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Jump-Start Your Blog!

Mary Fletcher Jones@MaryFletchJones

#SMWEdCal

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Why Have a Blog?

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Is Blogging Effective?

• Blogging is #1!

• Highest ROI in social media

• 75% of companies plan to increase their blogging activity

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Blogs

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Personal Benefits Associated with Blogging

• More articulate• Increased confidence• Perceived as a resource

or expert• Connections and sales

leads• Speaking engagements

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Challenges AssociatedWith Blogging

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Writer’s Block Un-Blockers

1. Stop trying so hard2. Have a little fun3. Post comments4. Post informative

answers5. Go visual

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Planning Tips

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Finding Time to Blog

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WHY should I read this blog?

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WHY should I read this blog?

• Tell WHAT your blog is about – provide a description

• Tell WHY your blog exists and describe the KEY BENEFIT: what’s in it for me?

• WHO is the blog for? Ages, gender, geographic location, educational level, background, level of technical expertise, needs, lifestyle

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Example: Blog Focus• Published three times a week, The Fletcher Prince Blog is an

informational resource of easy-to-understand marketing articles and videos for small business owners and nonprofit managers who want to learn affordable marketing, public relations, and graphic design strategies to help them communicate effectively with customers or constituents.

• The blog will reinforce Fletcher Prince’s brand image as a friendly, accessible, and trustworthy company and establish Fletcher Prince’s subject matter expertise in its core business areas.

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Writing Tips

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Basic Rules of Communication Apply

• Why are you doing this? What returns do you expect? What resources will you dedicate?

• Who is your audience?

• What benefit are you offering? Why should they care?

• What is the main idea? (stick to one)

• What do you want them to do? (call to action)

• Is this the right time? Is this the right medium?

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Interesting Blog Topics

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Viral Content for Blogs

• What’s newsworthy?

• Post video, five minutes or shorter, on YouTube and embed in your blog. 25% of all search results on the Internet are for YouTube video.

• Consider original and off-beat topics

• Try top-ten lists or top-five tips

• How-to articles

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Images Make Blogs Enjoyable to ReadDO

•

DON’T

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Looks matter.Needs work… Better…

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Designing Your Blog

• White background, dark text

• Web-safe fonts• Usability

considerations• Logos and images• Sidebars and widgets

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Blog Engagement Ideas

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Promoting Your Blog

• Subscription features• Comment on blogs• Email newsletters• Business card• Email signature• LinkedIn profile• Twitter updates

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Thank you! Let me know how I can help

you with your blog

Mary@FletcherPrince.comSubscribe to The Fletcher Prince

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