Think like a REPORTER!

Struggling to findcontent for your blog?

with Andy Welfle

INTRODUCTIONS

• Your name

• What you like to be known for

• How you use social media? (Business / Personal / Both)

• Struggles that you have in creating content

A little bit about me.

I like GIFs.

I like GIFs.

I’m a journalism geek.

I like wooden pencils.

(In fact, I have a blog about them.)

What does a content strategist do?

• Work with web developers to plan structure of website, optimized to allow content to help clients meet their goal

• Planning, development, execution and management of content — written, or in other

media

• Help clients sustain their website by identifying outdated, stagnant content and guiding clients to replace it

Think like a reporter!Reporters:

• Are expected to seek out and identify a story

• Gather information quickly and accurately

• Write in a compelling yet

unbiased manner

Think like a reporter!Reporters:

• Are expected to seek out and identify a story

• Gather information quickly and accurately

• Write in a compelling yet

unbiased manner

ASSUMPTIONS

• You understand the value of refreshing the content on your blog or social media presence

• You are willing and able

to find the time to create content

• You have an existing—if basic—web and social infrastructure

ASSUMPTIONS

• You understand the value of refreshing the content on your blog or social media presence

• You are willing and able

to find the time to create content

• You have an existing—if basic—web and social infrastructure

6STEPS TO DISCOVERING

CONTENTby

THINKING LIKE A REPORTER

#1KNOW YOUR

AUDIENCE

Facebook Insights

Facebook Insights

The Internet and American Life Projectby the Pew Research Center

pewinternet.org

“Write for the Kansas City milkman”

— HL Stevenson, United Press International,

1965

• Write simply (though not dumbly)

• Make sure writing is friendly and approachable, but professional

• This can vary depending on the publication

#2KNOW YOURMEDIUM

Good at speaking, but not at writing?

Good at speaking, but not at writing?

Good at writing, but not speaking

extemporaneously?

Good at writing, but not speaking

extemporaneously?

Love speaking, but don’t want video?

Love speaking, but don’t want video?

(or a combination thereof)

(or a combination thereof)

#3READ. A LOT.

feedly.com

reader.aol.com

reederapp.com

#4FIND AN ANGLE

#4FIND AN ANGLE

LINK BLOG

ANATOMY OF A

GREAT LINK BLOG POST

From the Reusser Design blog:

bit.ly / linkblogpost( )

Headline

Opening Paragraph

Block Quote

Your Commentary(if any)

Attribution

#5ROLL OUT AN

EDITORIAL CALENDAR

#6STICK TO IT!

Tips to stay productive

• Plan out your week ahead of time

• Remove distractions while composing (Turn off social notifications)

• Compose during your productive hours, and publish during peak hours

• Front-load your work

(Lifehacker.com has many more, and better, tips to stay productive.)

THANK YOU!Questions?

@awelfle

linkedin.com/in/awelfle

awelfle@reusserdesign.com

WHERE TO FIND ME ON THE INTERNETS

reusserdesign.com / welfle.com