blogging basics

Welcome to Blogging Basics

With Evy Hanson of Leap Online Marketing

Why we blog for business

How to setup a blog

Developing a blogging calendar

Crucial elements of a blog post

Tips for a successful blog

Questions and Answers

Why Blog?

People buy from those theyKnow, Like & Trust

Why Blog?

Search engine rankings Increase leads - B2B marketers that use blogs

receive 67% more leads than those that do not Increase business (businesses who blog see 80%

more traffic than those who don’t) Share our knowledge and expertise – provide value Grow email list

Why Blog?

Get more links to your site Use it as a base for micro content Get a column with a newspaper or industry magazine Gain a competitive advantage – positioning yourself as

the expert in your field!

How to setup a blog

• Use a web developer to add to current site

• Setup a free site on wordpress.com

• Setup a wordpress website with a blog

Have a web developer add it to your site

How to setup a blog

Setup a free wordpress blog – wordpress.com

How to setup a blog

Setup a wordpress website with a blogHow to setup a blog

What to consider when starting a blog

What are your goals? Who are you speaking to? How will you get readers? What are you going to write about?

Waking up on Monday and deciding what to write is not a strategy!

How to develop a blogging calendar

1. Find your core themes (your services)2. Build sub-themes 3. Research sub-themes and determine main keyword

Topic Development

EXAMPLE: Core theme development

for Interior Designer

• Home Decorating• Home Remodeling• Commercial Interior Design• Design for Developers

• Home Decorating: Window treatments, art, paint selection, different styles, trends

• Home Remodeling: Kitchen remodel, bathroom remodel, new flooring, custom pieces, cool lofts, vacation homes

• Commercial Interior Design: Office design, restaurant design, retail space design, trends

• Design for Developers: Staging model homes, design to Sell, space plans, virtual tours

That’s 20 blog posts!

Topic Development

Expand on your topics

• Google Keyword planner

• BuzzSumo• Yahoo Answers• Google Suggest

Google Keyword Tool

Topic Development

• Google Keyword planner• BuzzSumo• Yahoo Answers• Google Suggest

BuzzSumo

Google Suggest

Yahoo Answers

Topic Development Google alerts https://www.google.com/alerts

Topic Development

Follow other bloggers in your industry

Curate content

You have your topic, now what?

I’m a _____________, not a writer, help!

Types of Blog Posts

How-To Post

List-Based Post

Curated Post

Photo Based Post

The How-To & List-Based PostThe Headline5 Kitchen Remodel Tips5 Budget-Friendly Kitchen Remodel TipsGet started on your Kitchen Remodel with these easy tipsHow to remodel your kitchen without breaking the bank

The IntroductionWrite a compelling opening that sympathizes with the reader and identifies the problem.

The How-To & List-Based Post Write the body

Follow up on what you promised in the introduction

Brainstorm different solutions then organize these into body content

The How-To & List-Based Post The Conclusion

Summarize problem and solutionsAsk for feedback or encourage contact for further advice

The Curated Blog Post

Develop Headline Write an introduction

with your take on the topic

Include 3 – 5 article links, with brief introduction

Follow up with conclusion

The Photo Based Post

Develop Headline Write an introduction

on the topic Select photos,

comment and write about each

Follow up with conclusion

Blog Calendar Tools

Google / Outlook Calendar

Blogging Calendar Tools

Handwritten Calendar

Blogging Calendar Tools

Wordpress Plugins like ‘Editorial Calendar’

Blogging Calendar Tools

Crucial Elements of a Blog Post(& how to get readers!)

Crucial Elements of a Blog Post

Minimum 500 words Proofread! Determine what your main keyword is

Use it in the page title/URL Once in the header Use it as much as 4 – 6 times in the content

Add meta descriptions if you can Install Yoast SEO plugin if you have a wordpress site

Link to older posts and to service pages Social Share buttons

Google search result

Page URL

On-page

Develop a calendar to stay on track Be unique and timely Provide value – offer free advice

Tips for a Successful Blog (& getting more readers)

Promote your content through Social Media Email Marketing

Tips for a Successful Blog

Facebook

Email Blast

Google +

Twitter

LinkedIn

Engage on industry websites & blogs – leave comments

Tips for a Successful Blog

Summary1. Setup Blog2. Develop topics, sub topics, research further3. Develop Calendar4. Brainstorm the “meat” of your post5. Write regularly6. Make sure your post has all crucial elements7. Promote!8. Do it all over again

Resources

https://wordpress.comhttps://www.google.com/alertshttps://adwords.google.com/ko/KeywordPlanner http://buzzsumo.comhttps://answers.yahoo.com

LinkedIn/EvyLHansonFacebook.com/LeapOnlineMarketingTwitter: @evylhansonLeapOnlineMarketing.com

evy@leaponlinemarketing.com