standing out in the blogosphere

Standing out in the blogosphereClo Willaerts

26 Jan 2009

ThinkaboutIT launch event, Brussels

10 free tips inside!

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Sanoma Magazines Belgium

Sanoma Magazines Belgium

What is standing out?

traffic? volume?

popularity?

influence?

being top of mind with non-bloggers?

press attention?

going international?

Why would you want to stand out?

attention

advertising revenue

speaking / consultancy assignments

better job

event invitations

freebies and goodies

The road to fame

Listen & learn

get a fat OPML file from an experienced blogger

read other blogs via RSS

Get help

choose and set up blog platform

Be pretty but findable

blog template/design

Search Engine Optimization

The road to fame

Experiment. Find your style

“Put it online before you think it's ready. Fix what's broken. Fail fast. Repeat.” (Dan Gillmor at Blogboat event).

Promote

Facebook feed, Twitter, e-mail signature

Don’t automate!

Standing out: 10 tips

1. Good content

writing skills

fresh, original and conversational content

mixed media

actually having something to say

2. Frequency and patience

Most a-list bloggers have been blogging for 4 years or more

RSS means: out of sight, out of mind

3. Being remarkable

Seth Godin: “Remarkable doesn't mean remarkable to you. It means remarkable to me. Am I going to make a remark about it? If not, then you're average, and average is for losers.”

4. Sharing & inspiring

Social media is all about sharing

Give more than you expect to get back

Turn your blog posts into social currency: small change that gets passed on easily

5. Usefulness

See http://technorati.com/pop/blogs/

Examples: breaking news, weird news, tutorials, reviews

6. Fetish topic

Find your passion

Plan to become an expert in this topic

Use your blog to document your journey

Find your (niche) audience and serve them better

7. Consistency

8. Authenticity

Example: http://tv.winelibrary.com/

openness

transparancy

personality

“not faking it”

9. Promotion

Facebook profile feed

Twitter

E-mail sig

Please don’t automate

Photo credit: Pieter Baert http://www.flickr.com/people/pietel/

10. Networking

Go offline, meet real people

My favourites: twunch, barcamp, blogbecue, brusselsgirlgeekdinner and local blog meetups.

Photo credit: Filip Bunkens http://www.flickr.com/people/loneblackrider/

Not crucial but it sure helps:

1. Controversy

Blog storms

A way to get attention

Can turn into a crisis

Can harm your reputation

Usually very short-lived

2. Offline fame

Examples:

http://standaard.typepad.com/off_the_record/ (Milow)

http://www.stephenfry.com/blog/

3. Hotness factor

http://www.justin.tv/ijustine “I am the internet”

http://mashable.com/author/pete-cashmore/“too handsome for Michael Arrington to bear”

3. Hotness factor

http://www.justin.tv/ijustine “I am the internet”

http://mashable.com/author/pete-cashmore/“too handsome for Michael Arrington to bear”

4. Funny bone

My favourites:

http://icanhascheezburger.com/

http://www.houbi.com

http://huugendruug.eu/

This presentation was inspired by...

@dominiek_be @steffest @boskabout @alaenen @michlr @hannesdh @Adgenius @on_point @Somebaudy @pascalvanhecke @imkedielen @Bloekie @robbedoes @vilebody @clopin @eMich @Janneman @bartclaeys @robinwauters @Gudrun @bizje

Thank you

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http://www.linkedin.com/in/clowillaerts

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