The document provides guidance on starting a blog, including why to blog, platform choices, basics of blogging, search engine optimization (SEO), and social media integration. It recommends choosing a blogging platform like WordPress, coming up with a posting schedule, and focusing on creating simple, shareable posts with images, links, and calls to action. Examples of post types given include interviews, industry trends, and customer profiles. The document also provides tips on using social media to promote posts and engage other bloggers, as well as recommendations for plugins and tools to use.

1. Blogging 101
April 25, 2012
Tin Dizdarevic
tin@zemanta.com
@tdizdarevic | @zemanta

2. Will talk about:
• Why blogging?
• Platform choices
• Blogging basics
• SEO
• Social Media Integration

3. Why Blogging?
• Show the world why you’re good at what you do.
• Get search engine attention.
• Set yourself up as thought leader in your space
• It’s easy and cheap!

4. What to do?
• Create a simple spreadsheet to track ideas for posts
• Dedicate a time each week when you’ll write
• Start simple, find audience, go from there..
• Try to post at least once a week to start

5. Platforms
• WordPress.com (free basic service)
• WordPress.org on Hosted Service
• WordPress.com (paid service) and TypePad (paid
service)
• Blogger/Tumblr/SquareSpace/Posterous (specialized)

6. Perfect Post
One page of text
Simple language (SEO)
At least one image
Links to explanations
Further reading (internal & external)
Easy to share
Call to Action!

7. Examples of Posts
Influencer Interviews
- Create a set list of questions that you can reuse
- Allow for flexibility
- Best is in person > skype > phone > email
- Record the interview for use as video as well
- Take into account resources to transcribe and edit the interview

8. Examples of Posts

9. Examples of Posts
Industry Trends
- Quotes from relevant recent media coverage
- Links to blogs by influencers in your space
- Your organization’s stand on these trends

10. Examples of Posts

11. Examples of Posts
Customer Profile
- Highlight your best customers
- Show how they are using your organization’s services or
products (ideally with a video)
- Use direct quotes from the customer
- Allow them to write their own post in their own words
- Can be reused as case studies or can reuse existing material

12. Examples of Posts

13. Examples of Posts
Lists
- Quick links to 10-15 stories of note

14. Examples of Posts

15. SEO
• Domain Name
• Hosting
• CMS (content management system)
• Plugins
• Content
• Link Out
• Don’t give up!!
Also see post by John Doherty for more details:
http://www.zemanta.com/blog/seo-for-new-bloggers/

16. Social Media
• Use Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn to promote new
blog posts and help bring traffic to older posts.
• Engage with like-minded bloggers to get them to
comment about your blog post.

17. Plugin/Tools Directory
• Writing:
- InboundWriter
- Zemanta
- Enhanced Linking
• SEO:
• WordPress SEO by Yoast
• Scribe SEO by Copy Blogger
• Social Media:
• Buffer
• Twitter Tools
• Share Plugins (many options)
• Other:
• Urtak

18. Other Resources
• Zemanta Business • SEO Myths & WP Magic -
Blogging Series Casie Gillette
• HubSpot - Tremendous • 15 Must Have Tools for
resource for online Better Blogging -
marketing Contently
• Content Marketing • Ultimate Guide to
Institute Corporate Blogging-
OpenView Partners

19. Thank you!