Blogging 101 - Creating a Buzz Around Town

Presented by: Matt White & Dean Comber

TOPICS OF DISCUSSION

Current communication mix

What are blogs?

How would you benefit?

Examples in action

Getting started with your blog

Possible uses for you

Other fun Web 2.0 stuff

Questions?

WHAT IS YOUR COMMUNICATION MIX?

blogs…huh?

BLOG? WHAT’S THAT?

A type of Web site where entries are published online and displayed in a reverse chronological order

Updated regularly with new content – providing constant communication

Often allows readers to comment on entries

Requires no HTML knowledge

POPULARITY OF BLOGS

Blogosphere is doubling every 5 months

Roughly 70 million blogs worldwide

IT’S MORE THAN

It’s not just teenagers who have blogs

Governmental groups and politicians

Corporations and small businesses

Families and friends

IS A BLOG LIKE A WEB SITE?

Web site = one-way communication

Mostly static information on pages

The agency’s resume

Blog = two-way communication

Journal entries are frequently written and published online that allow for interactivity

The agency’s “clearinghouse” for news AND gathering of feedback

THE BIG DIFFERENCE…

A blog is quicker and cheaper to develop

You control the content and not your web developer

Constant and immediate communication

Feedback…feedback…feedback!

BENEFITS TO YOU

DIRECT COMMUNICATION

Additional channel to reach your audience

Brochures, Web site, newsletters…BLOG

Speak directly and candidly with them

Increase the frequency of communication

A sense of getting “insider information”

Get feedback and provide timely responses

RSS/ATOM

Allow people to subscribe to your information for instant updates

BE THE EXPERT

Share your knowledge on matters pertaining to the agency/program/event

Stay one step ahead of the competition

DISCOVER OPPORTUNITIES

Awareness from readers leads to involvement

Increased presence on major search engines

Establish relationships with new users

Staff writers contribute to the growth

They’ll learn new things…so will you

They’ll want to be more innovative

LET’S TAKE A TOUR

TIME TO GET TO WORK

DEFINE YOUR TEAM

2-4 key people

Other staff and board members contribute

CREATE A PROJECT PLAN

Discuss your needs and wants

What kind of content? Who manages it?

You need a marketing plan

START DEVELOPING

Search online for blogging platforms or contact a vendor that can help you out

PROVIDE TRAINING

Overview of blog and features

Practice posting to the blog

GO LIVE WITH NEW BLOG

BETA at first

Report and bugs

Post new entries

Promote your blog!

TIME TO THINK AND SHARE

POSSIBLE USES FOR BLOG

Online press releases

Highlight new programs and events

Survey the community

“Message from the Director”

Update sports league standings

Field conditions

FUN WITH WEB 2.0

Podcasts

Add audio messages to your blog

Photo sharing

Share event/park/facility pictures

Syndication

Email subscriptions

Feed readers

Surveys and polls

Free market research

PODCASTING

PHOTO-SHARING

FEEDREADERS

KEY LEARNINGS

Communicate more often

Cheaper way to promote

Gain feedback

QUESTIONS?

PRESENTED BY:

Matt White

Matt White is currently the Director of Marketing and Communications for the Illinois Park & Recreation Association. He brings a well-rounded knowledge base to the association after years of working in the Chicago ad agency world for national clients like Sears, Die-Hard, Holiday Inn, several kid brands like Barney and the Veggie Tales, as well as numerous regional home builders and resort chains. Matt also has a parks and recreation background after spending some time with the Roselle Park District prior to coming to IPRA…as well as a wife and father-in-law in the field. A graduate of the Iowa State University (go Cyclones!), he is trained in various specialties including marketing, media planning and buying, copywriting and graphic design. Now he’s added “Web 2.0 junky” to his line-up.

Dean Comber

Dean Comber is currently the Information Technology Director for the Illinois Park and Recreation Association. Prior to joining IPRA, he was an IT Project Manager for Follett Corporation (River Grove, IL) in the Enterprise Information Technology department and also was a Web Developer for the Energy and Environmental Research Center in Grand Forks, ND. A graduate of the University of North Dakota (B.B.A. Management Information Systems), Dean has over 9 years of Information Technology experience in the non-profit and corporate sectors focusing on web development, project management, and systems design and analysis.

EXAMPLES IN ACTION