Blogging Training Course
Learn the power of effective blogging
| Course date | Location | Price * | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 September 2010 | Covent Garden, London | Book Now |
Course length: 1 day (9.30am - 5.00pm) includes breakfast, lunch and refreshments
* All prices exclude VAT
Quick Links:
The power of a good blog should never be underestimated - they're flexible and powerful. Get it right and they can open doors to new clients and recruits, grow your organisation, improve your Google search results, enable you to be nimble with your marketing and show off your expertise. The latest technological developments mean your blog can act a central role in your social media strategy or even used as your main website.
And there's more – new blogging platforms enable you to send posts via email, live stream events and integrate easily with Twitter.
Yes, it's time to reconsider blogs and blogging.
The day will be led by Kathryn Corrick, an independent digital media consultant with over ten years experience in digital media, during which time she has worked on strategies for the likes of Mastercard, UPS, Quorn, The Co-operative Group, Quorn, Telegraph, BMW Bikes and MyDeco. Kathryn launched her first blog for the New Statesman magazine in 2003 in order to promote their New Media Awards – which has long since been archived.
Course Programme
Introduction
- What are blogs?
- Different types of blogs and platforms
- Typical features and functionality of blogging platforms
- How can they be used?
Strategy
- The role of blogs in communications and business
- Introducing the link economy and the role of blogs in search engine optimisation
- How your blog can become the key element in your social media strategy
- What else can blogs be used for – campaigns, websites, microsites, live events and more.
Developing a content strategy
- Segmentation - identifying your readers and who you are communicating with
- What to write? Identifying relevant topics and subject matter.
- Considering blog post length
- Resourcing and identifying writers
- Case studies and examples
New trends and developments
- Live blogging – what is it, and what tools make it easy?
- Writing and sending posts via email
- Introducing new blogging platforms (Posterous, Scribble Live and Coveritlive) – their strengths and weaknesses.
Blogging basics – the hands-on part to the course
- Setting up your blog
- An introduction to templates and simple ways to make it look good
- Adding authors
- Comment moderation
- Understanding the difference between posts and pages
- Setting up a blog roll
Creating content
- How to write a post
- Tips on writing posts and how to optimise for best results
- Adding links
- Adding images
- Sources for high-quality royalty free images
- How to embed content such as music and audio files, YouTube videos, PowerPoint presentations and PDFs.
Tools of the trade
- Understanding the stats
- Monitoring and measuring
- Search and blog aggregators
- Sourcing royalty free images, video and sound
Making your site even more social
- How to add widgets
- Adding Facebook and Twitter statuses into your template
- Adding Flickr images
- How to connect your blog with Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook so your blog posts appear on those sites.
Benefits
Following this training course, you will be able to:
- Recognise the importance of blogs and their role in digital marketing
- Create business objectives and manage expectations from your blog
- Use a blog to connect with your prospects and customers
- Increase visitor numbers to your website and influence sales
- Encourage interaction with your prospects as well as loyal customers
- Manage your blog effectively
- Create a short and long term strategy for your blog
Audience
The blogging course typically attracts PR professionals, journalists, bloggers, editors and publishers. Writing and communications skills as well as some knowledge of blogging are a bonus; you won't need detailed technical skills however.
Testimonials
An insightful course from people who really understand the business. Suitable for beginners and those who know a thing or too already.
Fiona Whitworth, Corporate Content and User Experience Manager
The National Trust
The course was a great introduction to blogging, and covered much more than just tips on writing a blog. It also gave important advice on why, when and how to use blogs, and related issues such as SEO and marketing. I'd recommend the course for both beginners and digital media specialists.
Debbie Smith, Senior Corporate Content & User Experience Manager
The National Trust
