Professional Blogs?

I have been applying for some freelancing jobs in my area and have come across a strange dilema. All but one of these companies would like a link to my "professional blog" rather than any type of resume etc. Now, I'm not dumb, I know what a blog is, but what is entailed in a professional blog?

Does anyone here have one, or have a link to where I could find an example of one? I guess if I'm going to get a shot at any of this, I need to get with the times.

I'm currently looking into a professional blog for my writing career. There is a ton of information on Google and I am only beginning to digest it all. Bottom line, it seems that professional blogs are pretty much an elaborate resume-website, that includes free articles you've written that display your writing/expertise, a link section that provides good reference material in your field and an active Q&A section that shows how you present yourself to the public when you handle responses to your articles. It's more work than I wanted at this time, but it appears to be essential to my marketing. I guess I'll suck it up, buy a URL and start writing. LOL

I did a bit of searching and ran across this blog. http://jilliannehamilton.wordpress.com/

I don't know this person or advocate anything on her blog, but it looks similar to what Dean referred to and may possibly give you an idea of the format. It looks like the intent of the blog is the same thing you're asking about.

It makes sense to request something like this to get an idea of the potential writer's ability.

Here is the writing website of a friend of mine. He has had three recent manuscripts accepted for publication and he is an English teacher in his "day" job. I believe he also became an editor for a sci-fi magazine recently.

http://www.ervin-author.com/

I am not saying his site is good or bad, simply an idea of how some writers are promoting themselves and their services.

Terry has a nice website and he's one hell of a writer. He has one short story on his site called "Vegetable Matters" that will curl your hair.

Actually, he sold Vegetable Matters and it is scheduled for publication in a short story collection.

Just wondering, there are a lot of sites out there that give writers a chance to produce a blog. Do you think it's less desirable then buying into a url that has your own name it in?

I'm not trying to be cheap, just wondering if it's more the content or the commitment people are looking for.

What kind of message do you send to people when you have invested in your own professional image? Of course, the opposite question is also fair...what message do people get if your "professional" blog is hosted on a known "free" site?

On a related matter, I had a book signing today with Jeff Carlson, international best selling sci-fi author. My signing went from noon-2 pm and his went from 3-6. I hung around and watched his entire presentation and interaction with prospective readers. After it was over, we talked privately about everything from query letters to contracts to marketing to blogs! He does not like blogs. His experience has been that a blog attracts a small number of avid fans who ask repeated questions or make numerous posts. In essence, he feels blogs are not a good idea for writers who need to be constantly expanding their reader base, not investing time repeatedly on the same small group. Very interesting perspective from an international bestseller who is heavily involved in marketing his books.

So, if Jeff is right, what is the alternative?

After talking with Jeff, I am redesigning my personal writer's site to remove the interactive blog element. I will invite personal emails and I will respond to as many as possible but there will be NO public display of Q&A. If a fan asks a particularly good question, or if a fan makes a strong expression of appreciation, I may ask the fan for permission to quote him/her on the site, but it will not be automatic, nor will I put myself in position to be obligated to respond.

After I get a day or two to digest everything I learned today, I'll make a post sharing Jeff's wisdom and advice.

His website is:

www.jverse.com

So his advice is, rather than to use a blog, is to create a writer's website and use that to display his writing talents?

I think his idea seems much more professional, as I've seen many writers who keep a public website and merely keep their readers updated without supplying anyway to contact the author.

Do you have any recommendations on places that will list a website for you? It seems as though even to get a freelance writing job, having a website is all the rage. Can't really blame them... when I'm looking for anything that I'd like to vest time in - I'm turned off by places without websites. Especially apartment complexes.

Hmm...

I used Homestead to build my book's website:

http://www.homestead.com/?s_cid=G20425&pd=t

They offer lots of template websites that you can customize and they will obtain your URL for you.

Thanks for the advice/help. I really appreciate it :)