blogging for beginners: military partnerships

OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY EXTENSION

Blogging for Beginners

Quality Content You’ll Want to Share!

Presented by Heather L. GottkeThe Ohio State University Extension4-H Youth Development Educator

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Who Am I?Heather Gottke

• 4-H Educator in Northwestern Ohio

• Rural Demographic (Entire County is 28,000)

• Specialization is Technology, and Working with Special Needs Youth

• Navy Brat of a Cryptologic Technician

• I love stretching my comfort zone! 2 weeks ago I was in Costa Rica visiting

farms with CATIE, The Tropical Agricultural Research and Higher

Education Center.

• I love teaching others about technology!

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What do we hope to learn today?

1. Reproduce the main parts of a blog post such as title, introduction, and ending with blogging characteristics versus other writing techniques.

2. Compare blog posts with different purposes such as event advertisement, education, formal research, or opinion.

3. Examine different types of graphic illustrations used for blogging and their uses.

4. Devise a plan of posts that would be appropriate and well-suited for the blogger’s audiences.

5. Critique blog posts that are hard to read, too long, or simply boring.

6. Formulate a plan for blogging that can be followed and used upon returning home.

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Writing for Blog Posts

1.Have a crafty headline.

2.Open strong.

3.Have a convincing tone.

4.Good central/core content.

5.Shake it up with some points (bullets).

6.Keep attention by changing the sub

category with purpose.

7.Use an image, give a visual.

8.Close with conviction.

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Headline Title TemplatesHow to ____ in # easy steps

Where to find _______

Quick Guide:

Beginners Guide to:

# key benefits of _____

# strategies for ______

Creative ways to _____

# ideas to _____

# rules for ______

DIY: _____

Content that Works…..Reminds us life is short.

Reminds us that dreams come true.

Gives us faith to believe in bigger things.

Surprises us.

Challenges our assumptions.

Has unexpected twists.

Takes us on a journey.

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Types of Blog PostsCompare blog posts with different purposes such as event advertisement,

education, formal research, or opinion.

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Types of Blog Posts

No image= boring!

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Ideas for Blog Posts that Work

• How-To’s

• Problem-Solving

• Checklists

• Current Issues

Translated

• Reviews

• Giveaways

• Questions from

“Viewers”

• Comparisons

• Research

• Inspiration

• Quotes

• Timelines

• Behind the

Scenes

• Case Studies

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How I Plan My Posts!Post Date Title Description Posted

Shared

4/12/17 FAQ About

Livestock Books

Questions answered about the new

livestock books from parents, advisors

and youth.

4/14/17

4/14/17 FAQ About

Project Judging

Questions about what to bring to

judging, and when judging is.

4/14/17

4/28 Reflections on

Costa Rica and

CATIE

Leadership, cultural, and personal

reflections on the NELD experience in

San Jose and Surrounding areas of

Costa Rica.

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Plan your PostsChoose a catchy, clever name!

Pixabay.com

is a great

place for clip

art!

Length Best For

Up to 300

Words

Generating discussion

with comments.

300-600

Words

Standard Length

750 words Professional Journalism

Standard Length

1000-1500

Words

Good for getting shares

on social media.

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Available for FREE download on my Blog!

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• Social media offers a great way to

channel quick “bytes” of information.

• Can be videos, photos, quotes,

comments.

• Try asking for opinions!

• Using a quick blog can keep them

interested for your next scheduled

post or “big” blog post.

Limited Time? Want to Connect with Your Audience?

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Tips for Beginners

1. Use photos.

2. Use hashtags and keywords.

3. Link with social media.

4. Connect with like-bloggers, or with other content you enjoy.

5. Headlines, headlines, headlines!

6. Start a blogging calendar, schedule posts, and stick to it!

7. Translate hot topics, and share them!

8. Lists and how tos are great ways to start!

9. Free downloads of printables, or information to share help connect learners.

10. Content that is out there, can be shared with perspective for a new fresh look on a

topic that is important and/or current.

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Social Media & Sharing Content

• Share a “Throw Back

Thursday”

• Share an attention

grabbing statistic.

• Link to an infographic

others might like!

• Correct a common

misconception.

• Ask people to join a

mailing list, or email list

to get up to date

program information.

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Social Media & Sharing Content

• Share from one to the

other!

• Give a shout out to local

businesses who support

your programming.

• Post resources made up

by 4-H’ers – How to’s, or

a recipe!

• Offer information about

your program online –

with some history of how

it came to be.

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Contact Me!

Heather Gottke

[email protected]

http://u.osu.edu/gottke.4

Twitter: Heather4H

mailto:[email protected]

http://u.osu.edu/gottke.4