Blogging Module 1 Slides

8/13/2019 Blogging Module 1 Slides

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Module

1:Setting

the

RightBlogFundam

entals


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My Blogging StoryMy Blogging Story

Started PE (Personal Excellence) in Dec 2008

Called Embrace Living then (http:embraceliving!net)

"agline: #Living your best possible life and achieving your highestpotential
http://embraceliving.net/http://embraceliving.net/


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My Blogging Story: RebrandingMy Blogging Story: Rebranding

$n %&ne 200' ater * months o starting the blog

+enamed to #"he Personal Excellence ,log-

"agline became: #Be your best self, Live your best life-

Changed domain to http:celestinech&a!com

+eason:

.! Changed name beca&se!!!

a) /elt that the name #Embrace Living- as draing a dierent 1ind o crod

b) Did not represent m vision or the site 3 or people to achieve excellence in

lie2! 4ld tagline as 5&ite a mo&th&l

6! Domain: Didn7t 1no hat domain to go or so ent or personalbranding
http://celestinechua.com/http://celestinechua.com/


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My Blogging Story: Changing Visual LookMy Blogging Story: Changing Visual Look

id9a made 5&ite a n&mber o lao&t changes and tea1s


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My Blogging Story: Changing Visual LookMy Blogging Story: Changing Visual Look

$n 20.0 changed to maroon loo1 hich became a mainsta


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My Blogging Story: Another RebrandingMy Blogging Story: Another Rebranding

$n 20.. dropped #"he- and #,log- rom the name to become#Personal Excellence-

"agline became: #For people passionate about achievingexcellence in life-

Sitched domain to http:personalexcellence!co

+eason:

.! ame change: ;anted to b&ild PE as a platorm or everthing on sel9help (e!g! boo1s coaching podcasts) < 4" =&st a #blog-

2! "PE, as 5&ite a mo&th&l or a name

6! "agline: ;anted to move beond targeting individ&als and start b&ildingPE as comm&nit

>! Domain change: "o brea1 o&t o personal branding and b&ild the blog asan entit independent o sel (to concentrate on message o #Personal

Excellence-)
http://personalexcellence.co/http://personalexcellence.co/


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PE odayPE oday


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ra!!i" E#olutionra!!i" E#olution

.stee1 o la&nch (.> Dec 708): .?0@?00 pagevies da

.stear (Dec 70'): .8'6 pagevies da (average)

2ndear (Dec 7.0): ....* pagevies da (average)


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ra!!i" E#olutionra!!i" E#olution

$n 4ct 20.. ater r&nning PE or A 6 ears (and hile travelingin London) hit . million pagevies month milestoneB


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Sna$shot sin"e %e" &''( )* years+Sna$shot sin"e %e" &''( )* years+

$ntervieed and eat&red over ?0 times in media incl&dingC Channel es sia sia 4ne etc!

.00 &ll9time career and b&siness (since start)

.00 mobilit d&e to b&siness being an online platorm (sincer 6)

+even&e rom blog &ll inances m needs and enables me tolive ver comortabl (since r .)

$7m here to teach o& ho o& can do the same too


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Course ,utlineCourse ,utline

9;ee1 Co&rse on ho to b&ild a million9pagevieblog (basedon m personal experience doing so)

&ch hard or1 needed F ot an eas =o&rne

t the end o the co&rse o& sho&ld 1no hat it ta1es to b&ilda top blog and to drive and s&stain o&r traic

;hat $ ill not cover: "echnical #ho9to7s- (e!g! ho to set &p ablog ordpress installation ho to install pl&gins)monetiGation and anthing else


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Course ,utlineCourse ,utline

od&le .: Setting the +ight ,log /&ndamentals

od&le 2: "he rt o Creating Poer&l Content

od&le 6: Ho "o Iet e Jisitors "o Ko&r ,log

od&le >: Ho "o +etain Existing Jisitors od&le ?: Ho "o Create +aving /ans (e to Sel9/&eling

"raic)

od&le : +evie and ;rap Mp


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Starting -our Blog...Starting -our Blog...

/etting -oursel! Set 0$/etting -oursel! Set 0$


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Re"ommended ostingRe"ommended osting

Hostgator3 ,est shared hosting compan

Co&pon code to get &23 o!! any $a"kage: pe2?percento

$ncl&des domain registration as ell
http://hostgator.com/http://hostgator.com/


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%omain Registrar%omain Registrar

Iodadd3 Iood to &se separate domain registrar

iliate lin1 lets o& register ne !com domains N O?!''each:

http:x!co51t
http://x.co/qkMthttp://x.co/qkMthttp://x.co/qkMthttp://x.co/qkMt


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Blogging Plat!ormBlogging Plat!orm

Hosted b ordpress i!e! http:o&rname!ordpress!com

Jisit: http:ordpress!com

Hosted on o&r on server

i!e! http:o&rdomainname!com

Jisit: http:ordpress!org
http://yourname.wordpress.com/http://yourdomainname.com/http://wordpress.org/http://wordpress.org/http://yourdomainname.com/http://yourname.wordpress.com/


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4ord$ress hemes4ord$ress hemes

Elegant "hemes(a lin1) 3 ,ea&ti&l ;ordpress themes

*' themes or O6' ith ne themes added ever month
http://www.elegantthemes.com/affiliates/idevaffiliate.php?id=8730http://www.elegantthemes.com/affiliates/idevaffiliate.php?id=8730http://www.elegantthemes.com/affiliates/idevaffiliate.php?id=8730http://www.elegantthemes.com/affiliates/idevaffiliate.php?id=8730


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el$!ul Linksel$!ul Links

ote that this is a content9driven program on ho to s&cceed inblogging

/or technical 5&estions li1e ho to &se ;ordPress ho to set&p o&r blog etc! reer to:

o5 to install 4ord$ress:http:codex!ordpress!org$nstalling;ordPress

o5 to use 4ord$ress:http:!sitegro&nd!comt&torialsordpressordpressstart!htm

o5 to install a theme )4P+:

http:codex!ordpress!orgMsing"hemes

o5 to install a $lugin )4P+:http:codex!ordpress!organagingPl&ginsQ$nstallingPl&gins
http://codex.wordpress.org/Installing_WordPresshttp://www.siteground.com/tutorials/wordpress/wordpress_start.htmhttp://codex.wordpress.org/Using_Themeshttp://codex.wordpress.org/Managing_Plugins#Installing_Pluginshttp://codex.wordpress.org/Managing_Plugins#Installing_Pluginshttp://codex.wordpress.org/Managing_Plugins#Installing_Pluginshttp://codex.wordpress.org/Using_Themeshttp://www.siteground.com/tutorials/wordpress/wordpress_start.htmhttp://codex.wordpress.org/Installing_WordPress


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Module 1:Module 1:

Setting the +ight ,log /&ndamentalsSetting the +ight ,log /&ndamentals


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Criti6ue this blog: 4hat do you think about it7Criti6ue this blog: 4hat do you think about it7

http:slaptheb&tcher!ordpress!com

Color 3 Poor contrastR can7t read

Lao&t 3Does notshocasethe best o

the blog right

aa

Lao&t 3 o navigationor eas brosing

Domain 3 $ o& ant to reall b&ild aproblog a domain ill be essential

Lac1 o a core theme 3 Covers too manareas and seems #scattered- in the end


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Blogging Fundamentals:Blogging Fundamentals:

6 /o&ndations to Ever Ireat ,log6 /o&ndations to Ever Ireat ,log


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6 /o&ndationso

a Ireat ,log

1. Clear 8dentity:Do o& have a clear identit

or o&r blog


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a+ heme:a+ heme:

;hat is o&r blog abo&t;hat is o&r blog abo&t


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ProbloggerProblogger

http:problogger!net

"heme: ,logging
http://problogger.net/http://problogger.net/


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e"h Crun"he"h Crun"h

http:techcr&nch!com

"heme: "ech es
http://techcrunch.com/http://techcrunch.com/


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9iaue9iaue

http:xiax&e!blogspot!com

"heme: Tiax&e(Personal ,log)!!!extending to bea&t

ashion lie c&rrent aairs
http://xiaxue.blogspot.com/http://xiaxue.blogspot.com/


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a+ heme: 4hat is your blog about7a+ heme: 4hat is your blog about7

Ko&r theme is the anchor that holds o&r blog together

;itho&t a clear theme o&r blog becomes ver ragmented

Ko&r theme sho&ld be!!!

,road eno&gh so that it attracts a siGable crod E!g! #Health living- vs! #+a /oods in ntarctica-

Ket speciic eno&gh to have a meaning&l oc&s

E!g! #sian c&isine- or #Jegetarian /ood- vs! =&st #/ood-

Everthing rom o&r blog articles categories site sections

target a&dience etc! ill be lin1ed to this blog theme

ssess:


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Blog Re#ie5Blog Re#ie5

ssess:.) ;hat do o& thin1 is the theme2) Do o& thin1 the theme is clearlconveed rom the blog6) Do o& thin1 theme is o1a "oo broad

"oo speciic


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b+ arget audien"e:b+ arget audien"e:

;ho are o& spea1ing to;ho are o& spea1ing to


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b+ arget audien"e: 4ho are you s$eaking to7b+ arget audien"e: 4ho are you s$eaking to7

Ko&r " sho&ld be a siGable gro&p!

+ecommend to deine o&r a&dience b pschographics andneeds rather than simpl demographics (age occ&pation etc!)

E!g! People ho ant to learn blogging tips (Problogger)

ore timeless a to deine o&r a&dience

Ko&r " ill s&bse5&entl deine o&r content and mar1etingstrategies

" t P l h


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Personal E"ellen"ePersonal E"ellen"e

http:personalexcellence!co

"arget: People ho arepassionate abo&t achieving

excellence in lie
http://personalexcellence.co/http://personalexcellence.co/


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"+ Mission Statement:"+ Mission Statement:

;hat is o&r blog mission;hat is o&r blog mission


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"+ Mission Statement: 4hat is your blog mission7"+ Mission Statement: 4hat is your blog mission7

i!e! ;h sho&ld people read it

Deines hat o& ant to achieve thro&gh o&r blog

"his is the val&e o& are going to bring to others and the reasonh people sho&ld read o&r blog (above others)

Example:

Personal Excellence: U"o to&ch othersV lives help them achieve theirhighest potential and live their best livesU

Photograph ,log: U"o e5&ip them ith the best photograph tips and

1noledge- ,logging ,log: #"o help bloggers b&ild the top blogs-

Health ,log: U"o s&pport o& in achieving the pinnacle o healthU

Parenting ,log: U"o inspire and enable parents to achieve their dreamsU


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;ui"k Eer"ise )< min+;ui"k Eer"ise )< min+

.! ;hat is o&r blog theme

2! ;ho is o&r blog target a&dience

6! ;hat is o&r blog mission statement

"hin1 over them and rite don the ansers!

Share o&r ansersB


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6 /o&ndationso

a Ireat ,log

.! Clear $dentit(Theme, Target Audience, Mission Statement)

2! Clear ,randing


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&+ Clear Branding&+ Clear Branding

a) ,log "itle

Does o&r blog title conve hat o&r blog is abo&t right aay $s itimmediatel &nderstandable or does it need thin1ing

b) "agline 3 Elaborates on hat o&r site is abo&t

i! Does o&r tagline conve the beneit o o&r site (i!e! hat it can do oro&r readers)

ii! $s it catch eno&gh

c) Jis&al identit (Colors logo etc!)

i! Does o&r vis&al identit appeal to o&r a&dienceii! Does it set o& apart rom o&r competitors


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So"ial Media EaminerSo"ial Media Eaminer

http:socialmediaexaminer!com

.) Does the name conve

the theme right aa

2) Does the tagline capt&re thebeneit o the site

6) Does it have anappealing vis&al

loo1
http://socialmediaexaminer.com/http://socialmediaexaminer.com/


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=ee"hanetra=ee"hanetra

http:=eechanextra!ordpress!com

.) Does the name convethe theme right aa

2) Does the tagline capt&re thebeneit o the site

6) Does it have anappealing vis&al

loo1 WW
http://jeechanextra.wordpress.com/http://jeechanextra.wordpress.com/


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Pointers on >aming -our BlogPointers on >aming -our Blog

a) 6 Criteria

i. Clear 3 Conve o&r theme at irst glance

ii. Con"ise3 $deall 6 ords and belo

iii. 0ni6ue3 +eer to pop&lar blogs in o&r niche! Does o&r blog title stand

against those titles

b) Dierent tpes o blog names

i. 8n!ormati#e names

Social Media !xaminer3 Social media blog

Thin" Simple #o9 Personal development blog on simplicit $umb Little Man 9 Personal development blog on practical tips or lie


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Pointers on >aming -our BlogPointers on >aming -our Blog

b) Dierent tpes o blog names

ii. 0ni6ue ? Sel!@"reated names

%robloggerW Proessional X ,logger

&opybloggerW Copriting X ,logger! Copblogger is a blog created or

bloggers to improve their riting s1ills! "he oner pop&lariGed the namehence creating a &ni5&e niche and comm&nit!

Shoemone 3 site ith tips on ma1ing mone online! "he oner issomeone called %erem Schoema1er! His title is a p&n on his name UShoeUcombined ith the ord UoneU!

iii. Personal names

E!g! %ohnCho!com StevePavlina!com Donsides: (a) Doesn7t conve hat o&r blog is abo&t at irst glance (b) ,log

becomes ixated on o&r identit

$t ill be tric1 to introd&ce m&ltiple a&thors and to selltranser o&r blog

Ko&r blog ill also rapidl lose its p&rpose and val&e ater o& pass on

i#. Com$any names )!or businesses+


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Pointers on Creating -our aglinePointers on Creating -our agline

a) 2 Criteria

i. Bene!it9 Does it artic&late the beneit o&r blog has to oer

ii. Con"ise9 $t sho&ld be ithin 8 ords! nthing longer than 8 ords isa too long!

b) Dierent tpes o taglinesi. Combination o! bene!it 5ords

"hin1 Simple o (old tagline) 3 U&reativity, &larity ' (appinessU (highlightsthe essence o the blog beond personal development)

Yenhabits 9 USmile, Breath, )o SlolyU (brings o&t the minimalist message)

ii. Cat"hy taglines

Personal Excellence (old tagline) 3 #Be your best self, Live your best life-

Shoemone 9 US"ills to pay the billsU


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Pointers on Creating -our aglinePointers on Creating -our agline

b) Dierent tpes o taglines

iii. Bene!it statement3Simple statement that describes the exact p&rposeo o&r blog! E!g!

Problogger 9 #Blogs Tips To (elp *ou Ma"e Money Blogging

Copblogger 9 #&opyriting tips for online mar"eting success D&mb Little an 9+Tips for Life

Liehac1 9 +*our daily digest on productivity and life improvements


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Pointers on Visual 8dentityPointers on Visual 8dentity

a) Pic1 one maxim&m to color o& ant to #on-

"he colors sho&ld be consistent ith o&r niche! E!g!

,lac1 o&ld be an a1ard color or a sel9help site

b) "r to pic1 colors not #oned- b top blogs in o&r niche et

c) "he colors sho&ld be applied thro&gho&t the site


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Co$ybloggerCo$yblogger

Jis&al $dentit:,lac1 < +ed

http:copblogger!com
http://copyblogger.com/http://copyblogger.com/


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%umb Little Man%umb Little Man

Jis&al $dentit:,l&e < Ireen

http:d&mblittleman!com
http://dumblittleman.com/http://dumblittleman.com/


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/et Ri"h Slo5ly/et Ri"h Slo5ly

Jis&al $dentit:;hite < Ireen

http:getrichslol!com

ssess:
http://getrichslowly.com/http://getrichslowly.com/


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Blog Re#ie5Blog Re#ie5

http:o&rdrainglessons!com

.) ;hat do o& thin1 o the blog title2) Ho abo&t the tagline6) Ho abo&t the vis&al identit
http://yourdrawinglessons.com/http://yourdrawinglessons.com/


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6 /o&ndationso

a Ireat ,log

.! Clear $dentit(Theme, Target Audience, Mission Statement)

2! Clear ,randing(ame tagline vis&al identit)

6! Eective Lao&t


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Assess the Layout: ProbloggerAssess the Layout: Problogger

.!Clear navigation bar ell contrastedagainst the other parts o the site

2! Clearl segmented sections or s&ring

g

Colors segment the dierentparts o the site ell

(Header bod sidebar etc!)


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Assess the Layout: Mo#e MountainsAssess the Layout: Mo#e Mountains

.! $ns&icient sections to give readers anidea o hat the site has to oer2! ;ill be hard to 1eep the readersreadings&ring at the site


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Assess the Layout: Coa"hing 5? ChristinaAssess the Layout: Coa"hing 5? Christina

Simple and clean lao&t

eas to navigate

WWConsider &rther

disting&ishing navigation r!site or more int&itive s&ring


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4hat makes a great layout74hat makes a great layout7

.! Captivates the s&rer7s attention

Ireat &se o colors and design elements to ma1e the s&rer ant to stic1aro&nd

2! Mser9riendl

;ell9disting&ished navigation header rom other parts o the site (thro&ghcolors design etc!)

6! Eas or s&rers to access o&r best content

Sidebar sho&ld have o&r most val&able content displaed &p ront! E!g!#ost Pop&lar rticles- #/ree E9boo1- #Categories- etc!

>! Simple

nthing more than *98 sections in o&r navigation can be an over1ill


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ssess:.) Does it captivate the s&rer


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Blog Re#ie5Blog Re#ie5.) Does it captivate the s&rer2) $s it &ser9riendl6) Does it shocase the best content &p ront>) $s it simplenon9cl&ttered


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4hat makes a great layout74hat makes a great layout7

Simple s&ggestions or all blogs

a) Have a #Start here- section or necomers

b) Shocase o&r top e sections in o&r header navigation and arrangethem in order o priorit (most important section on the let)

c) Same or o&r sidebar navigation sectionsd) Have a #,est o- section in the sidebar hich lists o&r best articles! "his

helps shocase o&r best content

e) +emove &nnecessar sections on o&r site hich no one visits (case9b9case basis)

) $nvest mone (Elegant themescost onl O6' or &nlimited themes) in abea&ti&l et simple theme or o&r blog
http://www.elegantthemes.com/affiliates/idevaffiliate.php?id=8730http://www.elegantthemes.com/affiliates/idevaffiliate.php?id=8730


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Blog Criti6ue: A$$lying odays LessonBlog Criti6ue: A$$lying odays Lesson


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Blog Criti6ueBlog Criti6ue

+evie the olloing blogs then anser the olloing5&estions:

.! Can o& tell hat this blog is abo&t right aa

2! Does this blog ma1e o& ant to stic1 aro&nd

6! Ho o&ld o& recommend the oner to improve the blog


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Personal Em$o5erment San"tuaryPersonal Em$o5erment San"tuary


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Eu$hori" RootsEu$hori" Roots


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ey Lessons: 4hat ha#e 5e learned7ey Lessons: 4hat ha#e 5e learned7

6 /o&ndations to ,&ilding Ireat ,logs

a) Clear $dentit (the so&l o o&r blog)

b) Clear ,rand (that conves that identit)

c) Eective Lao&t (that ma1es people stic1 aro&nd)

.! Clear $dentit

a) "heme 3 ;hat is o&r blog abo&t a1e it broad et speciic eno&gh!

b) "arget a&dience 3 ;ho are o& targeting $t sho&ld be a siGable

a&dience! Deine based on pschographics over demographics!c) Jis&al identit 3 Do o&r logos colors etc! capt&re o&r a&dience Do

the give a consistent loo1


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ey Lessons: 4hat ha#e 5e learned7ey Lessons: 4hat ha#e 5e learned7

2! Clear ,randing

a) ,log "itle 3 Clear (Conves topic right aa) Concise (296 ords) andMni5&e (Stands o&t against other competitors)

b) "agline 3 Conves beneit Concise (8 ords or less)

c) Jis&al identit 3 .92 colors ot oned b competitors ppliedthro&gho&t the site

6! Eective Lao&t

a) Captivates the a&dience

b) Mser9riendl

c) Eas to access best content

d) Simple (don7t cl&tter the site)


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See -ou >et Session :+See -ou >et Session :+

od&le 2: "he rt o Poer&l Contentod&le 2: "he rt o Poer&l Content

Blogging Module 1 Slides

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Transcript of Blogging Module 1 Slides