Next up is Renee Groskreutz, Creative Barista for Ralph’s Design & Deli, as well as Co-Owner of FunCitySocialMedia. Renee is author of 15 Twitter Tips for Authors & Other Grownups and The 90-Day Social Media Plan for Business. She loves blogging and is clearly excited about what blogging can do for business. She will share info with anyone who asks. Email her for her powerpoint presentation: Renee at RalphsDesign dot com.
Why should you care about blogs?
ONE FACTOID: 77% of Internet users read blogs!
The most important thing with blogging is to PLAN. Think about your content before you thinking about the fun stuff or design. Have a plan for your content.
Categories allow you to sort posts into topics. This makes it easy for people to search your blog. TIP: Limit number of categories to between 4 and 10 on an average blog. Tags vs Categories – the exercise is to help thinking of your blogs in segments. You get better SEO when you have organized categories. Category Description will help you focus.
Title Tips:
1) Make your titles catchy yet informative
2) Keyword research
3) Study magazine headlines
4) Think in Series
Use the Google Keyword Tool!
A Question From the Audience
Q: What platform do you recommend?
A: WordPress, hands down. We use Thesis 2.0 and Genesis.
Blog Post Recommendations
– 400-600 words
– Bullet points
– Short paragraphs
– Use white space instead of a “wall” of text
– Series
EXCITING TIP from Renee! Extend the life of your blog by going back every three weeks to refresh it: replace the photo, add more photos, add more text, add or replace the video, include a slideshare slide. It cuts down on work and Google keeps seeing your blog as fresh and new.
IMAGES
Don’t forget to rename your images to your blog post title!
Always good to use unique images that you take or create yourself, but always make sure you’ve purchased rights.
Don’t assume your clients have given you cleared photos, and have a waiver in your paperwork that clears you of responsibility.
SOCIAL MEDIA
-Have a strategy
-All things point back to a specific post
-Don’t post to all platforms at once
-Re-post
-Use forums & other blogs
BLOG LINKS/RESOURCES
FunCitySocialMedia Blog
Gravatar.com to set up your WordPress avatar
Google Keyword Tool
Email Renee at RalphsDesign dot com to request the Powerpoint presentation from today’s workshop!
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You can reach me, Your Friendly Neighborhood Live Blogger Andi Reis, at @FunCityAwesome or @RalphsDesign on Twitter, or email Andi at RalphsDesign dot com
Look for Ralph’s on Facebook – would love to have you over for virtual coffee (or the real kind too – 817-454-3931).
