The document discusses the value of blogging for a developing science writer. It outlines why the author chose to start a blog, where they hosted it, what topics they wrote about, who their target audience was, how they marketed and maintained the blog. It details their daily blogging commitment for a year and analyzes the differences between their Facebook and blog audiences. The author reflects on how blogging helped them build connections with other science communicators and improved their writing skills and understanding of online audiences.

1. The value of blogging for a
developing science writer:
a case study
Sarah Keenihan
PhD B Med Sci Grad Dip Sci Comms
@sciencesarah
sciencesarah.wordpress.com

2. early August 2012

3. My answer = blog
• Why?
• Where?
• What to write about?
• Who for?
• How to market?
• How often?
• How much?

4. My answer = blog
• Why?
• Where?
• Public portfolio, conversations,
accountable
• Wordpress + Facebook
• What to write about?
• Science for life!
• Who for?
• How often?
• Scientists, colleagues, friends,
family, networks
• National Science Week, twitter,
Facebook sharing
• Daily commitment
• How much?
• Varied lengths + great image
• How to market?

5. scienceforlife365.wordpress.com

6. www.facebook.com/scienceforlife365

7. Day 16 of scienceforlife365: Twisties
Even children can be informed consumers.
I made my kids laugh on the weekend by reading
out at great speed the list of ingredients for
’Twisties Cheese Flavoured Snacks’:
corn, vegetable oil, whey powder, cheese
powder, salt, flavour enhancer (621), hydrolysed
vegetable protein, flavour, yeast extract, cream
powder, milk powder, natural colour
160A, natural colour 160C, food acid 270.
Then I languidly described the components used
to make ’Smiths Original Crinkle Cut Chips’:
potatoes, vegetable oils, salt.
They got the message.

8. Blogging to create a writing habit
•
•
•
•
Make a calendar, plan some posts
Seek and stick to a routine that works for you
Find a way to ‘lose your inner smart-arse’
Sit on personal stuff for a few days

9. Science is in my life
12 days of christmas adelaide art australia baby
bacteria beach beachcombing birthday blogging
book bridge8 cancer childhood children christmas
communication conference event family fish food
fruit garden guest post health illness journalism life
paris phase 2 reading realscientists robinson
running school science science communication
scienceonline social media south australia tedx
the conversation twitter university of adelaide work
writing yorke peninsula yorkes

10. Build it, and they might come
http://imgs.xkcd.com/comics/blogging.png

11. Some people liked it
4000
Facebook users
3000
Wordpress views
2000
1000
0
Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov
12 12 12 12 12 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13

12. A tale of two audiences
• Facebook readers liked:
- animals, science humour, new ways of
thinking about science, personalised aspects
of science and learning
• Wordpress readers liked:
art, food, fashion, literature, writing, discussion
s around journalism /communication

13. Refining use of twitter for marketing
Day 32 of Science for Life.365: Waste. Best school
excursion ever "I saw 8 seagulls get killed"
http://ow.ly/dFMiJ #science365 #adelaide
Day 38 of Science for Life.365. Spitfire. Or is it 'oil
vomiter'? http://ow.ly/dOOMN #science365
#adelaide @reemarattan @Mozziebites
Scientist? Had a baby? This may strike a chord.
A post by @annahuddo for #SciMs &
#science365 #onsci http://t.co/nAFhjcHakA

14. Blogging can forge connections
• Find ‘friends in low places’, experience ‘horizontal
loyalty’ (Robert Krulwich)
• Aussie connections: National Science
Week, Australian Science
Communicators, #onsci, #ozscied, Uni of SA, Uni
of Adelaide, scientific
societies, TEDxAdelaide, COSMOS, community
groups, Science Book a Day
• International connections:
ScienceOnline, @realscientists, Do You Believe in
Dog?
• New friends! Yes, I made friends on the internet
• Feature guest posts for new connections

15. It’s been a grouse journey
‘It's been a grouse journey. I've enjoyed your posts and your
application of science to your family and your family life.
Congratulations.’ Tara via Facebook
‘Heartfelt congratulations Sarah! This is an achievement of
epic proportions that non-bloggers will struggle to fully
understand. I salute you and send very best wishes for a
well-earned week's break!’ Mia via Facebook
‘Well done Sarah on completing a full year and sticking to it.
I’ve enjoyed reading most of your posts. A great job.’
Gary via Wordpress

16. scienceforlife.365 celebratory
‘Brain Break’ morning tea
National Science Week 2013

17. Blogging is not a dirty word
 Completed year-long project
 Greater feel for strengths/weaknesses as a writer
 Better understanding of how to connect with online
audiences
 Appreciation of and connection with supportive
online communities
 Improved capacity in using social media for
marketing
 ‘Chick who blogged every day about science,
for a year’

18. Becoming a diverse science writer
PhD
blog
post
views = 13
articles
views = 20K
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