jhub uk - blogging 201-j
TRANSCRIPT
Blogging 201-J
JHub, December 2011Esther D. Kustanowitz
@EstherK Buzzwords
• Showing up – being present• Creating and deepening relationship• Adding value• Connecting passionately• Living generously• Making life more meaningful
We’ve Come a Long Way SinceBlogging 101
• Blog = weblog = CMS for easy, online publishing• Blogs are everywhere - Gawker, TMZ, HuffPo, Salon,
Slate, even MSM• Writing, reading & commenting on blogs – promote your organization – start new conversations – adding value to existing conversations– What do you read?
Early J-Blogging Days
• Early Jewish blogs were revolutionary• Gave great exposure for underrepresented
voices• Those voices are still making an impact today:
activism, journalism, social entrepreneurship, innovation, thought leaders
Nowadays
• Blogs are just another CMS with low bar to entry• Tools available to all• Market is flooded• Content expectations are shifting, more
microniches• Blogs require strategy & planning• Chance to share your voice/interpretation/name
What’s in a name?Each Man Has a Name
Each man has a name, given him by God and given him by his father and motherEach man has a name, given him by his stature and his way of smiling, and given him by his
clothes Each man has a name, given him by the mountains and given him by his walls Each man has a name, given him by the planets (stars) and given him by his neighborsEach man has a name, given him by his sins and given him by his longing Each man has a name, given him by his enemies, and given him by his love Each man has a name, given him by his feast days and given him by his craft Each man has a name, given him by the seasons of the year and given him by his blindness Each man has a name, given him by the sea, and given him by his death.
-Zelda (b. 1914)
Blog Resistance
• “I don’t even understand how a blog works.”• “Who cares what I think?”• “I can’t come up with that much content on a
regular basis…”• “Who has time for blogging?”• “Blogging isn’t real writing.”• “The whole blogosphere is just full of
complaining and negativity.”
My Objection Was…
• “Why would I post things online instead of trying to get paid for them by publishing them in print?”
• That was in 2004 – blogs have transformed my career, direction and friendships
• Helped others learn to blog, and created a monster
Case Study: Jewish Humor Central
Blogging 201-J: Strategy
Does your org need/could it benefit from/is it ready for a blog:
• Reading blogs, seeing what’s out there• Blog will need regular content (staff time)• Comments should be open, but can be moderated
(staff time)• Blog should reflect org’s goals, but also add value to
larger conversations
Personal Training• Social media regimen/cultural immersion– Find time (coffee breaks, lunchtime, etc)– Check Twitter/Facebook page at least once a day
• Read the Tweetstream or Status Feed of people and orgs you’re following – begin to participate in conversations
• Share a FB group or event with friends who are “hubs”– Visit Jewishblogging.com or JRants.com
• click on a few headlines• monitor/join a conversation
• Ask questions (professionals/civilians)
What Do I Post About?
• Trends in the Jewish world– Israel– News & politics– Peoplehood & global issues
• Trends in the secular world– Pop culture & celebrities– News & politics
How Do I Find Things to Post About?
• Google Alerts / Google News Search (archives)• Stay tuned to Twitter, CNN, BBC, Facebook –
what are people talking about, and how does it relate to your work?
• Authentic lenses on passionate subjects
Exercise
• If your organization had a blog, what would its purpose/mission statement be?
• How often would you post?• What would your first five posts be about?• Who would write them?• How would you promote them/get new
readers?
Actions for Your Organization• Determine your institutional voice/s• Identify person/people to update Twitter and
Facebook (daily)• Identify newsy angles for programs, use as hook to
promote org in online conversations• Consider starting a blog, so you can host
conversations• Find “mavens”/hubs in your community, invite their
feedback & partnership• Consider inviting personal assessment by a social
media trainer
@EstherK
• NextGen Engagement Initiative at Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles: [email protected]
• Not exactly everything else:– [email protected]– http://twitter.com/estherk– http://facebook.com/estherkustanowitz– http://youtube.com/EstherK– http://estherk.com