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Business Blogging. Reaching Your Customers. Educate customers about products Easy user-friendly interface New content displayed at the top Search Engine Optimization (SEO) Branding opportunities. Blog Parts and Pieces. http://www.hwyblogs.com/hiw-blog-parts.php
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Reaching Your Customers • Educate customers about products • Easy user-friendly interface • New content displayed at the top • Search Engine Optimization (SEO) • Branding opportunities
Blog Parts and Pieces http://www.hwyblogs.com/hiw-blog-parts.php http://blogclassinfo.wordpress.com/2007/05/17/blog-parts-pieces/
Blog Header • (1) This includes the title of your blog, which is the same or similar to the blog’s URL (web address). Along with a title in the header, very often there will be a subheading as well: • For example – Problogger: Helping Bloggers Earn Money
Blog Calendar • (2) Some bloggers include a small calendar on the sidebar, but this is not at all required. It’s just one of the many extras often available for bloggers to include.
Blog Archive • (3) Archive of past posts is one of the elements that make a “blog” a “blog.” • Allow readers easy access to previous posts • Normally organized per month • Reverse chronological order
Blog Search • (4) A search box allows readers to search for specific key words • Concept similar to a search engine for your blog • Use key words and phrases
Article Categories & Recent Articles • (5) Categories - Similar to monthly archives • Organized per category • Categories created by the blogger • Readers can select per category of interest • (6) Recent Articles- Lists the most recent posts • Again in reverse chronological order
Favorite Links • (7) Favorite sites are hot linked and added as a list. • Aka Blog Roll • Selected by the blogger • Normally related to the blog topic • Located in the side bar
RSS Feeds • (8) RSS stands for Real Simple Syndication • Sharing of content • Notification of updates • Use an aggregator aka feed reader • Bloglines.com
Blog Article Title • (9) Each post (article) needs a title • Blogs made up of multiple posts • Headline like a newspaper • Use of key words • SEO considerations
Blog Content& Permalink • (10) Content is the text inside a post. • Content = any writing on the web • Your clever prose • (11) Permalink is a hot link to an individual post • Page for each single post
Comments • (12) Comments include feedback from your blog readers. • Readers “comment” to your post • Leave open for anyone • Or require approval for each comment • Creates a conversation • Often includes other links
Blog Lingo • Blogosphere: blogging community • Dashboard: blog control panel • Blog Roll: list of blog URLs • Page view: number of clicks • Ranking: how high on search engines • Stats: statistics • Strikethroughs: deleted info
Locating Blogs • Blogsearch.google.com • Technorati.com • Blogpulse.com • Other blogs Let’s find some blogs!
Bloglines.com • Free blog aggregator: http://www.bloglines.com/ Add blogs to bloglines via favorites.
Blog Etiquette • Link Love • Link inside text • Add links to blog roll • Include links in comments • Give links • Get links
Posting Comments • Have something to say • Part of the conversation • Don’t spam • Generates traffic
Blog Topic Brainstorming • Passion! • What kind of business do you run? • What topics are related to it? • What do you read about regularly? • What activities are related to your work?
Blogging Preliminaries • Blog purpose • Type of blog • Filter/journal/k-blog/mix? • Blog host • Blog topic • Title and subtitle • Public or private • Blog revenue
Starting a Blog • Free Blog Networks: • Blogger.com • Wordpress.com • LiveJournal.com • Look @ other blogs on the networks • How is the site navigation? • Try setting up your blog
Blog Software Options/Basics • WYSIWYG software • Freebies first • Blog software - Blogger - Moveable Type - Typepad - Word Press • Bells & whistle vs. tech savvy
Linking to Other Blogs • Link love • Be a good blogosphere neighbor • Create a blog roll • Link internally in posts • Give links = get links • No blogger is an island
Tutorial, a “how-to” Review a book Pros and cons Answer a question Current event Interviews Post about a post Product/service news Related web news Interviews Company personnel What to Blog About?
Visual Elements • Bulleted text • Easy to read • Min. 1 image • Short paragraphs • Mix text/images • Content related