This is for a training module that I teach to communicators and farmers.

1. Blogging 101
(Getting Started)

2. What are we learning today?
2
• Why Blog?
• Why Blogs Fail to Produce Results?
• Blog Topics
• 13 Step System for blogging
• Tips and Tricks

3. 3
• You want to help people find the
best information on farming
possible.
• You have something to say about
how farming happens on your
farm.
• You want to understand and gain
knowledge from others not
connected to your farm life.
• You want to connect people to
other people.
• You want two-way communication
and feedback.
• You believe you are an expert at…
Why blog?

4. 4
• Google and the other search
engines start indexing your
photos, videos and content.
• People start responding to
what you writing.
• People start trusting what you
are writing.
• People call you an expert.
• Search engines start putting
your farming information at the
top of their search pages for
keywords.
• Suddenly you are internet
famous.
What else happens when you blog?

5. 5
• You are not consistent.
• You are off your brand – you are NOT
courteous, polite, hardworking.
• You are talking to you only about you.
• You are not saying anything
interesting, important and have no
personality.
• You aren’t writing using stories.
• You aren’t responding to comments or
feedback.
Why blogs fail?

6. 6
• Listen to social media.
• Check out Google
keywords and trends.
• What are people
emailing you about?
• What do you want to be
known for?
What do you write about?

7. 13 steps to Blogging
Blogging 101
(Getting Started)

8. 8
1. Personal Brand
8
• Define yourself and what you are trying to
accomplish with a blog.

9. 9
Be clear about who you are…how you can
help…

10. 10
2. Write, write, write
10
• Write out your first three or four blog posts in
whatever system you prefer.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/meliah/3301099717/sizes/l/in/photostream/

11. Are you worried about Word Count?
• Personally, I think getting content up is more
important than make sure it hits a count. You want
a number? Go for 500 or 300 or 700 or just make
sure you get the point across as quickly as
possible and tell a good story.
11http://www.socialmediaexplorer.com/social-media-marketing/how-long-should-your-blog-post-be/

12. 12
3. Add visuals
12
• Find pictures / video content to associate with your
blog.

13. 13
4. Select Your Domain
13
• Think long and hard about your
domain name (keywords in the
URL are important).
• Having “dairy” or “farm” in the
URL can help get you found.

14. 14
5. Select Your Technology
14
• Select a system that is something you desire for
your future.
• Not tech savvy at all - try tumblr.
• Tech savvy and want more control - blogger or
wix.com or squarespace.com – wordpress.com.
• A lot of control – wordpress.org

15. 15
6. CALL TO ACTION
15
• What do you want the audience to do? Yes, read
your post is why they are here – what’s their next
step? Get their email address? Connect to you via
social media? Sign a petition? Spread the word?

16. 16
7. Design
16
• If you are designer, then
you can do this yourself.
• If not, then you need to
get someone that is (a
web designer).
• Or just a use a template
(think responsive design
for mobile)

17. 17
8. Move your content into the blog
17
• Take your time, work out the bugs, you can have a
deadline but don’t force it out.

18. 18
9. Add your other content
18
• You need an About page and your CALL TO ACTION
page. Set those up. Add your social media profile links.
Add your fun widgets. Don’t distract people too much.

19. 19
10. Make and schedule your editorial calendar
19
• Stay consistent.

20. 20
11. Link your social media / email
20
• Linking your social media profiles, Google profile
and your email to your blog helps drive traffic.

21. 21
12. Set up your Analytics
21
• Get Google Analytics (free) set up on your website
to insure you understand what your traffic is doing.

22. 22
13. Use your network to drive traffic
22
• After posting, make sure you are posting your links
to all your social media content.
Blog /
Website
Facebook
Twitter
Linkedin
Email
Search
Google
Adwords
Pinterest
Youtube
Photo
Sites

23. • Help others
• Talk about others
• Link to others
• Mention others and link
to them
• Read other blogs and
comment on them.
• Use Google’s
Autocomplete to work
headlines
Tips and Tricks
http://www.flickr.com/photos/spencerbishop/2074711112/sizes/o/in/photostream/

24. 24
Search + Social = TOP RESULTS
Remember: Great Content
drives both Social and Search.
If you want people to see your
stuff, you have to use both and
a blog can do that for you.

25. Need a boost?
25
Contact me at
don.schindler@rosedmi.com