The document outlines essential elements for creating effective blogs, including key features like a memorable URL, a structured layout with navigation and subscription options, and elements to enhance content readability such as headlines and multimedia. It emphasizes the importance of engaging design, interaction with the community, and integrating social sharing tools. Additionally, it covers considerations for comment systems and the use of analytics tools to evaluate blog performance.

1. MKT5000
BLOG BASICS
Key Elements of Killer Blogs

2. BLOG ENGINES
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3. GREAT URL
It doesn’t have to be short, but get a URL that you can own.

4. GENERAL LAYOUT
Header
Navigation
social share
Post or Page
Body
Sidebar
Comments

5. DESIGN

6. DESIGN

7. 1. HEADER
www.dooce.com

8. NAVIGATION BASICS
MAKE IT EASY
• About
• Contact
• Social connections
• Search
• Special features (events, e-comm, lead gen, subscribe)
• Site map for complex sites
• Archive

9. 2.SUBSCRIBE OPTIONS

10. 2.SUBSCRIBE OPTIONS
EMAIL

11. 2.SUBSCRIBE OPTIONS
EMAIL RSS
NEWSLETTER

12. THE POST
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13. THE POST Time
30%
40%
20%
10%
10

14. THE POST Time
• Sweat the Headline (X Steps / How-to) 30%
40%
20%
10%
10

15. THE POST Time
• Sweat the Headline (X Steps / How-to) 30%
• Write Easy to Read / Scan - Use Bullet Points 40%
• Short enough to read in 30 - 120 seconds
• Link everything / Use Media (video/images/graphics)
• Keyword Density?
20%
10%
10

16. THE POST Time
• Sweat the Headline (X Steps / How-to) 30%
• Write Easy to Read / Scan - Use Bullet Points 40%
• Short enough to read in 30 - 120 seconds
• Link everything / Use Media (video/images/graphics)
• Keyword Density?
• Edit for grammar and spelling 20%
10%
10

17. THE POST Time
• Sweat the Headline (X Steps / How-to) 30%
• Write Easy to Read / Scan - Use Bullet Points 40%
• Short enough to read in 30 - 120 seconds
• Link everything / Use Media (video/images/graphics)
• Keyword Density?
• Edit for grammar and spelling 20%
• Social Strategy 10%
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18. THE POST CONT’D
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19. THE POST CONT’D
• Photography
• Creative Commons - Flickr (creative commons license)
• Royalty-free (istockphoto/getty images/etc.)
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20. THE POST CONT’D
• Photography
• Creative Commons - Flickr (creative commons license)
• Royalty-free (istockphoto/getty images/etc.)
• Invite comments
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21. THE POST CONT’D
• Photography
• Creative Commons - Flickr (creative commons license)
• Royalty-free (istockphoto/getty images/etc.)
• Invite comments
• Social sharing options
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22. THE POST CONT’D
• Photography
• Creative Commons - Flickr (creative commons license)
• Royalty-free (istockphoto/getty images/etc.)
• Invite comments
• Social sharing options
• Write multiple posts simultaneously
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23. THE POST CONT’D
• Photography
• Creative Commons - Flickr (creative commons license)
• Royalty-free (istockphoto/getty images/etc.)
• Invite comments
• Social sharing options
• Write multiple posts simultaneously
• Content calendar
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24. THE POST CONT’D
• Photography
• Creative Commons - Flickr (creative commons license)
• Royalty-free (istockphoto/getty images/etc.)
• Invite comments
• Social sharing options
• Write multiple posts simultaneously
• Content calendar
• Interact with community
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25. 12

26. COMMENT SYSTEMS
DEFAULT
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27. COMMENT SYSTEMS
DEFAULT
FACEBOOK
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28. COMMENT SYSTEMS
DEFAULT
FACEBOOK
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29. COMMENT CONSIDERATIONS
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30. COMMENT CONSIDERATIONS
• Does it work?
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31. COMMENT CONSIDERATIONS
• Does it work?
• How well does it handle spam?
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32. COMMENT CONSIDERATIONS
• Does it work?
• How well does it handle spam?
• Can commenters follow the thread?
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33. COMMENT CONSIDERATIONS
• Does it work?
• How well does it handle spam?
• Can commenters follow the thread?
• Is it easy to login?
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34. COMMENT CONSIDERATIONS
• Does it work?
• How well does it handle spam?
• Can commenters follow the thread?
• Is it easy to login?
• Is it easy to moderate?
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35. SIDEBAR
• Subscription options
• Archives
• Popular articles
• Archives
• Blogroll
• Favorite links
• Links
• Advertisements
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36. SOCIAL SHARE
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37. CONNECT IT
• Technorati • Syndication
• SEO Plugins • Real-time analytics
• Google webmaster tools • Woopra
• Google analytics • GetClicky
• Alexa • Feedburner
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