Is it time for a Rewrite?

Photo by Pink Sherbet Photography

I was talking to my colleague, Dawn Bugni last night on Twitter and I was telling her that I was editing and rewriting some of my older blog posts. She was laughing at me because I already have a large amount of new content and now I am going backwards.

This blog is now two years old. Posts I loved when I hit publish can use a face-lift. I’ve changed graphic strategies, using Flickr photos tied to the content of the post.

Then there’s the actual post content. When I reread it, I often find myself cutting paragraphs or words, editing, or rewriting to clarify and tighten the writing.

You know what? I do the same thing with resumes I wrote a few years back. I edit, rewrite, change the formatting, tighten the focus on the value proposition and accomplishments.

Resumes and job search marketing strategies have changed dramatically in the last few years. To think that you don’t need to re-evaluate your marketing materials (resume, cover letters, references… LinkedIn profile, Executive Bio, Project Profile, and more) may mean the difference in whether you are the one offered the job.

Have you taken a close look at that aging resume? Perhaps you need to give it a face-lift!

6 Comments

  1. Dawn Bugni on October 9, 2010 at 9:13 am

    Woman! I would never laugh AT you … I always laugh with you (as far as you know anyway. LOL *kidding*)

    I’m astonished at where you find the time/energy/words to redo that which is already out there AND consistently create new and insightful content AND write for clients too. You know I’ve always likened you to the Energizer Bunny … you keep going and going and going.

    It’s awe and admiration my dear, not laughter at all. Well, OK, we do laugh a lot when we talk too.:)

    Hugs my friend!!



    • Julie Walraven on October 9, 2010 at 9:25 am

      Thank you for the sweet comment. I probably shouldn’t have said “at” … I knew it was a with… and you would catch it. I have plenty of reasons to know your proofreading skills are top-notch.

      Thanks for the hugs! Oh and I just revised the Momma Always said post… Call me compulsive… off to sort laundry and rake pine needles.



  2. Ari Herzog on October 9, 2010 at 7:08 pm

    Why are you inspired to edit past blog content?

    I never do that. It’s part of my history, evolutionary writing and ideas that I can trace to what I write about today. But that’s me.



    • Julie Walraven on October 10, 2010 at 9:15 pm

      Ari, you’ve been blogging more consistently and longer. When I started writing, I had certain ideas of what I wanted out there but I look at it differently now. I think your last sentence covered it. “But that’s me.” We all do it our own way. I think the magic of blogging is that it isn’t like a published book that you have so many printed copies. You can revise the content and attract all new readers who never read the first version.



  3. Brent Pohlman on November 17, 2010 at 6:20 am

    Great Advice! – I went back today and updated some blog content. I also agree with respect to your resume. I revise my LinkedIn resume all the time because I want other companies to find me based on my knowledge and experience.

    Updating your resume should be a life-long process.

    Thanks for your post!

    Brent



    • Julie Walraven on November 17, 2010 at 6:26 am

      Thanks, Brent! I always get great information when I visit your blog! I just went and read your energy drinks and alcohol post above, I have had concerns about that for a long time. I am so glad you are there to educate us!



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