blogging? Had she gone Luddite and thrown her laptop into the sea? I set out to find the answer.

And answer she did. Advergirl is quoted as replying with...

I still think about getting it going again— focusing more on commentary, consumer insight & agency life rather than just creating a collection. But, it’s a big commitment. And, for all the personal satisfaction, blogging is really a job you don’t get paid for—one that provides value to lots of your contemporaries and drains significant amounts of your personal and professional time.

But Advergirl has returned to blogging - just the other day - and in doing so she has regenerated interest in what she is doing.

Note: if you are a small business owner with limited expereince in dealing with advertising agencies - the Advergirl blog will give you a real insider view on how an agency operates.

As a service provider or independent professional you need to generate interest in what you are doing, and help educate potential clients on how you can help them. And writing is one of the key ways you can achieve this.

Take a few minutes to read the posts on the blogs listed in this article. Think about how you can communicate with prospects and existing clients.

How can you show your unique voice?

How can you help people understand your industry?

How can you inform others?

After all... writing is about sharing, influencing, and responding.