Your blog your brand - tips on getting started with your blog

Your Blog, Your Brand

Tips for getting started with your blog.

Kate Carruthers

July 2012 1© 2012 Kate Carruthers | katecarruthers.com

Agenda

• My blogging background

• Communications context

• Key practices and • Key practices and principles

• Tools and tips

July 2012 © 2012 Kate Carruthers | katecarruthers.com 2


Source: http://ashique47.deviantart.com/art/Don-t-Panic-and-Carry-a-Towel-208003765

Slides at: slideshare.net/carruthk

Things have changed…


Source: http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2010/mar/07/rupert-murdoch-support-times

Democratization of

communication


Source: http://www.theaustralian.com.au/media/risks-and-rewards-ahead-as-leaders-look-to-brighter-days/story-e6frg996-

1225884962472

anddistribution

A digital revolution…


A business revolution…


Reputationis now

established and

maintained


Source: Did you know you’re naked? Your Online Reputation is showing

By Lori Gama

http://lorigama.wordpress.com/2009/08/24/did-you-know-youre-naked-your-online-reputation-is-showing/

maintained online

Personal Brand

AuthenticityAuthorityAssurance


Assurance

It’s like a puppy

Don't get one if you

can’t

July 2012 © 2012 Kate Carruthers | katecarruthers.com10

can’t look

after itproperly

Preparation

• Choose a blog name

• Get a WordPress blog

• Wordpress.com is fine to start• Wordpress.com is fine to start

• Register your own domain

• Clean-up your online presence

• Setup social media and connect it to your blog


Preparation

• If you want more control move to self-hosted

• Self-hosted?

– Invest in a decent paid theme

–Lock down WordPress

–Get good hosting, don’t just go cheap


Planning

• What are your goals for the blog?

– Is it for money, promotion, burning desire to write?desire to write?

• Decide what kind of blog you want

–Business, professional blog, or personal?


Planning

• Who is your audience?

–What are their expectations?

• Devise content plan

–Copywriting, images, videos–Copywriting, images, videos

• Setup blogosphere/news monitoring

• Read up on copyright & defamation


Planning

• Define your rules of engagement

–Comment moderation, spam, blogola, troll management

• Check the legal situation• Check the legal situation

–Domain names, business registrations, insurance


Action

• Set up a blogging schedule

• Schedule clear time to blog

• Just write – frequency is as • Just write – frequency is as important as quality

• Focus on perfection is your enemy


Action

• Keep a list of ideas (carry it with you)

• Thou shalt use proper HTML heading tagsheading tags

• Use white space

• Make it easy to read


5 Blogging Myths

1.Just build it and they will come

2.Daily blogging is essential

3.Comments are a good metric3.Comments are a good metric

4.You can easily make money from blogging

5.Blogging takes up too much time


Favourite Plug-ins

• Akismet

• All in One SEO Pack

• Better Related Content• Better Related Content

• Jetpack

• WordPress Editorial Calendar


Favourite Plug-ins

• WP-PageNavi

• Simple Google Sitemap

• WordPress Database Backup• WordPress Database Backup

• Revision Control


Blogging Resources

• Blogging: Darren Rowsehttp://www.problogger.net/

• Personal Brand: Dan Schwabelhttp://www.personalbrandingblog.com/http://www.personalbrandingblog.com/

• Writing: Valerie Khoohttp://www.sydneywriterscentre.com.au/

• PR: Catriona Pollardhttp://publicrelationssydney.com.au/

July 2012 21© 2012 Kate Carruthers | katecarruthers.com

Thank-you

Feel free to contact me with any questions or ideas

@kcarruthers

katecarruthers.com
