The African Blogging Journey by Moses Kemibaro at WordCamp Kenya 2011

The African Blogging Journey

In 2005… •  I registered moseskemibaro.com. •  I created a hos?ng account. •  I found some basic HTML templates I could “redesign” with my content. •  I put the “web site” online. •  I went “live”. •  No one came. Nothing happened. NADA!!

This is where I got to, in 2005

And in 2007…

Nothing happened, un?l 2007 that is… •  I fooling around on my hos?ng account and saw a “one-‐click” installa?on for WordPress. •  I tried it. I am not a techie. It worked. I had a blog. IT WORKED! J •  But, I had nothing to write. Yet. •  I did however have some ar?cles that had been published. So I re-‐published on my new “blog”. I was a BLOGGER. ! YAAAAAY!!

This was my blog, version 1.0

WordPress changed EVERYTHING! •  I could update content regularly is a user-‐friendly manner without knowing HTML, CSS, yada yada… •  I could use themes and plugins to “redesign” my blog and extend func?onality by “clicking” •  I could manage my web site without needing to be a hardcore “techie” or needing one J •  Suddenly, I could self-‐publish online on my blog without any hassles and it was super easy!

Self-‐hosted vs Free WordPress Blogs? •  Don’t skimp on your blog – get your domain name and a self-‐hosted pla_orm. •  There are really good free themes that you can customize. That’s what I use. IT WORKS! •  Test themes and plugins before you go live – things can break unfortunately… •  If building a commercial blog of some sort BUY Themes and plugins – get Pros involved in building and managing the blog.

The first six months. •  Acer re-‐publishing my ar?cles, things went quiet. A saw a small up?ck in traffic though since 2005. •  I then started wri?ng on my blog as a personal journal – whatever came to mind, I blogged it! •  Formula1, Rugby, Technology, Robert Mugabe, Obama, etc etc. •  You name it?! I BLOGGED IT! Nuff Said…

Some early blog posts /1

The next six months: 2008 •  I made a profound discovery about my blog by looking at the sta?s?cs. •  I no?ced that certain content was driving traﬃc and some was not. •  I realized, when you blog, not all content is traﬃcked equally. •  Some content is more equal than others. •  I found the secret formula. Its all about CONTENT!

What content is popular? •  Funny enough, the content that gets the most traﬃc for me includes: –  Lists and rankings. –  Exclusives (video, interviews, etc) –  Stuﬀ that is currently in the news –  Product and service reviews. –  Service and product pricing –  Service and product comparisons.

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The African Blogging Journey by Moses Kemibaro at WordCamp Kenya 2011

by Moses Kemibaro on Nov 12, 2011

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The African Blogging Journey by Moses Kemibaro at WordCamp Kenya 2011 — Presentation Transcript