NEPA BlogCon 2014: Session 5 - Jim Cheney, Uncovering PA
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Transcript of NEPA BlogCon 2014: Session 5 - Jim Cheney, Uncovering PA
The Story of UncoveringPAAnd What You Can Learn From It
Speaker: Jim CheneyUncoveringPA.com
Finding My Niche
• No blog from visitPA• Only a few blogs from other visitor bureaus• No bloggers covering all of PA and just PA• Few print guidebooks for areas outside of Philly
Refining the Niche
• Asked what people thought of when I said “Pennsylvania”
• Travel experience gave me a unique perspective
• Honesty very important • Visual content was lacking on other sites
What’s Your Niche?
Problems I Faced in the Beginning
• Didn’t feel I knew enough to be an expert on PA travel
• No one else was doing exactly what I was doing
• Didn’t know anyone in the industry• SEO issues from established sites
SEO Problem
When I First Started…
• I thought videos would be very popular• I thought popular places would be top posts• I thought site’s signature would be honesty
However, I’ve Learned that…
• videos aren’t that popular• off-beat places do much better• outdoor attractions tend to be the most
popular• site is known for finding unknown places• the more in-depth the better
Adjust as You Go
• Always be willing to tweak your blog• Never be afraid to try something new• Conduct a survey to ask your readers what
they want• Targeted marketing is invaluable• Use Google Analytics, Facebook metrics, etc. to find out what your audience wants
5 Things I Learned
• Treat your blog like a business from day 1• Always be thinking about your niche and
audience • Maximize your strengths and overcome your
weaknesses• Marketing is important (and will be even more
important in the future)• Be persistent
Have Questions?
[email protected]: @UncoveringPA