Blogging Basics

Steve ButtryDaily Local News, West Chester, PA

Jan. 4, 2012

Read more about it• stevebuttry.wordpress.com• slideshare.net/stevebuttry• @stevebuttry• stephenbuttry@gmail.com

What’s your blog about?

Factors in blogging success• Idea• Format• Headline• Visuals

• Links• Voice• Writing• Conversation

Possible ideas• News• Events • Reviews• Buzz• Controversy• Releases• Quizzes

• Birthdays• Anniversaries• Aggregation• Curation (pro media

or social media)• Reaction• Reflection

Possible formats• Brief• Video (w/ intro)• Photo gallery• List• Review• News story

• Promotion• Chart/graph/map• Q&A• Narrative• Poll• Curation

Think beyond writing• Videos• Photos• Slides• Graphics• Audio• Tweets• Source documents• Maps

Keys to SEO• Relevance• Keywords in headline• Keywords in story (best in lead)• Understand how people are searching• Relevant links

Reach a wider audience• Effective use of social media (Facebook,

Twitter, YouTube, Foursquare, etc.)• Relevant comments (w/ links) on related

blogs• Emails/tweets/#hashtags call to attention

of influencers• Alert Digital First editor to best posts

The blogging conversation• Crowdsource (specific questions: “Do you

know anyone who …?” “Did you see …?” “Has this ever happened to you?”)

• Consider ending post w/ question• Stimulate/continue conversation in social

media• Engage with comments

Answer the 5 W’s (& How)• Who?• What?• When?• Where?• Why?• How?

Other questions• So what?• What’s next?• Who’s affected?• Why not?• How do you know that?• How do they know that?

Grab their attention• Lead (1st paragraph) is important to

reader & search engine• Keep lead brief & simple (tweet length?)• Most important W’s (not all) • Read your lead aloud• Take time to challenge, rewrite

Making money w/ a blog• Sell ads• Ad networks• Affiliate marketing• Syndicate content• Boost traffic• Build brand