Want to start a blog but not sure how? Hear your options explained, practical steps to get going and ideas for gripping content and interaction. - See more at: http://www.newmediacentreofexcellence.org.uk/cnmac/conference/agenda#sthash.ucVp8FJG.dpuf

1. Beginning to blog
Bryony Taylor - @vahva

2. Introduction to blogging
#cnmac13
9 November 2013
http://bryonytaylor.com

3. What’s a blog?
Contraction
of web-log
– it’s like an
online
journal
My
definition:
a place
online
where you
can put
stuff!
http://bryonytaylor.com

4. Why blog?
You could have all sorts of reasons to blog: for CPD,
to have a resource to return to, to share what you’re
learning with others, for fun, to share expertise, to
keep in touch with friends & family, for business…
http://bryonytaylor.com

5. Blogging platforms
Tumblr - http://tumblr.com
Blogger - http://www.blogger.com
Wordpress- http://wordpress.com
http://bryonytaylor.com

6. Types of blog
Personal
Series
Thematic Website
Mixed
http://bryonytaylor.com

7. Personal
A personal online journal
http://bryonytaylor.com/
http://bryonytaylor.com

8. Series
Blog posts as a series
working through a theme
/
http://pamsperambulation.
wordpress.com/category/le
ctionary/
http://bryonytaylor.com

9. Thematic
Single theme
/
http://songsevokingscri
pture.tumblr.com/
http://bryonytaylor.com

10. Website
Blog inside a
website
http://insidecranmer.org.uk/
http://bryonytaylor.com

11. Mixed
All of the above!
Multiple authors
http://bigbible.org.uk/
http://bryonytaylor.com

12. Getting traffic to your blog
http://bryonytaylor.com

13. Tags and Categories
Categories and tags help
you find things again and
help others when they’re
searching for content
• Categories – like
chapter headings
• Tags – like the index
Always put your blog
posts in a category and
give them a few tags
(keywords)
http://bryonytaylor.com

14. Connectivity
Connecting to Social
Media is essential
Set your blog to
automatically publish to
your Facebook and
Twitter
Add ‘sharing’ buttons at
the bottom of your blog
posts so that it is easy for
others to share your
content
http://bryonytaylor.com

15. Other things that help
• Always include an
image in your post
(ensure it is royalty
free - http://sxc.hu/ &
http://commons.wiki
media.org for free
images)
• Always reply to
comments (unless
obviously spam)
• Split long posts up
into separate posts –
max length 500 words
• A blog post could just
be an image or video –
it needn’t be long!
• Read other blogs for
inspiration and
respond
• Post regularly
• Be topical
• Have fun!
http://bryonytaylor.com

16. My 3 golden rules:
Don’t be afraid!
Go for it, don’t be timid, you just
have to give it a try.
Don’t be stupid!
Don’t write anything you’d be
embarrassed for a loved one or your
boss to read!
Be yourself!
Be authentic, people can spot a fake.
http://bryonytaylor.com

17. For a step by step guide to creating a blog
on wordpress.com visit:
http://www.slideshare.net/BryonyTaylor/
create-your-own-blog-or-website-withwordpresscom
http://bryonytaylor.com

18. Thanks. Keep in touch! http://bryonytaylor.com
I’m @vahva on Twitter
bryony.taylor@gmail.com
http://bigbible.org.uk & http://seedresources.com
for extra help and resources
http://bryonytaylor.com