Cincinnati Women Bloggers

If you weren’t able to join us Saturday, attendees at CWB’s April meeting were treated to a presentation on developing rich content and finding your blogging voice by local bloggers Michelle of Write Technology and Julie of WineMeDineMe (in Cincinnati).

During the meeting, which was sponsored by the Cincinnati Enquirer, Michelle and Julie shared numerous tips and insights to help bloggers find, or further develop their blogging voice.  

Tips included:

• Skim headlines related to your blog topic/niche to find news stories to share with your readers.
• Set up Google Alerts for phrases or topics you cover.
• Stay true to your voice. If you aren’t passionate about it, it will be hard to write about.
• Expose your blog to new audiences, invite other bloggers to guest post on your blog. This is a great tool if you are wanting to provide content on your blog when out of town, under the weather or you just need a break.
• Consistency is important. Michelle and Julie recommended blogging at least 3 times a week the first 6 months.
• If you are approached by companies to write about their products or services, it’s OK. Just be sure to disclose the relationship.
• If you find you need a break, let your readers know. They’ll understand. Don’t just disappear.
• Julie and Michelle recommended posting to your blog in the morning.  Many individuals catch up on their blog reading during  their lunch hour.
• Platforms like Blogger and Wordpress are great blogging resources and they are free.
• If you find yourself dealing with a comment Troll, ignore them.  No need to encourage bad behavior.
• Your writing should reflect who you are. Be conversational. Engage with your readers.
• It’s a good idea to include photos with posts. It breaks up the page and grabs your readers attention. Images also help tell the story.
• Use spellcheck and then re-read post for errors.
• Photo rights: Always get permission before using photos found online. Flickr is a great resource for Creative Commons photos.

In addition to their tips, Michelle and Julie shared with us the Church of England’s 10 Commandments of Blogging. Apparently, our blogging breatheren in England could not “keep it clean” so to speak so the Church stepped in to regulate their online behavior.

Ten commandments for bloggers:

1. You shall not put your blog before your integrity
2. You shall not make an idol of your blog
3. You shall not misuse your screen name by using your anonymity to sin
4. Remember the Sabbath day by taking one day off a week from your blog
5. Honour your fellow-bloggers above yourselves and do not give undue significance to their mistakes
6. You shall not murder someone else’s honour, reputation or feelings
7. You shall not use the web to commit or permit adultery in your mind
8. You shall not steal another person’s content
9. You shall not give false testimony against your fellow-blogger
10. You shall not covet your neighbour’s blog ranking. Be content with your own content

Finally, I wanted to take a moment to highlight our attendees who had blogs. If you attended and aren’t included below, please shoot me an email (Shannanb(at)gmail.com) and I’ll get it added.

• Jeanne – Race to the Middle &  NewMediacy
• Verria – Good Health Coach
• Teresa - Real Living
• Jane – Work and Joy
• Shannan – Mommy Bits
• Debba – Girlfriendology
• Amybeth – Research Goddess
• Heather – Little Miss Know it All
• Christina – Nearly the Bionic Woman
• Jenny - Recycled Bin
• Sandy – You Had Me At Arf
• Fabien – Sentient Cincinnati
• Erin Marie - Don’t Call Me Mrs.
• Jami – Living Cincinnati & Encore Cincinnati
• Michelle – My Wine Education & Write Technology
• Julie – WineMe, DineMe (In Cincinnati)

A big thank you to Chris Graves and the Cincinnati Enquirer for sponsoring our meeting and to Julie and Michelle for presenting.   Stay tuned for details on our next meeting on Saturday, May 30; location TBD.

Shannan
www.mommybits.net

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