Kristy Kroll, Cofounder, Graduate Media

About Me:

About Graduate Media:

Former AdWords trainer & tax accountant (180)Graduate: Baylor University / Walsh CollegePassion for SMBs and finding the right marketing mix

Online Marketing & Web Design for SMBsTraining Focus – Know your marketingGrow your marketing as your business grows

Blogging for Beginners – What We’ll Cover:

How to Build Your Audience◦ Self-promotion◦ Research

Gauging Success◦ Setting goals◦ Monitoring performance

Wrap-up and Questions

Basics◦ What is a blog◦ Formats◦ Why you might

want to create one

How to Create a Blog◦ Platforms for Blogging◦ Knowing your Audience◦ Monetization

What is a Blog?noun

A website containing a writer's or group of writers' own experiences, observations, opinions, etc., and often having images and links to other websites:She regularly contributes a blog to the magazine's website.

verb

To express or write about on a blog: She’s been blogging her illness for almost a year.

origin

From the word weblog (web +log)

Blog/blawg/

Source: Dictionary.com

Blog Formats Microblog & Liveblog

Business – Traditional

Personal – Traditional

Blog Formats

Beauty Blog

(bblog)

Personal - Graphic

Video Blogs (vlogs)

Topics Beauty Blogs

Products/Services DIY Guides

Travel Food Self-Help & Improvement Charity

Personal Life

Video Games

Personal Life Product Review

Anything, really.

Health & Fitness

Politics

Design Pets

Interviews

So, why should I create a blog? Business

◦ Share updates and product announcements

◦ Share knowledge and expertise◦ Influence customer purchase

decisions◦ SEO credibility

Personal

◦ For fun or to share a hobby◦ Document & share travels and

experiences◦ Create a community◦ Monetization

Cool, I want one. Now, how do I create it?

Pros◦ Most commonly used platform for websites◦ Flexibility & customization◦ Started as a blogging platform◦ Can be inexpensive to set up

Cons◦ Steep learning curve◦ Prices can add up quickly◦ Requires updates & maintenance

Wordpress.org & Wordpress.com

Cool, I want one. Now, how do I create it?

Pros◦ Quick setup◦ Free◦ Easily merge with other Google products◦ Great for beginners

Cons◦ Not much room for growth◦ Blogging platform only◦ Not easily integrated with existing

websites

Blogger.com

Cool, I want one. Now, how do I create it?

Pros◦ All-in-one website builder◦ Easy to use design tools◦ Room for growth◦ Highly visual◦ 24/7 support

Cons◦ Limited functions – login, etc.◦ Small learning curve

Squarespace.com

Cool, I want one. Now, how do I create it?

DrupalJoomla

Medium

Other Platforms

Costs

WeeblyTypepadTwitter

TumblrWix

Ghost

YouTubeMore

Domain Hosting Platform Theme & Plugins Content Time

$15 per year $5-$30 per month Free + Free – $1,000s Depends on

topicsSetup & Posting

What should I write about? Know your audience & what you have to offer

1. Business knowledge or related content2. Industry expertise3. Product knowledge4. Interesting & engaging content

It needs to

Sell

be

engaging

be

informative

Monetization $$$

Advertising◦ Adsense◦ Sponsorships◦ Product reviews

Products◦ Premium content downloads◦ Webinars◦ Subscriptions◦ Merchandise◦ eBooks

Services◦ Training◦ Coaching

Donations/Crowdfunded

Business◦ Support sales objectives◦ Retain customers & build brand

loyalty

Building Your Audience – Self-Promotion

Advertising

NetworkingSocial Media

SEO

Email Marketing

Guest Blogging & Cross-

Promotion

The Online Marketing Mix

Research◦ Learn more about your customers

◦ Google Analytics, Facebook Audience Insights, etc.◦ Topic ideas◦ Keyword research◦ Continuous process

My blog is better than yours! How to gauge success

◦ Selecting KPIs◦ Views, likes, engagement, sales

◦ Depends on your goals

Monitoring & Improving Performance

Monitor performance for your KPIs◦ Check on a weekly basis ◦ Increase what’s doing well and cut what isn’t

Respond to your users! Try new marketing tactics Test new content Ask your followers what they want to see

Analyze & Test

Wrap-up

Questions?

Want to Learn More? Resources:

http://www.bloggingbasics101.com/

http://www.copyblogger.com/business-blogging-tips/

http://howtomakemyblog.com/blog-or-vlog/

Contact us to design and promote your blog:

Graduatemediaservices.com

facebook.com/GraduateMedia/

linkedin.com/company/graduate-media

instagram.com/graduate_media

twitter.com/graduate_media