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Open Social Media: Where we tell it like it is

Open Social Media Education

A Captive Touch Initiative

Host: Sherry Nouraini Founder/President Captive Touch

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Open Social Media: Where we tell it like it is

Please Help Spread the Education

• Use the Hashtag #opensm

• Tweet the tips you hear

•Questions? Ask on my G+ profile

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Open Social Media: Where we tell it like it is

Topic of Our Workshop Today

What Does it Take to

Create an effective blog?

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Open Social Media: Where we tell it like it is

Some statistics

• How many blogs are there?As of 7/3/2012 there are 1,304,902

registered on Technorati.com• Sharing on social media platforms

Average half-life of a status update

Twitter 4 min.Facebook 1 hour 22 min. keep in mind only 16% of your fans see your posts

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Open Social Media: Where we tell it like it is

Open Social Media: Where we tell it like it is

What do I mean by effective?

• It is clickable• It is engaging• It is readable• It converts• It is findable (SEO and other)

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Open Social Media: Where we tell it like it is

TitleSocial share

Image

Your links

Signup box

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Open Social Media: Where we tell it like it is

What do I mean by readable?

• Large font• Double space• Point form• Concise• Has personality (branding)• Adds value

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Open Social Media: Where we tell it like it is

What about tools?Major blogging platforms:

•Word pressWordpress.comWordpress.org (self hosted)

• Blogger (Google)

•Tumblr

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Open Social Media: Where we tell it like it is

Self-hosted Wordpress blog, what do you need?

1- Hosting company that preferably already provides Wordpress. A popular hosting company is HostGator (www.hostgator.com ).

2- Nice looking template. 3- Some basic knowledge of html/css. 4- A FTP client that would allow you to FTP files up to your server. A free FTP software I use is Filezilla http://filezilla-project.org/

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Open Social Media: Where we tell it like it is

What about tools?Promoting your blog:

• CollaborationTriberrFavo.rsJoin Facebook groupsLinkedin Groups

•SEOSEO for Wordpress by YoastGoogle Plus

• Referral sitesStumble UponPinterest

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Open Social Media: Where we tell it like it is

Other tips•Twitter

Change your title, share again• Pinterest

Make your images pin worthy• Google Analytics

Keep an eye on trafficCheck out social visitor flow to understand which social network brings you more conversion.

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Open Social Media: Where we tell it like it is

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Open Social Media: Where we tell it like it is

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Open Social Media: Where we tell it like it is

Other tips• Don’t just share news• Don’t re-blog• Don’t be deceiving with your titles• Strive to be a thought leader by

Inspiring change Presenting new ideas Provoking thought

BUT• Don’t be provocative just to get comments and attention

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Open Social Media: Where we tell it like it is

Remember thisThe purpose of your blog should be

• Offering information about your biz• Showing your expertise• Capturing leads• Serving your audience/clients better

You are in business to serve while gettingpaid doing it, strive to serve with integrity.

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Open Social Media: Where we tell it like it is

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