Kristy Kroll, Cofounder, Graduate Media
About Me:
About Graduate Media:
Former AdWords trainer & tax accountant (180)Graduate: Baylor University / Walsh CollegePassion for SMBs and finding the right marketing mix
Online Marketing & Web Design for SMBsTraining Focus – Know your marketingGrow your marketing as your business grows
Blogging for Beginners – What We’ll Cover:
How to Build Your Audience◦ Self-promotion◦ Research
Gauging Success◦ Setting goals◦ Monitoring performance
Wrap-up and Questions
Basics◦ What is a blog◦ Formats◦ Why you might
want to create one
How to Create a Blog◦ Platforms for Blogging◦ Knowing your Audience◦ Monetization
What is a Blog?noun
A website containing a writer's or group of writers' own experiences, observations, opinions, etc., and often having images and links to other websites:She regularly contributes a blog to the magazine's website.
verb
To express or write about on a blog: She’s been blogging her illness for almost a year.
origin
From the word weblog (web +log)
Blog/blawg/
Source: Dictionary.com
Blog Formats Microblog & Liveblog
Business – Traditional
Personal – Traditional
Blog Formats
Beauty Blog
(bblog)
Personal - Graphic
Video Blogs (vlogs)
Topics Beauty Blogs
Products/Services DIY Guides
Travel Food Self-Help & Improvement Charity
Personal Life
Video Games
Personal Life Product Review
Anything, really.
Health & Fitness
Politics
Design Pets
Interviews
So, why should I create a blog? Business
◦ Share updates and product announcements
◦ Share knowledge and expertise◦ Influence customer purchase
decisions◦ SEO credibility
Personal
◦ For fun or to share a hobby◦ Document & share travels and
experiences◦ Create a community◦ Monetization
Cool, I want one. Now, how do I create it?
Pros◦ Most commonly used platform for websites◦ Flexibility & customization◦ Started as a blogging platform◦ Can be inexpensive to set up
Cons◦ Steep learning curve◦ Prices can add up quickly◦ Requires updates & maintenance
Wordpress.org & Wordpress.com
Cool, I want one. Now, how do I create it?
Pros◦ Quick setup◦ Free◦ Easily merge with other Google products◦ Great for beginners
Cons◦ Not much room for growth◦ Blogging platform only◦ Not easily integrated with existing
websites
Blogger.com
Cool, I want one. Now, how do I create it?
Pros◦ All-in-one website builder◦ Easy to use design tools◦ Room for growth◦ Highly visual◦ 24/7 support
Cons◦ Limited functions – login, etc.◦ Small learning curve
Squarespace.com
Cool, I want one. Now, how do I create it?
DrupalJoomla
Medium
Other Platforms
Costs
WeeblyTypepadTwitter
TumblrWix
Ghost
YouTubeMore
Domain Hosting Platform Theme & Plugins Content Time
$15 per year $5-$30 per month Free + Free – $1,000s Depends on
topicsSetup & Posting
What should I write about? Know your audience & what you have to offer
1. Business knowledge or related content2. Industry expertise3. Product knowledge4. Interesting & engaging content
It needs to
Sell
be
engaging
be
informative
Monetization $$$
Advertising◦ Adsense◦ Sponsorships◦ Product reviews
Products◦ Premium content downloads◦ Webinars◦ Subscriptions◦ Merchandise◦ eBooks
Services◦ Training◦ Coaching
Donations/Crowdfunded
Business◦ Support sales objectives◦ Retain customers & build brand
loyalty
Building Your Audience – Self-Promotion
Advertising
NetworkingSocial Media
SEO
Email Marketing
Guest Blogging & Cross-
Promotion
The Online Marketing Mix
Research◦ Learn more about your customers
◦ Google Analytics, Facebook Audience Insights, etc.◦ Topic ideas◦ Keyword research◦ Continuous process
My blog is better than yours! How to gauge success
◦ Selecting KPIs◦ Views, likes, engagement, sales
◦ Depends on your goals
Monitoring & Improving Performance
Monitor performance for your KPIs◦ Check on a weekly basis ◦ Increase what’s doing well and cut what isn’t
Respond to your users! Try new marketing tactics Test new content Ask your followers what they want to see
Analyze & Test
Wrap-up
Questions?
Want to Learn More? Resources:
http://www.bloggingbasics101.com/
http://www.copyblogger.com/business-blogging-tips/
http://howtomakemyblog.com/blog-or-vlog/
Contact us to design and promote your blog:
Graduatemediaservices.com
facebook.com/GraduateMedia/
linkedin.com/company/graduate-media
instagram.com/graduate_media
twitter.com/graduate_media
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