Working the Web (Advanced): Blogging for Social Change

Working the Web (Advanced):Blogging for Social Change

Presented by Britt Bravo

Global Engagement Summit

April 11, 2009

Big Vision Consulting

• Strategic Consulting• Social Web

Empowerment• Blogging• Podcasting• Career coaching

www.brittbravo.com

My blog: Have Fun * Do Good

I also write for BlogHer.com

My podcast: Big Vision Podcast

Agenda

• What are your burning questions?• Blog examples• Reading blogs • Features and functions• Platforms• Building traffic• Measuring impact• Strategic planning• Resources

Urban Sprouts

The Extraordinaries

Case Foundation Web Site

Blog posts are highlighted on the home page

Case Foundation Blog

NetSquared Community Blog

My.SocialActions.com

My.SocialActions.com Community Blog

Green LA Girl: Starbucks Challenge

Beth’s Blog: Widget Fundraising

ChipIn Widget

Beth’s Blog: Read It!

Oxfam’s Fair Trade Campaign

• Asked list to email Starbucks.• Asked list to call Starbucks.• Organized a protest.• Filmed protest and posted it on YouTube.• Emailed list and bloggers and asked them to

view and comment.• Starbucks created response video.• Slashdot picked it up.• Created Flickr petition.• Starbucks signed licensing agreement.

Read blogs about your topic

• Google Blog Searchhttp://blogsearch.google.com

• Alltophttp://alltop.com

• Technoratihttp://technorati.com

• Blogrolls

Read in a Feed Reader

Features and Functions

• Subscription (rss and email)• Blogroll• Comments• Easy to share • About you/your organization• Google Custom Search Engine• Images with every post

Blogroll

Features and Functions

• Subscription (rss and email)• Blogroll• Comments• Easy to share • About you/your organization• Google Custom Search Engine• Images with every post

AddThis Button

Features and Functions

• Subscription (rss and email)• Blogroll• Comments• Easy to share • About you/your organization• Google Custom Search Engine• Images with every post

Blogging Platforms

• Blogger.com• WordPress.com• WordPress.org• TypePad• MovableType.org• MovableType.com• Drupal, Plone, Joomla• Ning

Building Traffic

• Read and comment on other blogs

• Have a blogroll

• Link to other bloggers in your posts

• Make commenting easy

• Allow subscription by rss and email

• Use images and multi-media in posts

• Write titles people are searching for

• Write lists and how-tos

Building Traffic

• Make it easy to share posts with others

• Ask questions

• Be opinionated

• Host a contest

• Participate in carnivals and memes

• Invite guest bloggers to participate

• Integrate your blog into your social networks

• Include it in your email signature

Measuring Impact

• Feedburner• Feedblitz• Google Analytics• Site Meter• StatCounter

• Technorati• Google Alerts• Twitter Search• Post Rank• Anecdotal

What’s Your Goal?

Who is Your Audience?

What will you write about?

• Organizational news and announcements• Commentary on breaking news• Pointing to other posts and articles• Roundup of news in your field• How-tos• Lists• Interviews• Guest posts• Photos, audio and video• Online contests, memes and carnivals

What are Your Staff Needs?

What’s Your Budget?

How Will You Measure Impact?

What’s Your Timeline?

What’s Your Exit / Growth Plan?

Have Fun!

10 Tips for Asking Bloggers to Write About Your Cause

• Search for appropriate bloggers on blog search engines.

• Search social bookmarking sites for blogs tagged with your topic’s keywords.

• Read blogs.• Find the bloggers name and contact info.• Comment on blogs before you do your pitch.

10 Tips for Asking Bloggers to Write About Your Cause

• Remember that the person you are writing to may be in their pajamas.

• Begin your email with an indication that you’ve read their blog, or that you are a blogger too.

• Make it easy for them to post about your story without contacting you again.

• Write a subject line that tells them there is possible blog post content inside your email.

• Follow up with one email.

* Bonus tip: Thank them if they write about your cause.

Questions?

Britt Bravo

Big Vision Consulting

www.brittbravo.com

Britt@brittbravo.com

(510) 757-9684

Skype: bebravo

Twitter: Bbravo

View this presentation on SlideShare

http://www.slideshare.net/Bbravo