Blogging 101
André Natta, CMSM
Urban Conversations
Chicago, IL
March 2009

Overview
What is a blog?
•
How do you engage readers?
•
How will people find it?
•
Am I the right person to be blogging?
•
Tips & resources
•
Blogging 101

What is a blog?
Blogging 101

Why Blog?
• Provides outlet for you to share news/info
that YOU control
• Allows for instant feedback/conversations
• Engages your community
• Ability to find new volunteers/new supporters
Blogging 101

Blogging 101

Blog = Website
Website ≠ Blog
Blogging 101

Blogging 101

Blogging 101

Blogging platforms
• Blogger *
• WordPress *
• Typepad
* = Free services
Blogging 101

Rule #1
It’s about the conversation!
Blogging 101

Rule #2:
Quality, not
quantity
Blogging 101

Engaging your readers
• Ask questions (use comment feature)
– Create comment policy
• Add multimedia content
– Video
– Audio
– Photo
• Provide new content often (2‐3 days/week)
• Short, concise posts
Blogging 101

Gathering content
• Automated searches
– Google Alerts
– Yahoo Alerts
• Creative Commons
Blogging 101

How will people find it?
• Email signatures
• Social media networks
– Facebook
– MySpace
– LinkedIn
• Twitter
• Bookmarklets
– Share This
– Add This
• Link to other blogs/websites
• Traditional marketing methods
Blogging 101

Tips
Link to other sites – OFTEN!
•
Be ready for (and open to) criticism
•
Be yourself
•
Engage your community (volunteers)
•
Showcase your businesses/volunteers
•
Invite people to write guest posts
•
Blogging 101

Should I be blogging?
Know your audience (Will they read?)
•
Do you have time? A volunteer?
•
Do you have something to say?
•
Remember what Demetrio said; you want to:
•
– Persuade
– Inform
– Educate
– Entertain
Blogging 101

Other Examples
Downtown Hollister, CA
•
Main Street Waverly (Baltimore)
•
Michigan Main Street Center
•
Main Street Morgantown (WV)
•
Blogging 101

Questions?

Thanks!
André Natta, CMSM
http://urbanconversations.com
andre@urbanconversations.com
205.276.6585
Twitter: acnatta or urbanconvos
Skype: andre.natta