Having a blog allows you the opportunity to build credibility and trust. These are the two things that are hardest to prove, yet the most important and often are the deciding factors on whether or not someone wants to work with you.

I’m a photographer, but I also like to write, teach dance and travel the world. That’s already a mouthful, and in an increasingly fast paced world with ever decreasing attention spans, you’re not going to have a lot of time to show just how awesome you are in a matter of seconds.

So you have a blog.

Every time you meet someone, a potential employer, client or even just a new friend, all you need to do is make a good first impression. Make sure you trade contact information and make sure to point him to your blog if he decides you are someone worth developing further relationships with.

Because if you don’t, then you’re just leaving this person to decide whether or not to continue with you based on your one short meeting. While this may be good if you left a positive first impression, you’ve left him nothing to learn more about how awesome you are. And in the case you left a bad first impression, at least your awesome blog may convince him to want to be friends with you.

By having a blog, you essentially have back-up. You have strong work you can stand on for credibility. You have work that you can point to. You are showing that you are a professional, that you know exactly what you’re talking about and in addition to your incredible personality (or lack thereof), you’re capable of producing great compelling work.

Personally speaking, I have wanted to attain a photographer, photo editor, photo art director role for a very long time. I haven’t had the luck, but I know that I increase my chances by having a blog that shows more of who I am and what I’m about. My blog not only showcases my knowledge in photography, it also shows more of my personality. I write about business, psychology, health and travel. My blog shows that not only am I a professional, but I am also a well-rounded individual with strong values and opinions that will play well into any professional role I take on.

Blogging builds credibility.

Blogging builds trust.

Now, you might be wondering… what if someone reads something they don’t like and decides not to work with me? Sure, it sucks that you lost an opportunity, but this is the real you we’re talking about. If a potential employer, client, or partner does not connect with who you are and what you’re about, then you’ve just dodged a bullet. You don’t want to work with them anyway. Sure, perhaps you’ll get more rejections for standing for something and sharing your opinions, but your job is not to make everyone happy. Your job is to create important work that is true to who you are. The right people will find you.

Stay true to yourself.

by Jason Lam