How to Build A Better Blog Post - a class by Jennifer Priest of Rainmaker Media Works and Hydrangea Hippo. Full class give at the Craft & Hobby Association 2015 Trade Show in Anaheim, CA.

1. BUILD A
BETTER
BLOG POST
WITH JENNIFER PRIEST
CHA 2015

2. KEY TENETS
• Practice Good SEO
• Tell a story with personality
• Provide value to readers
• Use crisp, bright photos
• Quality not Quantity
• Monetize when possible

3. PARTS OF A BLOG
POST
• Title
• Photos
• Text
• Call to Action
• Monetization (optional)

4. TITLES:
• About 60 characters
• Use keywords or phrases
• Keyword = “how to tie dye jeans”
• Title = “How to Tie Dye Jeans That’ll Make Heads Turn”.
• Use tools like Google AdWords to find relevant keywords
Be interesting.
• “My Necklace I Made for Saturday” = Too personal, bad
SEO
• “Necklace Tutorial” = Boring, too broad
• “Beaded Bohemian Necklace” = Better but kind of boring
• “A Beaded Bohemian Necklace For Hipsters” = has a
keyword and is interesting

5. TITLES:
- Interesting
- Keyword: tree slices
- Call to action

6. TITLES:
- Interesting
- Keyword: photography
course
- Exciting, Compelling

7. TITLES:
- Straightforward
- Keyword: “paper
bead” or “Ring DIY”
- Changed up things –
most start with “DIY”

8. PHOTOS:
• Always “watermark” photos.
• Bright, in-focus photos are best.
• Express style with staging, using interesting angles but don’t
take away from project.
• Use the alt text/tags on your photos.
• Fill out the captions section on your photos.
• Name all of your photos with the keyword or keyword phrase
and your name or company name.
• BAD: Photos names “IMG_8965” tell search engines nothing
about your image or your blog.
• GOOD: “How to Stencil a Curved Surface with Spray Paint by
Jennifer Priest” – tells me who made it and what the image is
about.

9. GREAT PHOTO:

10. WHY?

11. GREAT PHOTO:
COLORFUL

12. GREAT PHOTO:
COLORFUL
In focus

13. GREAT PHOTO:
COLORFUL
In focus
watermark

14. GREAT PHOTO:
COLORFUL
In focus
watermark
Name:
glass glitter
bracelet

15. GREAT PHOTO:
Source: Mark Montano

16. GREAT PHOTOS:
Source: Jenny HolidaySource: White Lace Cottage

17. GREAT PHOTOS:
Source: Jen Cushman Source: Balzer Designs

18. TEXT (BODY):
• 1500-1600 words or 7 minutes to read
• Include the keyword or keyword phrase in your first paragraph.
• Disclosure
• Provide value for the readers
• Make them laugh
• Solve a problem
• Inspire them
• Tell A Story with words and photos
• Avoid numbered instructions unless you have photos to go with or
they are short
• Keep supply list short. Link to affiliate links if helpful
What is the problem? How is it resolved? Why do we care?

19. TELL A STORY
Follow the
Story
Mountain:
It seems silly
but it works.

20. TELL A STORY
Design Sponge
tells
background for
this craft
project, based
on A Christmas
Story.
Includes
photos and
text about the
movie and the
moves to the
tutorial.

21. TELL A
STORY
Aunt Peaches
tells the story
of how she
dislikes stuffed
animals + why
+ how this
inspired a craft
she created.
This post
introduces the
craft and links
to a full tutorial
on a manuf
blog…(call to
action)

22. TELL A
STORY
Successful
because:
- Tells a story
people can
identify with
- Solves a
painful
problem -
germs, too
many toys,
dirty factory
toys
- Has
personality

23. TELL A
STORY
Over on the
manuf blog
(ilovetocreate),
the story is
toned down
and more
product
focused. Still
has
personality!

24. CALL TO ACTION:
• Social media = fewer blog comments
• Ask your followers a question, tell them to visit another
link, ask them to pin an image, or post some other call to
action.
• Consider adding a list of 3-5 more links to similar or
complementary projects on your site that they can go
visit.
• Use tools like Click to Tweet to increase social shares
• THINK ABOUT: What is your blog post supposed to
make your readers want to DO?

25. CALL TO
ACTION:
Source: Vintage Revivals Source: Damask Love

26. CALL TO
ACTION:
Source: Vintage Revivals Source: Damask Love

27. CALL TO
ACTION:
Source: Vintage Revivals Source: Damask Love

28. CALL TO
ACTION:
Source: Vintage Revivals Source: Damask Love

29. MONETIZE:
• Does it fit with goals?
• 3 Main Ways:
• Affiliate links – make money via commission
• Ads – graphic or text with code, pay by click or
impression
• Sponsored posts – someone pays you to post
about their product or service on your blog.
• Disclosures – gotta do them. Check with FTC
• SEO issues - nofollow

30. DISCLOSE:
Source: The Creative Goddess Source: Independent Fashion Bloggers

31. DISCLOSE:
Source: The Crafty Chica
Source: FourHourWorkWeek

32. REVIEW: KEY TENETS
• Practice Good SEO
• Tell a story with personality
• Provide value to readers
• Use crisp, bright photos
• Quality not Quantity
• Monetize when possible

33. THANK YOU!
Contact me at:
jennifer@hydrangeahippo.com
View this presentation at:
rainmakermediaworks.com/CHA15blog
Visit me at:
hydrangeahippo.com
Rainmakermediaworks.com