BLOGGING 101What is blogging?

Why do people do it?

How can it help me in my career?

WHAT IS BLOGGING? “A blog is a website in which items are posted on a

regular basis and displayed in reverse chronological order.

The term blog is a shortened form of weblog or web log. Authoring a blog, maintaining a blog or adding an article

to an existing blog is called “blogging”. Individual articles on a blog are called “blog posts,”

“posts” or “entries”. A person who posts these entries is called a “blogger”. A blog comprises text, hypertext, images, and links (to

other web pages and to video, audio and other files). Blogs use a conversational style of documentation. Often blogs focus on a particular “area of interest”, such

as Washington, D.C.’s political goings-on. Some blogs discuss personal experiences.”

WHERE CAN I BLOG?

Wordpress.co

m

Blogger.com

Tumblr.com Posterous.c

o

m

WORDPRESS VS. BLOGGER

WHY DO PEOPLE BLOG?

1. To make money.2. Champion a cause.3. Build community and

connect with others.4. Share knowledge and/or

information.5. Promote ourselves, or

creations, or our businesses.

6. Entertain, encourage, or inspire others.

7. Record personal experiences.

Source – blogswithwings.com

I GET IT. NOW WHAT?

Three Questions:

1. Who’s your Target Market?

2. Why are they on the internet?

3. What are they looking for?

WHAT TO INCLUDE ON YOUR BLOG:

• YouTube videos• Images/Cartoons (be sure to attribute and

link back when you can)• Shorter posts• Longer posts• Posts that read like a news article

(informative/narrative)• Posts that are easy to skim (bullet points,

lists, highlighted quotes)• Guest posts

HOW TO GET ENGAGED…

1. Respond immediately to comments (within 24 hours if possible).

2. Pose questions at the end of your blog posts that prompt readers to comment.

3. Check out the blogs of people who comment on your posts and comment back.

4. Contribute meaningful commentary to blogs you enjoy while linking back to your blog.

5. Pimp your blog – Invite friends from your social networks to read your blog.

…WITH YOUR READERS!

ORGANIZATION FOR LONG-TERM BLOGGING

• Research• Editorial Calendars• “Blog ideas” folders• Ongoing or pre-defined series

USE YOUR VOICE

• Be: intelligent, funny, passionate, inquisitive, FOCUSED

• Don’t be: obnoxious, ranting, flakey, a know-it-all….

BEFORE YOU PUBLISH…

Revise Edit Cite your sources Provide links

THANK YOU!

Amanda Steeley

amanda@knowyournetworks.com

www.knowyournetworks.com

@AmandaSteeley