Nuffnang Blogopolis Key Points – Class 3: Improving Blog Content

This post will be covering – LIVE! – the key points made at the Nuffnang Blogopolist Conference during Class 3: Improving Blog Content. For all the key points made during each of the seven classes, check out the Blogopolis schedule. Class 3: Improving Blog Content Speakers: Christie Burnett of Childhood101, Susan Thye of Chocolatesuze and Nikki Parkinson of Styling You. Covering: Tips and points made by myself will be indicated with (Bree). (UPDATE: For a full list of tools & resources mentioned - with URLs - see here) Key Points… From CHRISTIE… Ask yourself: why blog? If facing posting block, take some time out If taking time out, simply reschedule some old posts Call on your blog community if you need to – communities are important While on a blogging break, revisit your reason to blog. Has your purpose changed? Maybe consider a new design? Consider what makes your blog unique. Those who post quality content will succeed. You don’t need to post every day. Write drafts and keep them ready for your down time Look outside of your niche for ideas From SUSAN… Inpsiration for your posts can be found anywhere… Read other blogs, bookmark posts, save those ideas for the future… Forums are a great to connect with other bloggers. Twitter is great to interact with others too. Check out layouts and styles of other blogs for that kind of inspiration too. Photos really do have a thousand words – add them to your blog. Lists can break up a long post. From NIKKI… What you put on your blog is damn important. No one originally commented on Nikki’s blog. So she spent a lot of time commenting, getting to know other bloggers – and not just those in her niche. A redesign can boost your motivation. Nikki went from 4K uniques to 30K and picked up a number of awards. Nikki won Best Australian blog – check her out at stylingyou.com.au Tip: Get organised. Nikki content plans and manages up to two months in advance. She still changes things around if need be, though. Ask yourself, how often will you post? Surprise your readers with some unscheduled posts. If there is something happening relating to your niche, jump on it straight away. Make sure you’re not giving your readers the same content over and over again. Nikki blogged about fashion & beauty, but now also blogging tips. Think about how you can take the categories of your content and spread it over the week or month. Tools of the trade: Good old fashion note book is great. Ideas can come to you at any time. Schedule posts. Nikki writes at night and schedules to post in the morning. Nikki loves the WP Editorial Calendar calendar. It makes it easy to see your draft posts at a glance. We all have the power in our blogs to make a difference, make someone laugh, make someone smile. Everyone is different, everyone has a story to tell. Show your personality on your blog. Blogging is a conversation. Make the reader feel as though they have a connection with you. Nikki suggests… For a laugh read Bern Morely, Lori from Ramblings of A Stay At Home Mum, Woogsworld Nikki’s blog is still business related, but has a personal level. How can you bring more of yourself into your blog? In print you don’t get the awesome comments that you get from blogging, Twitter and FB. People want to connect with people. (ENDS) >> View Class 2: Blog Photography >> View Class 1: Tools Of The Trade >> Back to the Nuffnang Blogopolis conference schedule