MOLI VIEW™

One of the most important things you can do to propel your small business or freelance career to the next level is promotion. Advertising is certainly an important part of that equation, and if you have the money to do it, go right ahead. But establishing your credibility and expertise in your chosen field can be done with no money at all.

How? Start a blog. MOLI, for example, offers a growing array of powerful tools that will allow you to post your thoughts, images, sounds, and more. And it's free. You can also sell stuff on your MOLI blog for less than 4 bucks a month or for a whole year for less than $35. That's cheap! There are other sites that offer blogging tools and resources as well.

This isn't a commercial for MOLI. Wherever you decide to blog, establishing your credentials as an authority is a super-powerful tool. By posting commentary and analysis in your chosen field, you'll have the ability to demonstrate your expertise (as long as you do, indeed, have expertise, of course). You can also use your blog as a tool to connect with others in your profession, and network your little heart out. List other blogs and quote them (and link to them) in your postings. Then, ask them to reciprocate.

You don't have to be a great writer, by the way, to blog. Just keep it short and simple. As you would with any other important written communication, use spell-check. Read it out loud to ensure that it says what you want it to say.

But how do you get other people to read your blog?

Next week: How to hook readers.

Richard Pachter is the MOLI View's contributing editor for Business.

» Read Richard's blog