Get Your Blog On

With Susan Lower

What is a blog?A daily pulpit

Personal diary

Political Soapbox

Website

Blogger vs. Word Press

Blogger• Simple and easy to create• Template designer for

layouts• Gadgets, gadgets, and more

gadgets• Amazon.com and Google

ads

Word Press• Professional looking website

with your own domain• Custom options – layouts

and plug-ins• Support staff• Choice of 30 widgets

Creating Your Blog

• Beware of dark backgrounds

• Avoid small and odd color fonts

• White space – too much? Too little?

• Length of Paragraphs• Music? – DON’T!• Comments • Follow widget – MUST

HAVE!

LAYOUT

Blog Banner

Graphic

Phrase

Eye Catcher

Blog Audience

• Be Yourself• Avoid Rants• Keep your eyes on topic• Don’t force your content on

your reader• Give them what they want!

BLOG CONTENT

• Stick to a schedule• Make it meaningful• Word Count per Post (avg 300 words)• Give credit where credit is

due• Hit your target• When all else fails, create a

list.

Blog Post Ideas

• Make lists• Publicize a good cause• Put a spin on a current event• Highlight the strange and bizarre• How to’s and tutorials• Updates

Post Headlines

• Say it Simple• State the benefit• Make an Announcement• How to____________• Ask a question• Make a command• Testimonial

Headlines

• Now You Can Quit Your Day Job and Make More Money

• What Everybody Ought to Know About Writing Blog Posts

• Who Else Wants to Get Published?• The Secret of Writing Poetry• Little Known Ways to Get an Agent

Formatting Your Blog Post

• Answer the 5 w’s• Back up the 5 w’s with

information• Throw in a quote or

something of relevance.

Bring On the Readers

• Follow Blogs like there is no tomorrow!

• Leave comments• What’s your name?• Be Yourself! • Keywords• Search Engines• Make Friends!

Resources

• Copyblogger.com• Tentblogger.com• Problogger.com• Bloggingbistro.com

• Blogging for Bliss: Crafting Your Own Online Journal by Tara Frey

• Create Your Own Blog: 6 Easy Projects to Start Blogging Like A Proby Tris Hussey