session2

=media type="custom" key="476053"= = = = = =**Session 2: The Art and Science of Blogging**=

Learning Goals


 * What makes a great blog?
 * To understand the work flow for blogging
 * To understand and explore different blog post writing formats
 * Adoption Challenges
 * Productivity tips

1. What makes a good blog? (The Art Part)

 * Personality
 * Usefulness
 * Writing Style
 * Frequency
 * Relevancy
 * Interactivity
 * Engaging

[|Want a great blog, do this], by Bill MacKenty

1: Reading
We covered the mechanics of this in our first session. The process steps:
 * Read your RSS subs
 * Read your persistent searches
 * Research new topics
 * Follow serendipitous links from comments
 * Scan comments on other posts
 * Leave comments on other posts
 * Add your comments to the conversation
 * Update your RSS subs

2: Writing

 * Drafts
 * To do lists
 * Think about what moves you today
 * What would your readers like?
 * What have you just read?
 * Research
 * Format and word smith
 * Find and add relevant links
 * Find and add relevant photos or videos
 * Post and check
 * Notify others as appropriate
 * Archive index categories

**3: Interacting with your readers**

 * Check your ego feeds – watch lists on technorati or google alerts
 * Check referral logs
 * Comment on reader’s posts
 * Comment back to readers on your posts
 * Email responses

[|The Blogging Process] by Dave Pollard [|Marinating my ideas into blog posts] by Pro Blogger [|How to Add to the Blogging Conversation] by Pro Blogger [|How To Start Your Own] Blog Carnival by Kivi [|Blogging Good Practices] by Web Tastings
 * Reading**

Forms

 * Instructional
 * Informational
 * Reviews
 * Product Giveaways
 * Research
 * Collation
 * Interviews
 * Case Study
 * Profile
 * Lists
 * Tips
 * Memes
 * and more ..

Style

 * Scan Text
 * Length
 * Titles

[|20 Different Formats] by Pro Blogger [|How To Write Great Blog Content] by Pro Blogger [|Nine Essential Posts That Every Blogger Should Know] by Northeast [|25 Basic Styles of Blogging,] by Rohit Bargavda

4. Adoption Challenges

 * The putting myself on display part
 * Let the comments help refine your thinking
 * It's okay to make (public) mistakes

[|Advice to Would Be Bloggers], by Bokardo [|Watch and Learn] by Skelliwag

5. Productivity Tips

 * Regular time to read and write
 * Connect with your community
 * Consider using a blog editor, if possible

[|How To Be A More Productive Blogger] from To-Done! [|Blogging for Beginners] by Pro Blogger [|Desktop Blog Editor] by Pro Blogger

6. Assignment
Write 2-3 different post formats Write comments on your colleagues posts Incorporate the comments into a 4th post Write 1 post reflecting on the process