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How to Blog

A Quick Overview

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Workflow

•Jot notes down in a journal

•Review your notes•Combine several ideas in your notes into a topic

Create a Topic

•Write the first draft•Look what others have written

•Run the idea past someone else

First Draft •Follow any the style guide

•Write in a everyman, plain style

•Keep the Audience in Mind

Final Draft

•Update things change

•Respond to feedback•You are not the smartest person on this topic

Post it!

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Create a Topic

Keep a Journal• Ideas need time to germinate• Combining a couple ideas into a post• Think about a series of posts

Don’t Do “Me To”• Be Useful• Be Unique• Partner with someone to do posts

Is this a series• Is there more to say than just one post can take• Are you adding on to something you said before?• Are you adding on to something

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The First Draft

The Parts• The Opening Line• Your Points / A Call to Action• Your Title

Revise• Add Depth • Links to Community• Use an Editor

Quality Control• No Jargon / Use a plain style• Grammar• Spelling

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The Final Draft

Good Writing• Useful• Scannable• Use a everyman, plain style

The Style Guide• Correct Colors• Correct Fonts

Who is your audience• What language do they use• Are you using any undefined nouns• Be respectful

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Post It!

Things to consider• Timing• Promotion• Conversation

Updates• Do not delete• Use Strikeout• Mark additions as Updates

Respond to Feedback• Write a Blog in response to good ideas• Openness of your response to feedback• Your audience is smarter than you

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What is Scannable Content

• Use Lists• Use fonts (Bold, CAPITALS, Italics, Underlining)• Use Headings

– and subheadings• Use Pictures• Use Block Quotes• Use White Space• Get to the Point

– Highlight your points– Reinforce your main point– Don’t introduce new ideas other than your main

point