Post on 08-May-2015
description
Art of Blogging
CREATING A UNIQUE BLOGGING VOICE
Art of Blogging
Who am I?
I’m Fajr Muhammad, a fashion & lifestyle blogger at Stylishthought.com
I have been blogging for over 5 years and have built a targeted niche and readership in the fashion blogging community.
I’m currently an SEO Copywriter at Razorfish Health
Tweet me: @stylishthought
Email me: fajr@stylishthought.com
Shameles
s Plug
Art of Blogging
Why We Love Blogs?
Content: Updated on frequent basis and offer a personal view of a blogger, industry or brand
Syndication: Constant engagement and up-to-date information by subscribing to their blog
Conversation: Blogs are a central hub for like-minded people to come and discuss ideas. We all love to share ideas and information and blogs are the perfect vehicle
Basically, Blogs Rock!
Art of Blogging
Some Nifty Blogs
Art of Blogging
What makes a unique blog?
Unique Blog
FOCUS
POV
COMMUNITY
CONSISTENT CONTENT
Art of Blogging
Hocus, Focus
A blog without a focus is like a sheep without wool; utterly pointless!
In a sea of digital ramblings, having a focus is the guiding force for your blog
In deciding on a focus or niche, ask yourself these questions • What do I believe in? • What am I wildly passionate about? • What could I talk about for hours
Pulling from your personal hobbies ensures that you have a sustained interest and is a great place to start a blog
Tip #1: Brainstorm possible topics based on
your own interests; then highlight topics that
you have experience/expertise in
Art of Blogging
FOCUSEach of these blogs has a distinct focus
Art of Blogging
Point of View, What’s that?
What can you say that no one else is saying like no one else is saying it?
So you’ve got a niche, but you can’t stop there. What is your POV on that niche?
What are other bloggers in your niche saying and how does your view differ?
Basically, • Say something other bloggers aren’t saying • Say it in a way they are not saying it
Tip #2 Assess what other bloggers in your
niche are saying. What is their stance and
how does yours differ?
Art of Blogging
One Niche, Two POVs
Galadarling.comPersonal Style Blogger
TheBudgetFashionista.comFashion Deal Site
Art of Blogging
Fresh Squeezed Content
Content is King, Queen, Hell its the Entire Kingdom
Content is the cornerstone of an awesome blog
Blogs that create useful content build an engaged community that continues to support and read
Decide early on what your foundation posts will be. Will you be known for your how-to advice, informational posts, vlogs or pictorials?
Take your content to the next level; with a variety of post styles
Tip #3 Leverage personal experiences in your
blog posts brings your personality and makes
a connection between writer and reader
Art of Blogging
Content Tactics
• List Posts
• Reviews
• Informational
• Interviews
• Link Posts
• Rants
• Video Blogs
• Pictorials
Tip #4 Crafting headlines is an art form.
Creating attention-grabbing headlines will
ensure your content is read & most
importantly shared!
Art of Blogging
Community & Not the Show
People read blogs for the two-way conversation and community
Blogs inherently have commenting systems to foster discussion and interaction
Engage readers by asking questions, requesting their thoughts making your content shareable
Tip #5 Ask for comments! At the end of your
posts, lead with a question and then ask your
readers to comment
Art of Blogging
4 Ways to Foster Community
1. CommentLuv: a plugin that allows commenters to link to their last blog posts
2. Interact in the comments section. Respond to readers comments!
3. Accept Guest Bloggers; a great way to build loyal readers and get more content
4. ShareThis: Social sharing buttons to attach to each blog posts
Art of Blogging
Your Blog & Beyond
• Find a focus, decide on a niche you can blog passionately about
• Have a distinct perspective, don’t be afraid to use your personal opinions in your content
• Be consistent in your content; create foundational posts and experiment with different posts formats
• Foster community by asking questions, responding to comments and facilitating social sharing
Art of Blogging
Thank You!
& Happy Blogging!