the african blogging journey by moses kemibaro at wordcamp kenya 2011
Post on 08-May-2015
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The African Blogging Journey
In 2005…
• I registered moseskemibaro.com. • I created a hos?ng account. • I found some basic HTML templates I could “redesign” with my content.
• I put the “web site” online. • I went “live”. • No one came. Nothing happened. NADA!!
This is where I got to, in 2005
And in 2007…
Nothing happened, un?l 2007 that is…
• I fooling around on my hos?ng account and saw a “one-‐click” installa?on for WordPress.
• I tried it. I am not a techie. It worked. I had a blog. IT WORKED! J
• But, I had nothing to write. Yet. • I did however have some ar?cles that had been published. So I re-‐published on my new “blog”. I was a BLOGGER. ! YAAAAAY!!
This was my blog, version 1.0
WordPress changed EVERYTHING!
• I could update content regularly is a user-‐friendly manner without knowing HTML, CSS, yada yada…
• I could use themes and plugins to “redesign” my blog and extend func?onality by “clicking”
• I could manage my web site without needing to be a hardcore “techie” or needing one J
• Suddenly, I could self-‐publish online on my blog without any hassles and it was super easy!
Self-‐hosted vs Free WordPress Blogs?
• Don’t skimp on your blog – get your domain name and a self-‐hosted pla_orm.
• There are really good free themes that you can customize. That’s what I use. IT WORKS!
• Test themes and plugins before you go live – things can break unfortunately…
• If building a commercial blog of some sort BUY Themes and plugins – get Pros involved in building and managing the blog.
The first six months.
• Acer re-‐publishing my ar?cles, things went quiet. A saw a small up?ck in traffic though since 2005.
• I then started wri?ng on my blog as a personal journal – whatever came to mind, I blogged it!
• Formula1, Rugby, Technology, Robert Mugabe, Obama, etc etc.
• You name it?! I BLOGGED IT! Nuff Said…
Some early blog posts /1
Some early blog posts /2
Some early blog posts /3
Some early blog posts /4
The next six months: 2008
• I made a profound discovery about my blog by looking at the sta?s?cs.
• I no?ced that certain content was driving traffic and some was not.
• I realized, when you blog, not all content is trafficked equally.
• Some content is more equal than others. • I found the secret formula. Its all about CONTENT!
What content is popular?
• Funny enough, the content that gets the most traffic for me includes: – Lists and rankings. – Exclusives (video, interviews, etc) – Stuff that is currently in the news – Product and service reviews. – Service and product pricing – Service and product comparisons.
Top content on my blog.
Why content maoers.
• Think of your blog as a magazine or book. • Which books or magazines do you like to read?
• What stories and genres are you into? • What are you most passionate about? • Which topics and content do you know “inside out”?
• Could you do it for FREE and s?ll LOVE it?
STOP Rambling! START Focusing!
Epiphany! (and other strange words)
• I love lots of things but what I really know, and know well is technology.
• I LOVE reading and wri?ng about technology. • I have been working in technology for 15 years and started coding when I was 12 years old.
• HINT: Am I pain?ng a clear picture of what happened next?
• BLOG what you LOVE! LOVE what you BLOG!
Its kind of like this…PASSION! J
Everything changed. EVERYTHING!
• I started REALLY enjoying BLOGGING. • BLOGGING got easier as I FOCUSSED on topics and content with a technology bias.
• IT was not easy to focus. It took discipline and pa?ence.
• My effort paid off. Traffic spiked like a hockey s?ck.
• The media started calling. I became an EXPERT! This was not part of the plan…
2009: Learning the Niche
• I started to realize that technology blogging had a gap. I could cover global issues or focus on local issues where I could be more relevant.
• NICHE is everything in blogging. I decided to focus content “sharper” on: – TECHNOLOGY (Topic) – KENYA (Geography) – PEOPLE (Technophiles, like ME)
Niche blog posts /1
Niche blog posts /2
Niche blog posts /3
Outcomes of a Niche TechBlog.
• Ini?ally a drop in traffic and less people. • However, beoer focus meant more loyal readers, more comments and eventually more people.
• My blog slowly became the “go to” place for all things “tech” in Kenya.
• All of a sudden, my blog became bigger than me. I was expected to “publish” regularly like a newspaper. Be careful what you wish for!
WordPress Stats /1
WordPress Stats /2
AfriGator Stats /1
AfriGator Stats /2
Alexa Stats: 122 rank in Kenya
“Safaricom Kenya”
“Yu Kenya”
“Airtel Kenya”
“Orange Kenya”
“iPhone Kenya”
“Mobile Web Kenya”
Find your OWN voice.
• When blogging, think of the way you speak or talk to a friend. Keep it PERSONAL!
• Imita?on is good when you start but in ?me develop your own wri?ng SYTLE as this will resonate with your audience.
• Do not SELL OUT. Write authen?cally and say it as it is – this will make your blog stand out from the cluoer online – there's lots of it BTW
Passion is key! Trust me on this one!
• Blogging is not for everyone. You need to be really really KEEN and PASSIONATE about what you write about.
• Burnout is possible but there is always something around you to blog about.
• Being consistent and regular keeps a regular audience “checked-‐in” to your blog.
• Breaking news can become…ADDICTIVE!
Nakumao Fire: 2009
Makmende goes viral: 2010
Makmende on Google
More Makmende on Mishale (Archer)
Makmende goes GLOBAL!
Makmende “breaks into” CNN!
Bloggers Gold: Making money online
• Started using Google AdSense in 2010. US$ 500 to-‐date.
• Realized quickly that there is no way I could live off my blog if I ever considered AdSense – I would need to create my own products & services to sell or go Affiliate marke?ng (This is s?ll Work-‐In-‐Progress but we are geung there).
• Did I men?on I s?ll have a day job? J
Google AdSense Revenue
My blogging makes money “offline”
• How? I get invited to conferences globally to make presenta?ons for a hecy fee.
• I consult independently for businesses that want to leverage digital media strategically.
• I write ar?cles for mainstream media who pay me for my “expert” insights based on my niche.
• I find myself turning away money! (too busy)
PERKS of blogging to-‐date.
• Lots of interna?onal travel. • Front seat invita?ons to media events and “exclusives” ahead of mainstream media.
• Lots of free “goodies” like phones every month and free Internet access (SERIOUSLY!).
• Global (& local) recogni?on as the “go to guy” • You can become a ROCKSTAR! through blogging. Not always that cool….
Things go wrong when you blog
• My blog got hacked in 2009 when I did not update my WordPress version. Quite silly and avoidable.
• My blog “broke down” earlier this year when I upgraded but did not confirm first if my host supported version 3.0. 2 days offline and a real techie needed to fix things -‐ s?ll reeling!
• Some?mes, blogging makes you TOO visible.
Good things happen when you blog!
• You “jump the queue” when it comes to business and social engagements.
• Job interviews become a formality since employers already know who you are, what you do, and why they want you.
• You stand out from the crowd and this has many many dividends when everyone now has an MBA. Nuff said!
Diversify your content.
• Wri?ng all the ?me on your blog can get hard and downright boring.
• By diversifying your content to audio, video and photos, you enhance your content and your audience appreciate it.
• Diversifying content also can be less work – people love video and audio content as its easy to access and a no-‐brainer.
KTN Interview: 2009
NTV Interview: 2011
Pivot 25: 2011
Integrate social media to your blog
• I have integrated social media to my blog using plugins and feeds.
• The effect is that I “one-‐click” publish and all my social media profiles get my content.
• I get more traffic from social media than from Google. This is HUGE.
• It also means I effec?vely control and grow my reach without using expensive digital marke?ng.
Facebook (Personal)
Facebook (Fan Page)
Twioer
The Blog
Ensure your blog is MOBILE!
What sort of mobile traffic do you get?
Mobile traffic graphs.
Blog Traffic: Highlights
Blog Traffic: Regions
Blog Traffic: UVs and PVs
Blog Traffic: Bit.ly for social media
My never-‐ending blogging journey.
• Content makes all the difference. • Passion keeps you going. • Mix-‐it-‐up to keep it fun and compelling for your audiences.
• Be authen?c in your own voice and tone. • Always be regular and consistent. • Blogging has explicit and implicit benefits. • BLOG what you love. LOVE what you blog!
Drop me a line. Cheers! J
t: @moseskemibaro b: moseskemibaro.com e: moses (at) moseskemibaro.com
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