Slideshow

Sunday, October 2, 2011

Blogging To New Heights: Content, Consistency, Creativity, Engagement and Uniqueness Are The Vitamins Your Blog Needs


So, you think you have what it takes to blog? This was a question I pondered previously at the end of January 2011, after my first course as a graduate student at Full Sail University. I thought to myself, what is blogging and why would I blab about my personal life or anything for that matter? At the time I didn't see a need but little did I know that I too would soon be a blogger. As a requirement to the first course in the graduate program, Media Literacy and Research, all students had to start their own blog. I was nervous and very skeptical of what to expect after I wrote my first blog post. Believe it or not that is how I began blogging. During this time I had an array of interests and somewhat unsure as to what was truly my calling within the entertainment industry. I blogged about various topics relating to music, issues within the entertainment industry and other topics relating to Latin artists.




Now, 9 months into graduate school, and 9 months of blogging, I have learned and realized that blogging and social networking are extremely valuable. Blogging is essential not only for marketing your products and services, getting exposure, connecting with your followers, meeting potential employers but also for maintaining your professional online profile. To my amazement, I am very excited about blogging and despite my schooling and the demands that come along with parenting a 5 year old, I manage to release new content online, 2-3 times a week. My next step is to take my blog to new heights. By this I mean to provide 3-4 posts a week, add a weekly podcast and offer services through my site. After that, when I have obtained a greater number in followers, I will host a giveaway. Of course this is all great and dandy but how exactly will I meet these goals? I'm sure you are wondering and because I have been doing a lot of research on this topic I feel it is only fair for you all, to know how I will meet my blogging goals. Whether you are a beginner or professional feel free to take away any of these following tips to help you on your very own blogging endeavors. 


Professors, online bloggers as well as online sources emphasize that a successful blog requires maintenance. In other words, whether it's geared to something personal or for professional means the blog must demonstrate consistency, must have quality content, the blogger must connect and engage with his or her followers regularly, and the blogger should always spice things up by displaying his or her content creatively. 


If you are looking to spice up your blog and produce creative content, I suggest you look at creative content blogger, performer, writer and much more Sujeiry, whose blog will certainly catch your eye. My blogging tip #1 is being creative with what you provide. I had the pleasure of meeting Sujeiry online a few months ago and she is a lovely person. This gal is not only actively engaging with her followers, hosting giveaways but she is also creating quality and unique content on her blog, lovesujeiry.com. From hosting tweet chats, to delivering relationship advice, to creative posts and video logs on her site and on YouTube, Sujeiry delivers creativity on many levels and she manages to do so, very well. She is creating not only a name for herself online with her content and creativity but is also generating a lot of buzz. Whatever you provide on your blog, make it unique, interesting and no matter how daring be consistent with your craft. 




At some point you will need to get well acquainted with social networks and an understanding to why social networks are crucial in boosting your blog. My blogging tip #2 is, follow social media experts to maximize your blogging potential. Neil Schaffer, author of two books and a leader in helping businesses and self creators excel in social media marketing as well as teaching others how to position themselves strategically within social media networks, is one of favorites and a, must follow. I first learned about Neil Shaffer through my first course at Full Sail University. His blog, Windmill Networking provides useful information as well as tips on how to position yourself across social media platforms, quality engagement and how to use social media to your benefit. 





Per research, my blogging tip #3 is, add a podcast to your blog. According to a recent article published on September 15, 2011, titled the flexibility of consistency, by Ewan Spence, "regular content is the key to a good blog, and it's also the key to a good podcast." In other words, if you already have great written content and you provide consistent content people will listen to your podcast; the other great part about podcasting is that your listenership and readership stats can go up too! If you are confident about your content and are in a stable position to add a podcast, by all means go for it! Also neat about having a podcast is that you can have a guest speaker and schedule a time to answer calls from listeners. With the feedback you receive, you can learn what your listeners like and don't like. A great podcast I follow is Gordon P. Firemark's weekly entertainment podcast. The podcast provides information on current legal issues and cases relating to the entertainment industry as well as commentary. As an entertainment lawyer, he is well known in his community and has an increasing number of followers throughout social networks. As Hector Cuevas stated in his article 5 reasons to add a podcast, having a podcast will not only set you apart from your competition, enable you to be in direct communication with your audience, will increase your blogs reach, will create loyalty between you and your listeners but will also create a platform that will allow you to interact with industry experts. 





Lastly, blogging tip #4 is, conduct an interview for your blog. Whenever you get answers from an expert, viewers are more likely to receive your content as trustworthy and that is the feedback that you want to have time after time.  A blogger I often visit for my hip-hop information and latest interviews is Dita Quinones's blog titled ghetto news flash. From hip-hop celebrity beef information, segment on politics within the entertainment industry, her remarkable photography skills and to her exclusive hip-hop artist interviews this blog is a definite one-stop shop for entertainment. If you need to see some uniquely crafted live video interviews as examples, I suggest you visit this blog. You will fall in love with the layout and the presentation will give you a well-constructed idea as to how interviews are done correctly. 


So yes, anyone can blog! All of the above will help you in delivering a good blog as well as in shaping your blog to meet your needs! There are several questions you must ask yourself before you actually start blogging. What is the purpose of your blog? Are you targeting a specific audience? What do you want to get out of your blog? Will this be a personal blog or a professional blog? How often will you commit to posting? Can you set a routine for blogging purposes? Will you be tracking your audience and visitor views? Once you have answered these questions, decide what platform you want to use to set up your blog. Then, you must decide whether or not you want to use search engine optimization and voilĂ , begin blogging! Once your blog is up and running, make sure you engage with your audience and are consistent. If visitors and followers leave comments, respond to their comments. When all is said and done, what you produce is a representation of you, so take your time and make your content worthwhile and meaningful. Besides, who wants to be misrepresented?


Best of luck on your creative content and blogging adventures!




Sources:


http://www.technshare.com/5-reasons-to-add-a-podcast-to-your-blog/


http://www.blogworld.com/2011/09/15/the-flexibility-of-consistency/


http://mummybloggersblog.com/better-blogging/how-to-host-a-successful-giveaway/


http://www.blueglass.com/blog/how-to-make-the-most-of-blog-interview/


http://lovesujeiry.com/


http://firemark.com/


http://www.ghettonewsflash.com/


http://youtu.be/NN2I1pWXjXI


http://youtu.be/J6BXZO_6a74


http://youtu.be/qryN41ITdkM


http://youtu.be/XKq0UVzqAFg


http://youtu.be/zBTDyHxmaHQ

5 comments:

  1. Itzel,

    Wow! You have learned SO much in the past 9 months! You are absolutely correct with all of your observations and recommendations. Content and creativity are king in blogging. "Relevance" is also very important -- how relevant your content is to your target audience.

    I love Sujeiry too, she's very talented and super smart. We recently did a Spotlight on her at New Latina.

    Keep up the awesome work amiga! So, so proud of you!

    Angelica

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  2. Thank you Angelica! You are very right about "relevance." Every year we have to look at our content and re-shape and mold to what is trending in our industries. A blog is never done and will always need work no matter how fabulous it is....

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  3. Excellent tips and resources Itzel! I have been doing a podcast an interviews recently and I'm hoping to make the podcast more regular. Thanks so much for sharing this discussion. It's so helpful, because I think that observing others and applying their knowledge is 9/10th of blogging! ;)

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  4. Chantilly,
    Thank you for your kind words. As I stated, I have much to learn and to reach my blogging goals.I am very happy with how my blogging is doing so far and hopefully in a few months I will be reaching one of those goals. Thank you for the feedback!

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  5. Mujer! Thanks for the shout! I love what I do and am so thrilled to inspire and engage readers and fellow bloggers. As for the podcast, that is my next move for LoveSujeiry.com. Can't wait to keep moving forward and seeing all that you achieve as well! Muah!

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