blogging & twitter
TRANSCRIPT
Blogging, Twitter & Other Stories(For beginners!)
Ken McGuire for Event Media
Introduction
Ken McGuire
Blogging since 2004
Podcasting since 2006
Twitter since Feb 2007
Agenda
Blogging Background What, Why, How?
Setting up Your First Blog
Blog Writing Hints and Tips
Promoting Your Blog
Twitter
Goals For Today
Learn about blogs what they are, how they work
Discover how to set up a blog, for free
Making your first post - easy
Free ways to promote your blog
Getting yourself started on Twitter
All About Blogs
What Is A Blog?
A blog is...Short for 'Web Log'
Collection of blog 'posts' / news items, stories published in a dated order
Pretty much like a journal
Versatile can be about anything
What Is A Blog?
A blog is...Like a website, but for non-techies
Easy to create and update
Very interactive (comments, conversation)
Embed all the cool stuff (photos, videos, podcasts)
Blog, Blogger, Blogging
Blog: A web log
Blogger: Someone who maintains a blog
Blogging: The process of creating and maintaining a blog
Blogging Platforms
Blogger
Wordpress (favourite)
Typepad (fee based)
Blogosphere The global blogging community (Blog O'Sphere)
Blog Ingredients
Blog Posts
An 'About' Page
A 'Contact' Page
The cool stuff audio, mp3s, video, photos
What Can A Blog Do For You?
Connect you with fellow librarians, authors, writers
Showcase your own works, thoughts
Build an audience for your work
Establish you as an authority figure
What Can A Blog Do For You?
I now realise how beneficial this blog is. It is almost like a
creative diary. It allows me to reflect back on my practice as an
artist, it helps me understand my way of approaching new ideas and
my way of working creatively
- Artist in Residence, May 2008
Why Blogs Are Liked
They're web based everything runs online with no need to
install.
Access anywhere
You don't need to learn a language to run a blog
Blogging community is constantly growing
Why Do You Need A Blog?
Build your personal brand
Showcase your works
Become visible on the web
Keep others informed
Deciding What To Blog
Follow your craftMusic (KilkennyMusic.com)
Theatre (DeviousTheatre.com)
Sport (LiverpoolAccess.com)
The more 'niche' the betterBook reviews, events, music therapy, sound design etc.
Why Have A Library Blog?
Supplement and enhance existing library guides,
newsletters
More relevant, more up to date
Everyone can contribute, with ease
Publish events, book reviews, photos
Setting Up A Blog
Starting A Wordpress Blog
Wordpress.com, it's free, it's great
Click 'Sign Up Now' and enter username, password,
email
Choose name for blog
Confirm email, get writing
...That Was Easy
Your First Blog Post
TitleBe descriptive, be precise
Title will appear in search engine results
Content
Relevant links
Tags
Publish
Your First Blog Page
Additional content to homepage
Title, content, links as before
Chance to sell yourself, do it well
Pages have an order of their own
Contact details, about you, links, profiles
Writing Tips
Writing Tips
Be yourselfBe professional
It is ok to have an opinionYou can't be an authority on a topic if you don't have faith in your own opinion
Proper Titles
Cheek your spellimg and grammar
Writing Tips
Support your post with relevant linksLink out to author, review, event location
Links give the post added value to reader
Write less, write often
Bold type, lists, headings, sections
Advertising Your Blog
Advertising Your Blog
If you build it, they may or may not come
Find similar blogsTechnorati.com
blogsearch.google.com
Comment on other blogs
Email, press releases, get the word out
Advertising Your Blog
Blog directoriesBlogFlux.com, BlogCatalog.com
Social NetworksMySpace / Facebook / Bebo / Twitter
RSS Feeds / Email Feeds
RSS Feed
Really Simple Syndication
Automatically via Wordpress / Blogger
Subscribe via feed reader, mobile phone, email
Read your blog without visiting blog
Promoting Individual Posts
StumbleUpon.comGreat for information-based blogs, guides, how-to
type posts
Digg.comSuitable for news type blogs
Delicious.comSharing bookmarks, public listing
Then Came Twitter
What is it?
A free, microblogging service
You get 140 characters per message
Messages referred to as 'tweets'
What Can You Do?
Send your message... from anywhere
Lurk, or engage in conversation
Follow and be followed
Link to posts, photos etc.
Sending A Tweet
What are you doing?
@
D
#
Twitter In The Library
Keep in contact with colleagues
Keep up to date with publishers
Find out what other library services are doing
Tell people what you are doing
You can also...
Link to events
Run a competition
Take queries via Twitter
e.g. @kilkennylibrary do you have The Gate House by Nelson
DeMille?
You can also...
Follow conferences or events (hashtag)
e.g. #le09
http://search.twitter.com
Find users and library services at
http://wefollow.com
Twitter...
Allows you to network, both personally and
professionally
Get messages out straight away (think of it like a group
text)
Simple, fast, effective
Turning It Over To You...
What do YOU want to know?
Thanks For Your Time
Thanks for your time
Visit http://eventmedia.ie
Follow me on Twitter @kenmcguire
Rate myself and the talk
http://speakerrate.com/kenmcguire