Featuring veteran journalist, Amy Vernon

Maddie Grant, CAE of SocialFish

Finding the storiesFinding the stories

• Google Alerts:• Set up alerts for your main keywords• Google sends you an email once a day of links to

appropriate articles

• RSS• Choose your feed reader (I like Google Reader) and

subscribe to appropriate blogs/news sites

• Forums• Find forums in your niche/genre and join

• Twitter Search• See what people are saying about what you’re covering

Tips & Tricks

Types of storiesTypes of stories

TargetedTargeted

Any piece of news that relates to your niche/genre. They can be quickly recapped and take little effort. • Industry happenings• New releases• Personnel changes and moves

Writing Time: LOWSocial Potential: LOWValue: Helps share important news, caters to your core audience, boosts SEO and helps keep the blog filled.

FunnyFunny

A play off the news, but with an eye toward the absurd.• Start from the news, but focus on the funny

Writing Time: MEDIUMSocial Potential: HIGHValue: Shows a light-hearted side, ability to bring in traffic, boost SEO and expose you to new audiences.

CommentaryCommentary

The approach covers popular news stories, but makes it your own by expressing opinion.• Covers the news from a specific angle. • On a news release – is this a departure from the norm? Has this worked in the past?

Writing Time: HIGHSocial Potential: MEDIUMValue: Establishes your thought leadership, boosts SEO.

What WorksWhat Works

InfographicsInfographics

• Don’t just throw up a bunch of stylized text

InfographicsInfographics

• Share information in an engaging, informative way

InfographicsInfographics

• Visualize data• Make numbers tangible

VideoVideo• Video is huge• It doesn’t have to be expensive• When it goes viral, it goes HUGE

ListsLists

• Top 10 is played out. Try top 9 or 17. Or 87.• Superlatives (best, ugliest, smallest)• Appeal to nostalgia• Riff off current events• Incorporate memes

TimelinesTimelines• “Evolution” (of a logo, a singer, etc.)• Design is important• Memes are still good• Yes, this is a type of infographic

PhotosPhotos• Large, attractive photos.• Slideshows need to be short, or very fast-moving• UGC (user-generated content) encouraging readers to send in pics.• Then & Now • “Separated at birth?”

Note: the photo above had 102K views on StumbleUpon

How-toHow-to• Teach your readers something they don’t know.• Teach your readers something they didn’t know they needed to know.

Making it Making it happenhappen

RelevantRelevant

• Obvious linkbait is obvious.• Can be funny, irreverent, but not off-topic• i.e.: Write about topics that make sense for your audience.

ComprehensiveComprehensive

• If you’re gonna do a list, make it cover the subject.• Why do top 10 if you can do top 34?• People like learning things they didn’t know.

ConsumableConsumable

• You can go heavy on text if you break it up with images • Vary what you offer• People have short attention spans, particularly online (darn those kids and their MTV!)

Final tipsFinal tips• Link out. People will notice, visit and maybe even link to you.• Illustrate whenever possible.• K.I.S.S.: Keep it simple, silly• Emulate content you like. • Look at your piece before you post — would you read it if you happened up on it?

Contact meContact meAmy Vernon@AmyVernonavernon@internetmedialabs.comhttp://facebook.com/AmyVernonhttp://linkedin.com/in/AmyVernonhttp://internetmedialabs.com

September 27 – Your New Content StrategyOn Demand – Google+ for Nonprofits On Demand – Pinterest for Nonprofits On Demand – Marketing in the Round

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