the abc of blogging
DESCRIPTION
Basic tips on how to get started with a blogTRANSCRIPT
The ABC of BloggingNatascha ThomsonMarch 2012
How to Start a Blog
Blog 101: Options
Blog Hosting Sites** Wordpress.com (free) Wordpress.org (free, self-hosted) – max. impact Blogger (owned by Google but SEO is lower than WP)
** Wordpress better for biz, Blogger for recreational blogging
Related: Blogger vs. Wordpress for SEO; Wordpress.com vs. WP.org
Getting Started: Register for a free blog site at Wordpress.com
Pick a name. Your URL will be “name.wordpress.com” You can upgrade blog to “name.com” URL later (if available)
Pick a template (under “Appearance”) with the right elements Pick your widgets (under “Appearance”)
Your Twitter feed FB, LI & Twitter sharing buttons Picture Email Subscribe button (you automatically get statistics; no widget needed)
Complete the “About” page (your business card)
Related: Blogging Trends for 2012
Steps for completing set up: Title & Sub-title of Blog Website – “Settings” – “General” Public Profile – “Users” – “My Profile”
Your Picture - “Appearance” – “Widget” – “Gravatar” Also add links to other sites, e.g. LinkedIn
Share Buttons – “Settings” – “Sharing” (On a self-hosted WP.org blog: “Settings” – “Sociable”)
Tools - Webmaster Tools Verification (?) (to get statistics) Write your first post (“Posts” – “add new”)
Title, body text Only display first part of a blog: above blog post click “Insert More” Add a YT video – simply post the URL in the blog on it’s own line Complete Excerpt Add Tags Display (to test what it will look like)
Publish!
Title & Sub-title
Email Subscribe
Picture
Tweet Stream
Comments
Side Bar Widgets
Blog Optimization
OptimizedPage
Related: https://adwords.google.com
For the keyword phrase:
“Chocolate Donuts”
Blog Blueprint
Good Content is the Best Recipe
Blog 101: Content
The right content will attract the right audience Tell a story Be a personality = you Be creative (videos, podcasts, pictures etc.) Demonstrate your expertise Don’t pitch products Listen: What is the tone of the blogging site? Create a clear and simple title Use key words (for SEO) in title & body Create an editorial calendar (and pipeline) Link to your own & other blogs in your copy Use Google Ad Words for SEO:
https://adwords.google.com
Related: The perfectly optimized page
Slideshare
The World's Largest Community for Sharing Presentations•Set up a private or company account (there are 8 options)
•Upload presentations, documents (make sure to add descriptions & tags)
•Share privately or publicly
•Link to content on Slideshare from your blog – “play it” inside the blog post•Example: Social Media Day at SAP: The Presentations
Option to log in with your Facebook account• Set up your profile with meaningful information (your public profile is your
business cards)– Provide links to your blog, FB, Twitter accounts (will also show your Tweet stream)– Picture & description of your “purpose”– Manage notifications
• Follow other people or favorite their content (as you look at their uploads)• If you upgrade to PRO you can upload videos, capture leads, get analytics &
branding • How to embed a SlideShare presentation into your Wordpress.com blog:
– In Slideshare, the easiest way is to grab the embed code and paste it into the HTML view of your blog
Example:
•First level–Second level
• Third level
Publicizing a Blog
Blog 102: Promotion
To gain readers & optimize SEO•Share your blog via social media
• Twitter• Facebook• LinkedIn
•Blog regularly & frequently•Use the right keywords in the blog title, body, tags, description •Create LinkLove (inbound links create SEO):
• Syndicate your blog• Ask people to link back to your blog• Comment on other people’s blogs (often asks for URL)• Link to yours’ & others’ blogs in your blog• Include your blog URL in your email signature & social profiles
• Add a call to action (at the bottom) to increase engagement
•Related: 21 Tactics to increase blog traffic
Stumbleupon
•“We help you easily discover new and interesting stuff on the Web. Tell us what you like, and we’ll introduce you to amazing web pages, videos, photos and more that you wouldn’t have found on your own.•As you Stumble through great web pages, tell us whether you Like or Dislike our recommendations so we can show you more of what’s best for you. We’ll show you web pages based on that feedback as well as what similar Stumblers and the people you follow have Liked or Disliked”.
•Related: How to increase StumbleUpon Traffic
How does it work?
• Set up your profile (list your blog)
• Drag the SU button to your browser so you can get content suggestions (see IE mentioned in the sub-text; it’s an actual install)
• Use the “up & down thumb” buttons to vote on web sites (like on TiVo)
• To begin receiving traffic to your blog from StumbleUpon you must have at least one of your webpages submitted. In StumbleUpon, browse to your website, and select the “thumbs up” button to add the current page to StumbleUpon.
• Next, you will be asked to add some more tags & detail. Then submit. Done.
• Like most social sites, engagement helps you get more traffic; so start voting.
• You need to add value to get value back
Be Consistent Across Channels
http://www.seomoz.org/blog/21-tactics-to-increase-blog-traffic-2012
Natascha [email protected]@NaThomson+1 (925) 519-8111
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