You're perfect for this promotion.
You worked hard, exceeded your performance metrics, and kissed up to all the right people. This one's in the bag. Nobody's got a better chance than you.
At least, not until you were blind-sided by the one surprising advantage your competition has over you.
Bloggers Stand Out as Formidable Contenders
Promoting yourself for career advancement means you pull out all the stops to prove your value and competency on the job. But increasingly, employers are looking for even more evidence that you're right for the position. Showcasing your expertise as a blogger can earn you just the right extra points to tip the scales in your favor. Here are five ways to use your blogging prowess to prove that you've got what it takes to get promoted.
1. Blogging makes you a reliable and dependable asset.
When you blog, you manage your time and priorities. You take ownership of your projects and manage the autonomy of your copy. You publish new content regularly and meet your readers' expectations for timely delivery.
Neil Patel has been hailed by the Wall Street Journal as a top influencer on the web. As the founder of QuickSprout, Kissmetrics, and CrazyEgg, Patel appreciates the commitment of running a marketing blog. "You'll never succeed at content marketing if you can't create content on a regular basis."
Employers promote team members they can depend on. As a blogger, you are accountable to your audience for delivering useful content on a routine basis. Stand out for a promotion by demonstrating the trust and reliability you've built with your blog readers.
2. Blogging makes you a powerful connector.
When you blog, you reach out to vast numbers of people. You constantly interact on the web through social media and your blog exchanges. Readers connect with you, and you build a strong network that way.
Inbound marketing authority Hubspot reminds us that "bloggers who write just three to four blog posts per month get 20 more monthly lead submissions, 800 more monthly site visits, 60 more Twitter followers, and 50 more Facebook likes than customers who only write two blog posts per month." Even beginner bloggers can rack up hundreds of subscribers and social media followers in only two to three months.
Connections show employers that you're vested in a competitive advantage. As a blogger, you master the art of connection. Next time you're up for a promotion, leverage the social proof you've built through your blog.
3. Blogging makes you a multi-skilled professional.
It takes expertise to blog. It takes curiosity, inventiveness, and tenacity to learn about a topic as extensively as you have. And it takes resourcefulness to maintain a system that delivers your content, promotes your writing, and communicates with your audience.
Sonia Simone, co-founder of Copyblogger, understands the multitude of skills involved in online blogging. "Website design, content marketing, social media networking, product design, audience development, evolving technology..." can easily get overwhelming.
You increase your value as an employee when you take the initiative to cultivate the skills you need. As a blogger, you wear a variety of hats. Jockey for your promotion based on the wealth of skills you've acquired with your blog.
4. Blogging makes you an action-oriented problem-solver.
Bloggers get creative when problems arise. You built your website all by yourself. Whenever something breaks, you're the one who fixes it -- even if you don't have the instruction book. You're a solo artist with a show to put on. And you juggle it all with a full-time job. That takes motivation. And discipline. And a can-do attitude.
Amazon founder Jeff Bezos believes that the best problem-solvers are stubborn. "If you're not stubborn, you'll give up on experiments too soon." Running a blog takes stubborn persistence to do whatever it takes when something goes wrong.
Managers who want to promote from within are looking for people who will take action when a problem comes up. Bloggers think critically in the face of any problem. Show your boss how you've tackled technical and creative roadblocks with your blog when you discuss your promotion.
5. Blogging makes you an ambitious innovator.
Starting a blog is an ambitious pursuit. You work full-time. You juggle a life of demanding details. And you've got the drive to create something unique all on your own. Something that will promote your ideas, influence others, and maybe leave it all better than you found it.
Richard Branson defines ambition as the drive to align with success. At Virgin Records, he promotes "great people who genuinely feel their job is more important than just money."
Promotions go to people who innovate strategies that can make things better. Your drive to blog speaks to your enthusiasm to improve your situation and that of those around you. When you're up for a promotion, let your employer see how your personal ambition as a blogger propels your professional ambition for success at your job.
Are You a Contender?
It's maddening to keep getting overlooked when you want to get ahead. Next time you go up for a promotion, leverage your competitive edge as a blogger. The challenge can be formidable. But formidable challenges call for formidable contenders. Are you one?
Anne Bechard shows you how to blog smarter so you can play harder -- even if you've got a full-time job. Want to discover tons of time you didn't think you had? Click over to The Best-Kept Secret to Finding 30 More Minutes Every Day.