9 rules for curating social media with Storify

This works well for print stories, but not for search engine optimization.

Instead, use the Mullet Method: Business in front, party in the back.

Keywords go first: Enticing wordplay (or maybe just details) should go second.

Use www.wordpot.com or Google Trends to find out what Google searchers use most often to find topics

of interest.

Their search terms are your SEO keywords.

http://www.google.com/trends/explore

What keywords should we use at the start of the headline? Try them in Google Trends to confirm they’re the best. Then, add details to inform the reader. Or, use wordplay to get the reader’s attention

• Good ledes put the news first. Does this lede start with the most important information?

• If not, what should go first? • Does this story call for a lede that begins with

“when” or “where” or “what” or “who” or “why” or “how”?

A light tone of voice is

appropriate on a topic

like this:

But a light tone of

voice should be

avoided on a topic like

this:

A good photo is newsworthy. It has technical excellence. And it is composed well.

Linking back to your website builds traffic and readership.

Story structures and when to use them

• List format: 10 Things the Tigers Must Do to Improve in the Offseason to Win It All, Five Things You Need to Know About Detroit, Eight Spring Break Destinations, etc.

• Chronological: When the order of events is important.

• Thematic: Organize like material with like material; good for events where several actions took place that each need to be described.

Context is background information the readers

need to know to feel caught

up on the conversation.

Go get it for them.

Storify is about curating social media conversations. Act like a moderator.

Steer the conversation; don’t dominate it.

FOLLOW THE 80/20 RULE 80% of a Storify should be content from

social media sharing/commenting. 20% of a Storify should be the reporter’s

words in the lede, transitions, context and the ending.

Questions?

Now, it’s your turn!1. Go to storify.com.

2. Sign in with your Twitter or Facebook login.3. Create a Storify that updates the Packard Plant

sale story, based on content from the last 72 hours.4. See the in-class assignment handout for details

on how many postings and images you need.

I’ll check in with you, but if you need help, please ask. I’m here to help!