This was a presentation for BlogWest 2013 on things you can do to create and publish great content.

1. Blog Content
Simple strategies to write engaging content for your readers
@redpaperclip
Saturday, 9 March, 13

2. “I hate quotations.Tell me what you think.”
-Ralph Waldo Emerson
Saturday, 9 March, 13

3. What to expect today:
• Define
• Determine
• Develop
• ‘Duplicate’ (that starts with a ‘D’)
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4. Who are We?
Why should you care?
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5. “90% of everything
is CRAP”
• (Theodore) Sturgeon’s Law,1958
• Written in defense of Science Fiction against attacks by
people who selected the worst work to make an example of.
• Even more applicable in blogging because what makes great
content has been ignored by so many.
• This is why there are still so many success stories among
blogs, and why they will remain successful.
Saturday, 9 March, 13

6. What is Content?
What is content to you?
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7. Saturday, 9 March, 13

8. Your Content...
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9. Audit Audience.
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10. Audit Your Focus.
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11. Audit Your
Content Mission.
I help ___ to ___ so that
_______.
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12. Audit Content
Layout.
• Layout
• Navigation
• Audience Expectations
• Your Mission and Dream
Saturday, 9 March, 13

13. Audit Language
and Tone.
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14. Audit Content
Types.
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15. Types of Posts.
• Breaking News/Briefs/Reportage
• Personal stories
• How-tos/DIYs
• Opinion/Op-eds/Essays
• Research/Academic Work
• Investigative/Documentary
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16. Audit Your
Headlines.
• Informative
• Entertaining
• Contradictory
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17. Audit Your
Community.
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18. Audit Questions?
Audit Answers.
• Who are your people?
• What are you seeking to do in the world?
• What are you offering them? How will it
work?
• Where are your people and what are they
doing when they get here?
• What’s working? What’s missing?
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19. Writing Content:
The Truth.
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20. More Truth...
“Nothing is original. Nothing.” Jim Jarmusch
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21. FAIL = LOVE!
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22. My Writing
Process.
It can feel like this...
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23. My Writing
Process.
but look like this (sometimes).
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24. Tofu Marinade:
Content Writing.
Saturday, 9 March, 13

25. “Marinade?!”
• Complexity and simplicity
• It “cures” whatever sits in it
• Marinades take time to taste great
Saturday, 9 March, 13

26. “Blend Your
Ingredients.”
Saturday, 9 March, 13

27. “Work It In.”
• Talk to a spouse or trusted source
• Post about the topic BEFORE the post
publishing date
• Use social media as a springboard
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28. “Seal in Flavour.
Sear in Flavour.”
Saturday, 9 March, 13

29. “Plate it.”
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30. “Tasting!”
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31. Leftovers!
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32. Rewrite.
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33. Reuse.
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34. Repurpose.
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35. Lastly,
• Four D’s
• Questions
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36. Questions?
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37. Thanks!
@redpaperclip
Saturday, 9 March, 13