Blogging requires a combination of creativity, ingenuity, and commitment. Creating content on a regular basis requires self-discipline. This session will provide tips & tricks for people who need to develop their blogging strategy.

1. I Set Up My Blog.
Now What?
carrie l saarinen
@clsaarinen

2. What It Takes: Blogging
Blogging requires a
combination of
creativity, ingenuity,
and commitment.
Creating content on a
regular basis requires
self-discipline. This session will provide
tips & tricks for people
who need to develop a
blogging strategy.

3. Battling the Elements of Blogging
So what's up
So what's up
with this blog
with this blog of
of yours?
yours?
Uh oh..

4. Creativity
...and I'll call it
'Gabrielle's call it
...and I'll
'Gabrielle's
Warrior Blog'
Warrior Blog'

5. Creativity
Tone and style Ideas for posts
me - personal experience
GO
GO
me - professional opinion
objective - expert opinion
objective - consumer view
reporting - tell a new story Just write.
Just write.
reporting - compile news
Anything goes. If you are really stumped,
do a search for 'blog post ideas'. You'll find
a million of them.

6. Self Discipline
Too much to do
today.
I can do it
tomorrow.

7. Self Discipline
If you live by a day planner -
Blog abandonment schedule in blogging.
is common.
If you dig making lists - add
blogging as a priority.
Why?
Calendar fiend? Set a
recurring blogging date.
It takes only a few weeks to
build a new habit.

8. Ingenuity
I am totally
gonna blog
about this fish I
found. Tasty.

9. Ingenuity
Be open. Be ready. Follow other
bloggers.
Blogging is a
conversation. Allow Jump on hot blogger
people to comment topics (memes).
on your blog. Comment on their
Comment back! posts and infuse
the commentary
Do not fear with your insight
controversy. and wisdom.

10. Commitment
Yesterday
I wrote that the
strap broke, so
tomorrow I'll follow
up with a how-to
post about fixing it.

11. Commitment
The important thing is to Give yourself a break -
create content - not every post is
regularly. going to be an
internet sensation.
Try different styles,
formats. Just keep Give yourself time -
trying. it is ok to be the
new kid on the
Practice makes block.
perfect(ly good sense).

12. Look at me! I'm a blogger.
w00t!

13. Tough times
What if I run
out of ideas?
You just need
a Plan B.

14. Tips & Tricks
Set deadlines Piggy-back blog
Set goals Blog about blogging
Set reminders Guest blogger
Keep options open Interview someone in
a video blog post

15. Frequently Asked Questions
"I don't have anything 'Nothing interesting to say' is
different than interesting
interesting to say things to share. Share
to people." images, videos, links to
websites you like.
Make a 'Friday 5' list at the end
of the week (best news
articles; best/worst meals;
best/worst things that
happened)
Or a cop-out list: "5 reasons I
did not blog this week"
Better yet: write a goals post
(what you hope to do and
why)

16. Frequently Asked Questions
"I have no followers. In radio they say that for every 1
caller, a DJ has 100
Why bother talking listeners. If no one calls, at
to myself?" least 99 are listening.
Also, Analytics of your blog site
will paint a different picture.

17. Frequently Asked Questions
"I really don't have If blogging for an organization,
use analytics to track hits,
the time to blog visits and key words.
and I'm not sure if Combine with other social
media tools within the
my boss would organization to cross-pollinate
think it's a good activity.
Ask your web services team to
way to spend my provide track-back data -- see
time." how many hits they get on the
org website from your blog.
Gather this data 3,6,9,12 months
for the first year, to initially
justify ROI; then 6-12 months
thereafter to monitor trends.

18. Credits
Xena, Warrior Princess
Gabrielle, Warrior Blogger
Images: MCA Television, Renaissance Pictures, Studios
USA Television
Thanks to my G+ pals Jenny D and Matt B for helping
with FAQs.
Thanks to The Hive Archive for hosting this 'What it
Takes' session. hivearchive.org/what-it-takes-your-
indie-business-buzz

19. Resources
Need topic ideas?
Search "blog topics" and you'll find a million
of them
Need help?
Find and join a local blogger group.
Need inspiration?
Read blogs daily. Follow favorite bloggers.