Blogging, Twitter & Other Stories(For beginners!)

Ken McGuire for Event Media

ken@eventmedia.ie

Introduction

Ken McGuire

Blogging since 2004

Podcasting since 2006

Twitter since Feb 2007

Agenda

Blogging Background What, Why, How?

Setting up Your First Blog

Blog Writing Hints and Tips

Promoting Your Blog

Twitter

Goals For Today

Learn about blogs what they are, how they work

Discover how to set up a blog, for free

Making your first post - easy

Free ways to promote your blog

Getting yourself started on Twitter

All About Blogs

What Is A Blog?

A blog is...Short for 'Web Log'

Collection of blog 'posts' / news items, stories published in a dated order

Pretty much like a journal

Versatile can be about anything

What Is A Blog?

A blog is...Like a website, but for non-techies

Easy to create and update

Very interactive (comments, conversation)

Embed all the cool stuff (photos, videos, podcasts)

Blog, Blogger, Blogging

Blog: A web log

Blogger: Someone who maintains a blog

Blogging: The process of creating and maintaining a blog

Blogging Platforms

Blogger

Wordpress (favourite)

Typepad (fee based)

Blogosphere The global blogging community (Blog O'Sphere)

Blog Ingredients

Blog Posts

An 'About' Page

A 'Contact' Page

The cool stuff audio, mp3s, video, photos

What Can A Blog Do For You?

Connect you with fellow librarians, authors, writers

Showcase your own works, thoughts

Build an audience for your work

Establish you as an authority figure

What Can A Blog Do For You?

I now realise how beneficial this blog is. It is almost like a creative diary. It allows me to reflect back on my practice as an artist, it helps me understand my way of approaching new ideas and my way of working creatively

- Artist in Residence, May 2008

Why Blogs Are Liked

They're web based everything runs online with no need to install.

Access anywhere

You don't need to learn a language to run a blog

Blogging community is constantly growing

Why Do You Need A Blog?

Build your personal brand

Showcase your works

Become visible on the web

Keep others informed

Deciding What To Blog

Follow your craftMusic (KilkennyMusic.com)

Theatre (DeviousTheatre.com)

Sport (LiverpoolAccess.com)

The more 'niche' the betterBook reviews, events, music therapy, sound design etc.

Why Have A Library Blog?

Supplement and enhance existing library guides, newsletters

More relevant, more up to date

Everyone can contribute, with ease

Publish events, book reviews, photos

Setting Up A Blog

Starting A Wordpress Blog

Wordpress.com, it's free, it's great

Click 'Sign Up Now' and enter username, password, email

Choose name for blog

Confirm email, get writing

...That Was Easy

Your First Blog Post

TitleBe descriptive, be precise

Title will appear in search engine results

Content

Relevant links

Tags

Publish

Your First Blog Page

Additional content to homepage

Title, content, links as before

Chance to sell yourself, do it well

Pages have an order of their own

Contact details, about you, links, profiles

Writing Tips

Writing Tips

Be yourselfBe professional

It is ok to have an opinionYou can't be an authority on a topic if you don't have faith in your own opinion

Proper Titles

Cheek your spellimg and grammar

Writing Tips

Support your post with relevant linksLink out to author, review, event location

Links give the post added value to reader

Write less, write often

Bold type, lists, headings, sections

Advertising Your Blog

Advertising Your Blog

If you build it, they may or may not come

Find similar blogsTechnorati.com

blogsearch.google.com

Comment on other blogs

Email, press releases, get the word out

Advertising Your Blog

Blog directoriesBlogFlux.com, BlogCatalog.com

Social NetworksMySpace / Facebook / Bebo / Twitter

RSS Feeds / Email Feeds

RSS Feed

Really Simple Syndication

Automatically via Wordpress / Blogger

Subscribe via feed reader, mobile phone, email

Read your blog without visiting blog

Promoting Individual Posts

StumbleUpon.comGreat for information-based blogs, guides, how-to type posts

Digg.comSuitable for news type blogs

Delicious.comSharing bookmarks, public listing

Then Came Twitter

What is it?

A free, microblogging service

You get 140 characters per message

Messages referred to as 'tweets'

What Can You Do?

Send your message... from anywhere

Lurk, or engage in conversation

Follow and be followed

Link to posts, photos etc.

Sending A Tweet

What are you doing?

@

D

#

Twitter In The Library

Keep in contact with colleagues

Keep up to date with publishers

Find out what other library services are doing

Tell people what you are doing

You can also...

Link to events

Run a competition

Take queries via Twitter
e.g. @kilkennylibrary do you have The Gate House by Nelson DeMille?

You can also...

Follow conferences or events (hashtag)
e.g. #le09

http://search.twitter.com

Find users and library services at
http://wefollow.com

Twitter...

Allows you to network, both personally and professionally

Get messages out straight away (think of it like a group text)

Simple, fast, effective

Turning It Over To You...

What do YOU want to know?

Thanks For Your Time

Thanks for your time

Visit http://eventmedia.ie

Follow me on Twitter @kenmcguire

Rate myself and the talk
http://speakerrate.com/kenmcguire