Blogging is a great way to share ideas, programming, and events online! It also provides a hub (or home) for your information to stay. Through this session, you will learn how writing a blog is a little different than most formal writing. Learn to write like a pro, share content, and jazz it up with pictures! You’ll be able to walk away with a plan for your own blog posts and how to get the most out of what you write. Blogging doesn’t have to be just another thing to do; make it your voice to the youth development world!

1. OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY EXTENSION
Blogging for Beginners
Quality Content You’ll Want to Share!
Presented by Heather L. Gottke
The Ohio State University Extension
4-H Youth Development Educator

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OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY EXTENSION
Who Am I?
Heather Gottke
• 4-H Educator in Northwestern Ohio
• Rural Demographic (Entire County is 28,000)
• Specialization is Technology, and Working with Special Needs Youth
• Navy Brat of a Cryptologic Technician
• I love stretching my comfort zone! 2 weeks ago I was in Costa Rica visiting
farms with CATIE, The Tropical Agricultural Research and Higher
Education Center.
• I love teaching others about technology!

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What do we hope to learn today?
1. Reproduce the main parts of a blog post such as title,
introduction, and ending with blogging characteristics versus
other writing techniques.
2. Compare blog posts with different purposes such as event
advertisement, education, formal research, or opinion.
3. Examine different types of graphic illustrations used for blogging
and their uses.
4. Devise a plan of posts that would be appropriate and well-suited
for the blogger’s audiences.
5. Critique blog posts that are hard to read, too long, or simply
boring.
6. Formulate a plan for blogging that can be followed and used
upon returning home.

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Writing for Blog Posts
1.Have a crafty headline.
2.Open strong.
3.Have a convincing tone.
4.Good central/core content.
5.Shake it up with some points (bullets).
6.Keep attention by changing the sub
category with purpose.
7.Use an image, give a visual.
8.Close with conviction.

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Headline Title Templates
How to ____ in # easy steps
Where to find _______
Quick Guide:
Beginners Guide to:
# key benefits of _____
# strategies for ______
Creative ways to _____
# ideas to _____
# rules for ______
DIY: _____
Content that Works…..
Reminds us life is short.
Reminds us that dreams come true.
Gives us faith to believe in bigger things.
Surprises us.
Challenges our assumptions.
Has unexpected twists.
Takes us on a journey.

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OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY EXTENSION
Types of Blog Posts
Compare blog posts with different purposes such as event advertisement,
education, formal research, or opinion.

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Types of Blog Posts
No image= boring!

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Ideas for Blog Posts that Work
• How-To’s
• Problem-Solving
• Checklists
• Current Issues
Translated
• Reviews
• Giveaways
• Questions from
“Viewers”
• Comparisons
• Research
• Inspiration
• Quotes
• Timelines
• Behind the
Scenes
• Case Studies

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How I Plan My Posts!
Post Date Title Description Posted
Shared
4/12/17 FAQ About
Livestock Books
Questions answered about the new
livestock books from parents, advisors
and youth.
4/14/17
4/14/17 FAQ About
Project Judging
Questions about what to bring to
judging, and when judging is.
4/14/17
4/28 Reflections on
Costa Rica and
CATIE
Leadership, cultural, and personal
reflections on the NELD experience in
San Jose and Surrounding areas of
Costa Rica.

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Plan your Posts
Choose a catchy, clever name!
Pixabay.com
is a great
place for clip
art!
Length Best For
Up to 300
Words
Generating discussion
with comments.
300-600
Words
Standard Length
750 words Professional Journalism
Standard Length
1000-1500
Words
Good for getting shares
on social media.

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Available for FREE download on my Blog!

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• Social media offers a great way to
channel quick “bytes” of information.
• Can be videos, photos, quotes,
comments.
• Try asking for opinions!
• Using a quick blog can keep them
interested for your next scheduled
post or “big” blog post.
Limited Time? Want to Connect with Your Audience?

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OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY EXTENSION
Tips for Beginners
1. Use photos.
2. Use hashtags and keywords.
3. Link with social media.
4. Connect with like-bloggers, or with other content you enjoy.
5. Headlines, headlines, headlines!
6. Start a blogging calendar, schedule posts, and stick to it!
7. Translate hot topics, and share them!
8. Lists and how tos are great ways to start!
9. Free downloads of printables, or information to share help connect learners.
10. Content that is out there, can be shared with perspective for a new fresh look on a
topic that is important and/or current.

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Social Media & Sharing Content
• Share a “Throw Back
Thursday”
• Share an attention
grabbing statistic.
• Link to an infographic
others might like!
• Correct a common
misconception.
• Ask people to join a
mailing list, or email list
to get up to date
program information.

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Social Media & Sharing Content
• Share from one to the
other!
• Give a shout out to local
businesses who support
your programming.
• Post resources made up
by 4-H’ers – How to’s, or
a recipe!
• Offer information about
your program online –
with some history of how
it came to be.

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Contact Me!
Heather Gottke
Gottke.4@osu.edu
http://u.osu.edu/gottke.4
Twitter: Heather4H