Blog Content Simple strategies to write engaging content for your readers

@redpaperclip

Saturday, 9 March, 13

“I hate quotations. Tell me what you think.” -Ralph Waldo Emerson

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• Define

• Determine

• Develop

• ‘Duplicate’ (that starts with a ‘D’)

What to expect today:

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Who are We?

Why should you care?

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• (Theodore) Sturgeon’s Law,1958

• Written in defense of Science Fiction against attacks by people who selected the worst work to make an example of.

• Even more applicable in blogging because what makes great content has been ignored by so many.

• This is why there are still so many success stories among blogs, and why they will remain successful.

“90% of everything is CRAP”

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What is Content?

What is content to you?

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Your Content...

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Audit Audience.

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Audit Your Focus.

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I help ___ to ___ so that _______.

Audit Your Content Mission.

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Audit Content Layout.

• Layout

• Navigation

• Audience Expectations

• Your Mission and Dream

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Audit Language and Tone.

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Audit Content Types.

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Types of Posts.

• Breaking News/Briefs/Reportage

• Personal stories

• How-tos/DIYs

• Opinion/Op-eds/Essays

• Research/Academic Work

• Investigative/Documentary

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Audit Your Headlines.

• Informative

• Entertaining

• Contradictory

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Audit Your Community.

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Audit Questions?Audit Answers.

• Who are your people?

• What are you seeking to do in the world?

• What are you offering them? How will it work?

• Where are your people and what are they doing when they get here?

• What’s working? What’s missing?

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Writing Content: The Truth.

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“Nothing is original. Nothing.” Jim Jarmusch

More Truth...

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FAIL = LOVE!

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My Writing Process.

It can feel like this...

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My Writing Process.

but look like this (sometimes).

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Tofu Marinade:Content Writing.

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“Marinade?!”

• Complexity and simplicity

• It “cures” whatever sits in it

• Marinades take time to taste great

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“Blend Your Ingredients.”

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“Work It In.”

• Talk to a spouse or trusted source

• Post about the topic BEFORE the post publishing date

• Use social media as a springboard

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“Seal in Flavour. Sear in Flavour.”

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“Plate it.”

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“Tasting!”

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Leftovers!

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Rewrite.

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Reuse.

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Repurpose.

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Lastly,

• Four D’s

• Questions

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Questions?

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Thanks!

@redpaperclip

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