Think Like a Reporter: How to discover content and make it your own
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Think like a REPORTER! Struggling to find content for your blog? with Andy Welfle
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No, we aren't talking about stealing or copying others' content. We'll discuss how to rapidly become experts in your field and curate good content for your readers. And in order to produce some real value, we will explore ways to discover content, process it, and format it in ways to help and inform your audience. With consistent application, you'll become your audience's go-to resource. Please come with a basic understanding of social networks and blogs, and a willingness to actively seek and write web content. Andy Welfle is a content strategiest for Reusser Design, a small but innovative web development company based in Roanoke, minutes from Fort Wayne. With a passion for writing and an obssession with wooden pencils, he maintains a blog celebrating them at Woodclinched.com. He also contributes to Medium.com and other various and sundry spots in the back corners of the web.
Transcript of Think Like a Reporter: How to discover content and make it your own
Think like a REPORTER!
Struggling to findcontent for your blog?
with Andy Welfle
INTRODUCTIONS
• Your name
• What you like to be known for
• How you use social media? (Business / Personal / Both)
• Struggles that you have in creating content
A little bit about me.
I like GIFs.
I like GIFs.
I’m a journalism geek.
I like wooden pencils.
(In fact, I have a blog about them.)
What does a content strategist do?
• Work with web developers to plan structure of website, optimized to allow content to help clients meet their goal
• Planning, development, execution and management of content — written, or in other
media
• Help clients sustain their website by identifying outdated, stagnant content and guiding clients to replace it
Think like a reporter!Reporters:
• Are expected to seek out and identify a story
• Gather information quickly and accurately
• Write in a compelling yet
unbiased manner
Think like a reporter!Reporters:
• Are expected to seek out and identify a story
• Gather information quickly and accurately
• Write in a compelling yet
unbiased manner
ASSUMPTIONS
• You understand the value of refreshing the content on your blog or social media presence
• You are willing and able
to find the time to create content
• You have an existing—if basic—web and social infrastructure
ASSUMPTIONS
• You understand the value of refreshing the content on your blog or social media presence
• You are willing and able
to find the time to create content
• You have an existing—if basic—web and social infrastructure
6STEPS TO DISCOVERING
CONTENTby
THINKING LIKE A REPORTER
#1KNOW YOUR
AUDIENCE
Facebook Insights
Facebook Insights
The Internet and American Life Projectby the Pew Research Center
pewinternet.org
“Write for the Kansas City milkman”
— HL Stevenson, United Press International,
1965
• Write simply (though not dumbly)
• Make sure writing is friendly and approachable, but professional
• This can vary depending on the publication
#2KNOW YOURMEDIUM
Good at speaking, but not at writing?
Good at speaking, but not at writing?
Good at writing, but not speaking
extemporaneously?
Good at writing, but not speaking
extemporaneously?
Love speaking, but don’t want video?
Love speaking, but don’t want video?
(or a combination thereof)
(or a combination thereof)
#3READ. A LOT.
feedly.com
reader.aol.com
reederapp.com
#4FIND AN ANGLE
#4FIND AN ANGLE
LINK BLOG
ANATOMY OF A
GREAT LINK BLOG POST
From the Reusser Design blog:
bit.ly / linkblogpost( )
Headline
Opening Paragraph
Block Quote
Your Commentary(if any)
Attribution
#5ROLL OUT AN
EDITORIAL CALENDAR
#6STICK TO IT!
Tips to stay productive
• Plan out your week ahead of time
• Remove distractions while composing (Turn off social notifications)
• Compose during your productive hours, and publish during peak hours
• Front-load your work
(Lifehacker.com has many more, and better, tips to stay productive.)
THANK YOU!Questions?
@awelfle
linkedin.com/in/awelfle
WHERE TO FIND ME ON THE INTERNETS
reusserdesign.com / welfle.com
