Social Media: Blogging

1. Social Media: Blogging How to get started and keep it going

2. What is social media?

3. Why participate? • Push updates to those interested in you, your issue, organization, program, etc. • Helps you stay in front of your key audiences • Helps you listen and respond to their interests immediately. • Helps you increase the visibility of the content you’ve created.

4. One of the hottest ways to build businesses online BLOG

5. Agenda I. What is a blog? II. Why should you have one? III. Getting started • Tips for blogging and writing • Promoting your blog • Dos and don’ts • Resources • Questions

6. Old way: bookmarking Bookmark sites to keep track of updates and manually return to them on a regular basis to see what had been added. The problems with bookmarking: Web surfer had to do all the work Track multiple sites gets complicated Miss information when you forget to check bookmarks When sites don’t update often it wastes your time

7. New way: RSS [Really Simple Syndication] Used by millions of web users around the world to keep track of their favorite websites. RSS changes everything - lets you know every time content has changed. Sends you up to date information that you can read on your own time. Saves time and gets you information as it’s published.

8. What is a blog? According to Wikipedia.com: A blend of the term web log Regular entries of commentary, descriptions of events, or other material such as graphics or video Entries displayed newest posts first Most blogs are interactive, allowing visitors to leave comments, like, share, digg and even message each other via widgets Combines text, images and links to other blogs, web pages and other media related to its topic Essentially, it’s an online diary – a personal journal.

9. Blogging tools Countless sites for setting up blogs: Wordpress Blogger Google Blog Goal: social engagement Comments Like Share – via Facebook, twitter, etc. Digg

10. How to get started • Clearly define your ideal reader. Want do they want to learn about? • Determine the tone – casual, professional, etc.? • Determine frequency - Once weekly, twice weekly • Identify guest bloggers. Eases the pressure of developing copy • Establish time and resources - Write 2 to 3 posts per week for 6 months to get the results you want. • Define your niche. Focus is important. Don’t try to cover too many topics.

11. Tips for blogging • Be consistent – in content and publishing • Have an editorial calendar – help map your content creation strategy, repurpose your content and promote your content • Focus on quality posts. Do your research. Select topics of interest to your audience. • Listen and engage with your audience via Use social media – helps identify topics. • Tag and categorize your content to help people find what they are looking for.

12. Before you write • Research keywords. You want to use keyword rich copy. • Spend time on headlines - just as important in blogs as they are with print. • Make sure your copy is interesting - have a personality and write about your opinions. • Use spell check. • Determine your call to action – what do you want your readers to do?

13. 5 tools for keyword-rich copy Google External Keyword Tool: Helps you identify alternate phrases that searchers are using related to your original keywords. Google Ad Words: Helps identify what keywords people are paying for. Google Search: Search for what your business offers and review the top search results. Go to the Keyword Tool and run the site’s URL. It will help you find phrases used by other companies. Google Trends & Google Insights – Helps compare search terms against each other and provides valuable data such as search volume patters across regions, categories and time frames.

14. Checklist Invite readers to comment by asking questions. Acknowledge and respond to comments – this helps you determine their interests and help to identify future topics Remember it’s about engagement so you need to listen and respond to readers.

15. Blog topics • Get an RSS reader. Subscribe to blogs you are interested in following. • Ask your customer service team what questions they get the most • Monitor your other social media efforts • Make a topic into a series • Set up Google Alerts – respond to articles, news, what’s being said by others, etc.

16. Blog topics (continued) • Share from other blogs • Post a poll • Announce events, speaking appearances, new programs, deadlines, safety observances, new research, etc. • Ask your followers on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn for a topic. You’ll probably get an immediate response.

17. Promoting your blog • Encourage employees to contribute to your blog by writing posts • Share your new post with Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn – don’t forget posting to groups! • If you post a new video to YouTube, write a blog post about it • List new blog posts in outgoing emails, newsletters, etc.

18. A must for all bloggers Bloggers have to follow the FTC’s Dec. ‘09 policy on disclosures • You need to clearly state when you receive free merchandise or services from companies you discuss

19. Resources • Wordle.net – for creating tag cloud • Socialmediaexaminer.com • Run by Michael Stelzner – one of the best for social media strategy, tips, etc. • Books (two of my favorites) • Groundswell • Engage by Brian Solis

20. Questions? • A sample editorial calendar (.xls file) has been provided and will be shared with you all.