what's all the blog about?
TRANSCRIPT
What’s All The Blog About
Jeffrey Goldwww.twitter.com/Jeffrey_Gold
What is a Blog?
1. A conversation that begins with a writer and reader and, if lucky, includes conversations between readers.
2. A collection of journal entries focused on sharing a person’s interests or thoughts with whomever wants to listen.
3. A two way medium where discussion topics have no geographical borders.
Who is Blogging?Bob Lutz, Vice Chairman, General Motors
http://fastlane.gmblogs.com
Michelle Mitchell, wife and mother of 4http://scribbit.blogspot.com
Mark Cuban, Owner, Dallas Maverickshttp://blogmaverick.com
What’s the Difference?blogs vs. other communication channels
1. Publishable: Anyone can do it – inexpensively. Postings are available worldwide instantly
2. Findable: People use search engines to find blogs by subjectand/or author. The more you post the more findable you are.
3. Social: The blogosphere is one giant conversation. Through blogspeople with shared interests build relationships.
4. Viral: Information often spreads faster through blogs than news agencies.
5. Syndicatable: Use RSS (really simple syndication) tools to let your users easily see when your blog has been updated rather than making them visit your page each day.
6. Linkable: Use the millions of other bloggers as a resource or added area of interest to provide value to your readers.
The points above are edited excerpts from Naked Conversations by Shel Israel and Robert Scoble
Suggested reading
Why Should I Use a Blog?• Gives your company a personality• Listen to your readers/customers • Brand building – tell your story
– Positioning– Project your credibility – Your project credibility– Deliver your message clearly and quickly– Create strong customer loyalty– Relationship marketing – start a conversation
• Claim your expertise– Prove your differentiation
• Lead generation
What Do I Blog About
• Write about what you know
• Write about your interests
• Write about industry trends and hot topics
• Consider video, audio and presentation tools
Is Blogging Right for Me?
• Time intensive to write & market your blog
• Tough to generating traffic
• Must have dedication, passion & time
70% of blogs are abandoned by month 2
How Do I Get Started?1. Read a bunch of blogs to get the hang of it2. Pick a specific name for your blog; not “My Business Blog” 3. Keep it simple, focused and tell a story (your story)4. Demonstrate your passion5. Show your authority6. Allow users comments so you don’t become a
one-way PR channel7. Be accessible and transparent – let readers know who
you are and how to contact you.8. Be linky – don’t be afraid of directing people away from your
blog. Provide value even if it’s not on your site.9. Build real world relationships with your
audience when possible10. Use your referrer log to see who is linking to you.
Mechanics• Select a blog tool• Register your blog• Allow people to engage – if
you moderate comments stay on top of it
• Use a search function for your blog. Let people search you from inside the blog rather than doing a Google search on the outside
• Making sharing your blog easy Digg, Reddit, Stumble Upon…
• Install analytics software to track usage (Google Analytics)
• Post your contact info up front• Use graphics to enrich the
experience• Include call to action when
necessary• The more you update the
higher Google ranking• Use keywords in titles, body
and tags
Have Fun!
If you need some help or want to kick some ideas around please be in touch. We are here to make your social media experience the best it can be.
Jeffrey [email protected]/Jeffrey_Gold