Presented at the New Westminster Public Library on March 24, 2009

1. Blogging Basics
Briana Tomkinson
tenthtothefraser.ca

2. About me

3. Focus
Introduction to blogging
Blog planning workshop
How to launch a blog
How to grow your audience using Twitter
and Facebook
Overcoming common roadblocks
Finding your niche in the media ecosystem

4. What is a blog?
A blog is a personal diary. A daily pulpit. A collaborative
space. A political soapbox. A breaking-news outlet. A
collection of links. Your own private thoughts. Memos to the
world.
Your blog is whatever you want it to be. There are millions of
them, in all shapes and sizes, and there are no real rules.
In simple terms, a blog is a web site, where you write stuff
on an ongoing basis. New stuff shows up at the top, so your
visitors can read what's new. Then they comment on it or
link to it or email you. Or not.
- Blogger.com

5. Why blog?
You have something to say
Meet people who share your interests
Learn something new, and chronicle your
progress
People want to know what you're up to
Establish yourself (or your business) as an
expert or thought leader

6. Source: Hinchcliffe.org

7. Who blogs?
ambitious and achievement-oriented
interested in community
reader-oriented
visual
self-reflective
interested in learning
'a bit obsessed'
playful
desire to be focused and effective
- Vancouver psychotherapist Isabella Mori
http://www.inspirationbit.com/the-psychological-profile-of-a-blogger/

8. Blog genres & examples
Hyperlocal: http://www.tenthtothefraser.ca/
Personal: http://www.arbolog.com/
Political: http://burnabypolitics.blogspot.com/
Gossip: http://www.laineygossip.com/
Technology: http://mashable.com/
Personal Finance: http://www.thesimpledollar.com/
Humour: http://failblog.org/
Photography: http://www.durhamtownship.com/
Video log (vlog): Ask A Wheelchair Girl - http://www.
youtube.com/user/josiejose
Advocacy: http://desmogblog.com/
Business: http://blog.builddirect.com/

9. Workshop: Plan your blog
Why do you want to blog?
What could you write about?
Who would you like to read your
blog?
Brainstorm your first 10 posts

10. Put your audience first
Who is your
audience?
What are their
goals?
How can you help
them?
What do they get
from the
relationship?

11. Find your voice
Give yourself time
Allow room to evolve
Write as though you're talking to a
friend
Revise
Practice

12. Launch
Name your blog
Check domain availability (doteasy.com)
Choose a free, hosted blog to start
Wordpress.com
Blogger.com
Tumblr.com
Create an account, and follow the
instructions
Start writing

13. Extras
Choose a theme
Add links to other blogs
Add widgets
Buy a domain name
Customize your template
Add web analytics
Google and/or Sitemeter

14. Grow your audience
Comment and guest post on other
blogs
Use built-in tagging and
categorization
Add 'subscribe by email' option (i.e.
Feedblitz)
Network at offline events (Tweetups,
related events, etc.)

15. Boost your blog with Twitter
Create a related Twitter account with
URL
Use Twitterfeed to update Twitter
automatically when you have new
blog posts
Search for related keywords & follow
people who use them
'Tweet' on topic

16. Publicize your blog via
Facebook
Import blog feed in 'Notes'
Update your status to announce blog
launch
If blogging about a niche subject,
create a FB page

17. Track your progress
Web analytics
Unique visitors, # pageviews, referring links
Technorati ranking
Google PageRank
Incoming links (via Google Blog Search)
Frequency of comments
Number of RSS/email subscribers
Offline feedback

18. Monetizing your blog
Involves serious effort
Best if primary motivation is not money
Requires dedication, focus, passion, and
compelling unique content
Google AdWords are easiest, but selling
your own ads is more lucrative
More: http://www.problogger.net/

19. Overcoming writer’s block
Create an editorial plan
Keep an idea file
Solicit guest posts
Ask and/or answer questions
Add your thoughts to what someone else has
said
Compile a list
Aggregate a 'best of the web' or a 'link
roundup'
Collaborate
Ask your readers what they'd like you to write

20. Legal pitfalls
Libel and slander
Avoid name-calling
Remember that all are innocent until proven guilty
Be careful in how you word criticism
Copyright
Seek out creative commons images
Excerpt text, don't copy & paste the whole thing
Always credit sources
* Note: I'm no lawyer - contact one if you need advice!

21. Finding time
Integrate blogging with usual activities
Schedule time
Write or dictate notes during your commute
Blog during lunch breaks, if your work
allows
Set aside time first thing in the morning or
after dinner
Blog about your passions

22. ‘People’ problems
Be courteous
Allow disagreement
Respect boundaries
Don’t feed the trolls
Stand by your words

23. Finding your niche within the
media ecosystem
Befriend other bloggers and media
Add value to the conversation
Reveal opinions and perspectives
that are missed in mainstream
coverage
Geek out – go deep

24. Conclusion
Blog about your passions
Focus your efforts by creating a plan
Blogging is as much about
connecting with others as expressing
yourself
Learn as you go - it may take a few
tries before you settle on an idea and
find your voice
When in doubt – Google!

25. That’s it!
Thanks for listening
You can find me:
tenthtothefraser.ca
twitter.com/10thtothefraser
briana.tomkinson@gmail.com