blogging basics workshop presentation
DESCRIPTION
This presentation serves to introduce blogging to those just getting started! We give hints about where to get inspiration for blog articles, how to write with your own style, where to find media for your posts, and how to promote your blog.TRANSCRIPT
Blogging BasicsApril 15,
2014
Our History With BloggingSocial Media is never going away.
Businesses have realized this and are taking advantage—so are Libraries.
From mkhmarketing: http://www.flickr.com/photos/93212162@N08/8539048913Via Compfight: http://compfight.comCC: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/
Getting Started
Traditional methods of communication vs social media
Bellevue University Library and social media Facebook – March 2010
Problems Arise!
Library staff volunteers posted once a month…
…then we started having problems.
By Victor Hanacek Via: http://picjumbo.com/laptop-keyboard-close-up/Apple, the Apple logo and iPhone are trademarks of Apple Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries.
Our Solutions Step 1: social media committee
Step 2: empower interested staff
Step 3: Pare down to those who *love* writing
What to Write
Types of Blog Posts
Short
Types of Blog Posts
Reviews
Feature
FEATURE STORIES BLOGSThe Best Shots From The North Face Photo Contest
March 24th, 2014 | By Ryan DunfeeTGR has been hosting The North Face Photo Contestevery winter for the past five years, with the goal of finding the best amateur ski & snowboard photographers across the US & Canada.This year's contest,...Read More
Types of Blog Posts
Lists
Do You Recognize the 7 Early Warning Signs of High Blood
Pressure?
76 Reasons Why It Would Have Paid You to Answer Our Ad a Few
Months Ago
7 Reasons Why List Posts Will Always
Workby BRIAN CLARK
Types of Blog Posts
Infographic
Types of Blog Posts
Commentary
Types of Blog Posts
Poll/Quiz
Types of Blog Posts
Caption
Types of Blog Posts
http://theoatmeal.com/blog
This sign at an awesome bookshop.
http://www.buzzfeed.com/
Interview
Types of Blog Posts
How to
Types of Blog Posts
Read BooksSubscribe to blogs Stay passionateTake notes Share people’s ideas/resources
JoshEvans.com
Where to Find Ideas
Questions to Ask Before Posting
Is it new?
Is there something fascinating and different about it?
Talk about why it’s groundbreaking, what’s new about it, and what you think about its implications or the future.
Does anybody really care about this?
Is there something hilarious, quirky, or unbelievable about it?
Have you had personal experience with it?
(Bloggers Boot Camp by Charlie White & John Biggs)
Questions to Ask Before Posting
Is there a good graphic or photo available? Besides the headline, the quality of the graphic is one of the
main factors in drawing readers into your work.
Is it a hot topic of considerable controversy that will lure comments from readers?
Find the hot topics of the moment by using the Google Trends http://www.google.com/trends
Do you have a unique opinion or spin on the topic?
(Bloggers Boot Camp by Charlie White & John Biggs)
Blogging Etiquette
Copyright Laws- republish snippets along with a link
Images You Can Use- *Rights-managed- pay or get permission*Royalty-free- pay once and use again or
may not have a price, but have other restrictions (stock images)
*Creative Commons- organization that helps owners of original works share those works in a less-restrictive manner than copyright laws allow.
(creativecommons.org)
Blogging Etiquette
Creating Policies*Comment policy*Privacy policy*Terms and Conditions of Use
What Not to Talk About*Your Job*Slander/Negative talk
From The Complete Idiot’s Guide to WordPress by Susan Gunelius
Developing Your Voice
Personality Just like your mom always said; “Be yourself”
Unless your niche demands, no alter-egos
Be Passionate If you don’t like it, don’t write it.
Don’t be afraid to borrow language You are the culmination of life experiences
EXPERIENCE LIFE! Go out and meet your potential readers. Live a little; content, baby!
AudienceExercise 1: Create your ideal reader
A/S/L? Married? Kids? Pets? Background? Goals/desires?
Now, write them an email
POST!
AudienceExercise 2: The Doogie Howser, M.D. Post
Treat post like a personal diary.
Be willing to open up, write like no one will see it.
Take risks, but be aware of consequences (trolling, etc.).
Don’t practice medicine without a license.
POST!
Writing Step 1: Write every day
But DON’T post it everyday. Set goals – work up to 1,000
words.
Step 2: Read every day Find interesting blog : read
them. Newspaper, books,
magazines – OSMOSIS!
Step 3: Learn your grammar
When in doubt, look it up. Know when and how you
can break the rules.
FocusFind your niche and
stick with it Know what your
readers will accept.
Don’t dilute your message Leave unaffiliated
agendas for another blog.
Write what you know If you don’t know it,
research it. If you don’t research it,
don’t write it.
Adding Media
Why Add Media?
Photo credit: Brian Auer - http://www.flickr.com/photos/29814800@N00/3042421371/
Via Compfight - http://compfight.com) CC - https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/2.0/
Locating MediaFinding Images
Creative Commons https://creativecommons.org/
Compfight http://compfight.com/
Flickr https://www.flickr.com/search/advanced/
Originals – add your own, contribute to Flickr
Locating MediaAudio and Video Media
Jamendo http://www.jamendo.com/en/
Free Music Archive http://freemusicarchive.org/
YouTube http://www.youtube.com/yt/copyright/creative-
commons.html National Jukebox
http://www.loc.gov/jukebox
Selecting MediaHow does it relate?
Eye Candy Tap into Emotion Added Value Focused, relevant
Media Files Size Resolution Quality
Photo Credit: hoyasmeg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/62126383@N00/888931891/)
via Compfight (http://compfight.com) cc (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/)
Editing MediaBasic editing
Cropping, rotating, flipping, scaling
Using free image editing tools Pixlr Picasa PicMonkey
Video creating, editing iMovie Windows Movie Maker Lightworks
Uploading and Placement of Media
Uploading and Linking Media Title, Caption, Alt Text, Description Linking Size Video and Audio Embedding
Placement of Media in the Post, Final Editing Top load featured images Set margins, borders Alignment: left, center, right Viewing on different devices
Increasing Readership
Measurement (tools)Google Analytics
(http://www.google.com/analytics/)
Sitemeter (http://www.sitemeter.com/)
CQ Counter (http://cqcounter.com/)
From Tango!: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Measure.svg
Measurement (things)View
Visit
Duration
Get found (part 1) Submit your blog to search engines (Google, Yahoo)
Submit your blog to blog directories (Technorati, EatonWeb blog portal, Blogorama, blog catalog…)
SEO’s
This is a faithful photographic reproduction of a two-dimensional, public domain work of art. The work of art itself is in the public domain.From: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:OrteliusWorldMap1570.jpg
Using SEO’s to get more hitsSearch Engine Optimization
Trending, buzzwords, keywords, numbered lists
Get found (part 2)Submit your blog for review (weblog
review, blog of the day)
Submit your blog for an award (bloggies, weblog award, webby award, best of the blogs)
Network with other bloggers (engagement on their blogs, form a blog ring, create a blog roll)
Engaging your readersFeedback
Contests
Promote your postsFacebook
From mkhmarketing: http://www.flickr.com/photos/93212162@N08/8468788107/ Via Compfight: http://compfight.comCC: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/">cc</a>
Content is the great consensus
Quality
Meritocracy
Where We Are Now We just launched the new layout of our
Blog—emphasizing a more modern, cleaner look.
Comments being left on our blog are way up, and have generated some interaction between writers and commenters.
Statistics are roughly the same, except for the average visit duration, which has rocketed up from being only about thirty seconds to near three minutes! People are reading our stuff!
Thank you for your attention
Please ask us any questions you have!
If you would like to follow up with us after today, email us at [email protected]
What Have We Learned?Diane: How to Create and Generate
Content
Jake: How to Develop a Blogging Personality and Gain Followers
Casey: How to Effectively Use Media In Your Blogs
Pauline: How to Promote Your Blog
ReferencesTypes of Posts- Bloggers Boot Camp: Learning how to build, write, and run a successful blog. by Charlie White and John Biggs Short Paragraphs Image- by twelveskip.com, “10 Practical Reasons To Use Short Paragraphs On Your Blog Posts” 10 Commandments of Blogging Infographic- from visual.ly How We Are Blogging Infographic – from webhostinggeeks.com Commentary Blogs- Child Mind Institute: http://www.childmind.org/en/press/brainstorm/ ; WatchBlog: http://www.watchblog.com/; Justia: onward.justia.com/ Where to Find Ideas- JoshEvans.com Questions to Ask Before Blogging - Bloggers Boot Camp by Charlie White and
John Biggs Blogging Etiquette-The Complete Idiot’s Guide to WordPress by Susan Gunelius
References• White, C. (2012). Bloggers boot camp: Learning how to build,
write, and run a successful blog. Waltham, MA: Focal Press.• Risdahl, A.S. (2006). The everything blogging book : Publish
your ideas, get feedback, and create your own worldwide network. Avon, MA: Adam Media.
• Yang, J. (2006). The rough guide to blogging. London, NY: Rough Guides.