Download - 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’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• Help clients sustain their website by identifying outdated, stagnant content and guiding clients to replace it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

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

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 writing, but not speaking

extemporaneously?

Love speaking, but don’t want video?

(or a combination thereof)

#3READ. A LOT.

feedly.com

reader.aol.com

reederapp.com

#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

[email protected]

WHERE TO FIND ME ON THE INTERNETS

reusserdesign.com / welfle.com