2. Blogging Basics Why do you want to blog and can you be committed to it? What does it take to be successful?

3. Webinar Please Mute your Lines Ask Questions through Question tool

4. VTC Digital Marketing Dave Neudeck Digital Marketing Director dneudeck@virginia.org Mary Bishop Digital Marketing Manager mbishop@virginia.org Robin Mamunes Digital Marketing Content Coordinator rmamunes@virginia.org Casey Higgins Digital Marketing Content Specialist chiggins@virginia.org Tom Kirk Multimedia Specialist tkirk@virginia.org

5. So What’s Different? A blog = the web The web = a blog

6. BLOG in a Nutshell New content is added often Blogs are interactive, especially comments Blogs link to other blogs and websites which make them more semantically rich for Google and other search

7. Getting Started What’s your purpose? Serious brand development/writing Casual involvement This can determine your platform

8. Getting Started Some Considerations Technical skill/Support Customization Format/Media capabilities Social integration Cost – Paid vs. Free SEO Monetization

9. Getting Started Some examples WordPress Most popular, huge user base, many add-ons, wide range of what you can do Blogger Popular, Google supported, Google restricted TypePad Been around, $9 and up a month Tumblr Very niche, short format, hybrid blog/social, trendy

10. Getting Started Other Options Squarespace – paid Livejournal – hybrid social Ghost – web 2.0 Posterous (DEAD!) Facebook?, Instagram?, LinkedIn?, Google+?

11. Purposes of a Blog Easily Create & Manage Content Be your own publisher. Push Your Strengths Focus on what your destination does well (outdoors, food and spirits, history, the arts …) Showcase Your Lesser-Knowns Shine a spotlight on your hidden gems Plant Ideas of What You’d Like to Be Known For Is craft beer just making its way into your area? Or maybe your restaurants are receiving acclaim. Tell about it. Receive and Respond to Feedback Enable commenting on your posts to build audience interaction Invite Q&A

12. Gather Your Ideas The Content – where does it come from? You write it You find it elsewhere and share it You invite others to write it for you The Calendar – how often to publish? Depends on the above If you write it, you’ll want to give yourself some space (once a week or once every two weeks). If you find and share, post more often (twice a week). If you invite others, post more often (once a week). Caveat: Be prepared to edit what you’re sent, which takes time.

13. Time Commitment How you answer the content questions dictates your time commitment. You Write = Greatest Amount of Time Establishes a report with readers. Opportunity to establish a brand voice if you don’t have one. Delivers the message you want sent. You Share = Guest Writes Either you’re finding content to share or you’re editing, giving feedback, and importing what a guest writes. “Finding content” can simply be leaning on Google Alerts to deliver content to your inbox.

14. Share Everywhere No one will know your blog exists if you don’t tell them. Facebook Twitter G+ Pinterest eNewsletter RSS feed

15. Share Everywhere No one will know your blog exists if you don’t tell them. Facebook Twitter G+ Pinterest eNewsletter RSS feed

16. Measure & Test Determine what resonates with your audience by trying different approaches. Do they like photos? Video embeds? In depth reporting? Lists of hot spots? Insight from authorities? Does one topic gain more attention than another? Test each approach. Google Analytics Social feedback – Facebook engagement, Twitter interactions, etc.

17. Spend a Little Does your Facebook audience seem to like your blog post? “Boost” it to reach more people.