Working the Web (Advanced): Blogging for Social Change Presented by Britt Bravo Global Engagement Summit April 11, 2009
May 17, 2015
Working the Web (Advanced):Blogging for Social Change
Presented by Britt Bravo
Global Engagement Summit
April 11, 2009
Big Vision Consulting
• Strategic Consulting• Social Web
Empowerment• Blogging• Podcasting• Career coaching
www.brittbravo.com
My blog: Have Fun * Do Good
I also write for BlogHer.com
My podcast: Big Vision Podcast
Agenda
• What are your burning questions?• Blog examples• Reading blogs • Features and functions• Platforms• Building traffic• Measuring impact• Strategic planning• Resources
Urban Sprouts
The Extraordinaries
Case Foundation Web Site
Blog posts are highlighted on the home page
Case Foundation Blog
NetSquared Community Blog
My.SocialActions.com
My.SocialActions.com Community Blog
Green LA Girl: Starbucks Challenge
Beth’s Blog: Widget Fundraising
ChipIn Widget
Beth’s Blog: Read It!
Oxfam’s Fair Trade Campaign
• Asked list to email Starbucks.• Asked list to call Starbucks.• Organized a protest.• Filmed protest and posted it on YouTube.• Emailed list and bloggers and asked them to
view and comment.• Starbucks created response video.• Slashdot picked it up.• Created Flickr petition.• Starbucks signed licensing agreement.
Read blogs about your topic
• Google Blog Searchhttp://blogsearch.google.com
• Alltophttp://alltop.com
• Technoratihttp://technorati.com
• Blogrolls
Read in a Feed Reader
Features and Functions
• Subscription (rss and email)• Blogroll• Comments• Easy to share • About you/your organization• Google Custom Search Engine• Images with every post
Blogroll
Features and Functions
• Subscription (rss and email)• Blogroll• Comments• Easy to share • About you/your organization• Google Custom Search Engine• Images with every post
AddThis Button
Features and Functions
• Subscription (rss and email)• Blogroll• Comments• Easy to share • About you/your organization• Google Custom Search Engine• Images with every post
Blogging Platforms
• Blogger.com• WordPress.com• WordPress.org• TypePad• MovableType.org• MovableType.com• Drupal, Plone, Joomla• Ning
Building Traffic
• Read and comment on other blogs
• Have a blogroll
• Link to other bloggers in your posts
• Make commenting easy
• Allow subscription by rss and email
• Use images and multi-media in posts
• Write titles people are searching for
• Write lists and how-tos
Building Traffic
• Make it easy to share posts with others
• Ask questions
• Be opinionated
• Host a contest
• Participate in carnivals and memes
• Invite guest bloggers to participate
• Integrate your blog into your social networks
• Include it in your email signature
Measuring Impact
• Feedburner• Feedblitz• Google Analytics• Site Meter• StatCounter
• Technorati• Google Alerts• Twitter Search• Post Rank• Anecdotal
What’s Your Goal?
Who is Your Audience?
What will you write about?
• Organizational news and announcements• Commentary on breaking news• Pointing to other posts and articles• Roundup of news in your field• How-tos• Lists• Interviews• Guest posts• Photos, audio and video• Online contests, memes and carnivals
What are Your Staff Needs?
What’s Your Budget?
How Will You Measure Impact?
What’s Your Timeline?
What’s Your Exit / Growth Plan?
Have Fun!
10 Tips for Asking Bloggers to Write About Your Cause
• Search for appropriate bloggers on blog search engines.
• Search social bookmarking sites for blogs tagged with your topic’s keywords.
• Read blogs.• Find the bloggers name and contact info.• Comment on blogs before you do your pitch.
10 Tips for Asking Bloggers to Write About Your Cause
• Remember that the person you are writing to may be in their pajamas.
• Begin your email with an indication that you’ve read their blog, or that you are a blogger too.
• Make it easy for them to post about your story without contacting you again.
• Write a subject line that tells them there is possible blog post content inside your email.
• Follow up with one email.
* Bonus tip: Thank them if they write about your cause.
Questions?
Britt Bravo
Big Vision Consulting
www.brittbravo.com
(510) 757-9684
Skype: bebravo
Twitter: Bbravo
View this presentation on SlideShare
http://www.slideshare.net/Bbravo