10 free tips
inside!
Standing out in the
blogosphere
Clo Willaerts
26 Jan 2009
ThinkaboutIT launch event, Brussels

Clo Willaerts?
Sanoma Magazines
Belgium
http://www.bnox.be
@bnox on Twitter
brusselsgirlgeekdinner.
be

Sanoma Magazines Belgium

Sanoma Magazines Belgium

What is standing out?
traffic? volume?
popularity?
influence?
being top of mind with
non-bloggers?
press attention?
going international?

Why would you want to
stand out?
attention
advertising revenue
speaking / consultancy
assignments
better job
event invitations
freebies and goodies

The road to fame
Listen & learn
get a fat OPML file from an experienced blogger
read other blogs via RSS
Get help
choose and set up blog platform
Be pretty but findable
blog template/design
Search Engine Optimization

The road to fame
Experiment. Find your
style
“Put it online before you think it's
ready. Fix what's broken. Fail fast.
Repeat.” (Dan Gillmor at Blogboat
event).
Promote
Facebook feed, Twitter, e-mail
signature
Don’t automate!

Standing out: 10 tips

1. Good content
writing skills
fresh, original and
conversational content
mixed media
actually having
something to say

2. Frequency and patience
Most a-list bloggers
have been blogging for
4 years or more
RSS means: out of
sight, out of mind

3. Being remarkable
Seth Godin:
“Remarkable doesn't
mean remarkable to
you. It means
remarkable to me. Am I
going to make a
remark about it? If not,
then you're average,
and average is for
losers.”

4. Sharing & inspiring
Social media is all
about sharing
Give more than you
expect to get back
Turn your blog posts
into social currency:
small change that gets
passed on easily

5. Usefulness
See http://
technorati.com/pop/
blogs/
Examples: breaking
news, weird news,
tutorials, reviews

6. Fetish topic
Find your passion
Plan to become an
expert in this topic
Use your blog to
document your
journey
Find your (niche)
audience and serve
them better

7. Consistency

8. Authenticity
Example: http://
tv.winelibrary.com/
openness
transparancy
personality
“not faking it”

9. Promotion
Facebook profile feed
Twitter
E-mail sig
Please don’t
automate

10. Networking
Go offline, meet real
people
My favourites: twunch,
barcamp, blogbecue,
brusselsgirlgeekdinner
and local blog
meetups.
Photo credit: Filip Bunkens
http://www.flickr.com/people/loneblackrider/

Not crucial but it sure helps:

1. Controversy
Blog storms
A way to get attention
Can turn into a crisis
Can harm your
reputation
Usually very short-lived

2. Offline fame
Examples:
http://
standaard.typepad.c
om/off_the_record/
(Milow)
http://
www.stephenfry.com
/blog/

3. Hotness factor
http://www.justin.tv/
ijustine
“I am the internet”
http://mashable.com/
author/pete-cashmore/
“too handsome for
Michael Arrington to
bear”

3. Hotness factor
http://www.justin.tv/
ijustine
“I am the internet”
http://mashable.com/
author/pete-cashmore/
“too handsome for
Michael Arrington to
bear”

4. Funny bone
My favourites:
http://
icanhascheezburger.
com/
http://
www.houbi.com
http://
huugendruug.eu/

This presentation was
inspired by...
@dominiek_be @steffest @boskabout @alaenen
@michlr @hannesdh @Adgenius @on_point
@Somebaudy @pascalvanhecke @imkedielen
@Bloekie @robbedoes @vilebody @clopin @eMich
@Janneman @bartclaeys @robinwauters @Gudrun
@bizje

Thank you
http://www.bnox.be - clo@bnox.be
http://www.twitter.com/bnox
http://www.linkedin.com/in/clowillaerts
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