How do you amplify your message as an activist or citizen journalist on blogs & social media so that more people hear about your actions?

1. Blogging: An Editor's View
Kit O'Connell (@KitOConnell /
kitoconnell@pobox.com),
MyFDL Editor Explains
What makes a good blog post?

2. In the future, we get much of our news from the Internet.
But how do you catch the online editors' eye?
Bob Woodward Wax Dummy, Madam Tussauds.
Photo by Cliff.

3. Online Attention Spans

People choose what to read or move on
quickly.

Short posts are better than longer posts.

Break very long articles into series instead.

Consider a "Read More" tag.

Divide information into bite sized chunks:

Sub Headings

"3 Things..." articles

4. Quality Writing

Proofread & spell check your post.

If you copy/paste from a word processor, clean
up your text.

Write maturely -- avoid unnecessary curse
words, slang, excessive acronyms, mud-
slinging nicknames.

Know your Sources.

Call out targets by name (Jane Hamsher).

5. Internet Journalism is Multimedia
Citizen Journalist Tim Pool (@TimCast).
Photo by Joe Lustri.

6. Add Media To Your Blog

Every post should have a photo, image or
video.

Format photos & videos attractively (right
justified on MyFDL).

Short, topical videos are often better than
longer ones, when possible.

Use Creative Commons or Public Domain
photos.

7. Amplify your Message with Social Media
Image by Danilo Ramos

8. Amplify your Message

Both Twitter & Facebook are valuable.

Facebook is about sharing with friends.

Twitter messages are more public and can
travel further & faster.

Use multiple social networks but tailor your
message for each.

Make use of hashtags & targeted messages on
Twitter.

9. #Hashtags

Publicize your Hashtags ahead of time.

Assemble a team to tweet with you, on the
ground & #Cyber99.

Piggy back on other appropriate hashtags.

Be consistent.

RT others' messages & they'll amplify yours.

10. Targeting Tweeters

Identify key Twitter accounts to reach with your
message.

Target key people with individual @Mentions.

Try supportive celebrities, politely.

Call 'em Out! Use public mentions to add
Twitter direct action to meatspace direct action.

Avoid the wrath of Twitter:

Don't spam a hapless celebrity.

Don't use too many @Mentions, mix it up.

11. #1 Social Media Tip:
Don't spread drama through official channels!
Image by Mindaugas Danys

12. More from Kit

Submit Occupy & Activism News to My FDL
(my.firedoglake.com).

Kit O'Connell's Twitter 101 Guide:
http://bit.ly/OATXTweets101

Kit on the Internet:

Approximately 8,000 Words (kitoconnell.com)

Twitter @KitOConnell

Facebook http://facebook.com/kitoconnell

LinkedIn http://linkedin.com/in/kitoconnell
This work is licensed under a
Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License.