The term blog is short for weblog. It’s a kind of online journal–informal in tone, so the author (ah-hem, “blogger”) needn’t worry about perfectly polished prose. People who care about your blog’s message or theme may follow or share it, making it a great way to reach a lot of people with your ideas.
I was first introduced to blogs by my dear friend, Naomi, who started a travel diary to document her journey from her home in New Zealand to Cambodia in 2011. Her father had lost a long-fought battle with dementia, and her only child would soon be off to college. Feeling trapped in routine, Naomi’s yearning for adventure was matched only by a gnawing need to get away, to do something that felt important, life-changing. And because she is a nurse–and a person of most generous heart–choosing a destination for her meant deciding where in the world people most desperately needed help. A chance online search, a bargain airfare and a personal contact led her to an NGO in Cambodia. Friends and family questioned her sanity, but to Naomi, “It just felt right.” So after selling most of her possessions, she stuffed a single backpack with bare necessities, and boarded a one-way flight to Phnom Penh, where she planned to spend the next three months as a volunteer health care worker. (What came after those three months nobody knew, but Naomi assured us things would fall into place.)
Through her blog posts, Naomi gifted her followers with a lens into a world so different from our own. She reminded us of the unimaginable horrors Cambodians had suffered at the hands of Pol Pot and the Khmer Rouge regime 1974-79; in her patients, she witnessed the physical and psychological scars daily. She also shared joyful moments–like the surprise of seeing an elephant saunter down a busy street, and being offered a choice of free Coke or beer with her first fish pedicure courtesy of a tub bubbling with tiny Garra rufa. What began as a bold quest for self-rediscovery evolved into six years of soul-fulfilling work caring for an underserved community, mentoring local health care workers, and effectively changing the standard of medical care for all who she touched. Naomi said goodbye to her Cambodian colleagues in 2017, and has since started a new chapter of loving service–but that’s a topic I will save for another post.
Blogging for Business
Like most things internet-related, the “blog” has evolved, and its utility has greatly expanded in recent years. Although it’s still a practical way to stay close with family and close friends, a blog can now serve as a powerful platform for exchanging ideas with masses of people connected by common interests. When done with authentic intention, blogging is an effective way to share best business practices, convey your company culture, and connect with your customers. And (just like real life), if what you have to say is interesting and relevant, your audience will not only listen, they’ll share your blog with others. And voila! Before you know it, your blog will become an important part of your business’s marketing mix.
In my former corporate life, I advocated for business blogging, cajoling technical experts into sharing scientific insights as part of our company’s content marketing plan. Now that I’m working as an independent consultant, it’s time to put my preaching into practice. So here’s a sample of what you can expect from the B2X blog:
- Thoughts on the importance of building a brand from the inside of a company out
- My take on how technology can catapult sales and marketing efforts–or hasten a train wreck
- Strategy vs. execution, and practical ways to keep them aligned
- Stories from my professional life and the personal lessons I’ve learned
- And like every other thing you read these days, probably some musings about living and working through a pandemic
Thank you for visiting the B2X blog. Until next time, I wish you good health and safety, the kindness of strangers, and the ability to greet each morning with gratitude.
Only My Very Best,
Kristein
B2X Strategies, LLC 