It's a fact that other social media like Facebook and Twitter have drawn some people away from blogging, but others have seized the opportunity to use a blog as the central point around which their other social media orbit. There's still nothing as effective as a blog in creating your brand, differentiating yourself from your competitors, and establishing your expertise and credibility with your target audience.
Applicable Job Roles: webmaster, web developer, project manager, blogger, social media specialist, digital content producer, writer.
Week 1 – The State of the Blogosphere
Who's blogging? About what?
Why you need a blog
Blogging in the Facebook Age
Week 2 – Good Looks, Good Links
Why a blog's appearance is as important as its content
The role of images and links in blogs and articles
The SEO connection: blogging for bodies, not bots (while keeping the search engines happy)
Week 3 – Be the Blog
Developing your own style
Does content determine the audience, or does the audience determine the content?
Ways to avoid blog failure
Week 4 – If You've Got It, Promote It
Tips on how to attract and keep readers
Generating promotion-worthy content topic ideas
The what, why and how of Google Authorship
Week 5 – DIY Editing and Law Enforcement
Learning to read your blog as a reader, not a writer
Get it right before you write: research, fact checking and intellectual property rights
Laws that bloggers need to know
Week 6 – You Are the Brand
Using your blog to build your brand
The importance of a blog mission statement
Blogs as social media
Prerequisites
Good working knowledge of the concepts of web writing. Having completed a course such as Writing Web Content (B123) is desirable, though not required. Previous experience with blog applications will be helpful, but is not required.
Requirements
An application (such as Blogger or WordPress) for writing your assignments. If you don't already have a blog, you will be provided sources for free, user friendly applications.
Books:
Due to the speed with which things change in the online world, all required reading will be in the form of online documents.
Your place in the course is confirmed by your payment. Introductory courses are intended for students with no experience in the subject matter and are seeking beginner level training.
Refund Policy: Please read our Terms and Refund Policy before registering for this course.
Additional Cost: Book and software might be required for the course. Read the Requirements and Book section for more information. Course fee does not include the book and software cost .
How eClasses Work:Instructors post lectures (text-based, no video or audio), reading selections, and hands-on assignments once a week in the online classroom. Students can discuss the assignments with the instructor and amongst themselves in the classroom area. This format has no set meeting time, which allows students to attend class at a time most convenient to them, yet still provides logically organized communication between class participants. Students can apply for the completion certificate after finishing the class.
Open Courses:
No other sessions are scheduled for this course. You can add to your wish list and you will be notified when other sessions are scheduled.
Instructor's Profile
Dave White has been developing and designing websites and managing web content since 1998. He has been a blogger and feature writer for About.com since 2005. He is also a Featured Contributor for Yahoo! Arts and Entertainment. He has earned the eClasses Web Technologies certification and has developed and taught eClasses courses in writing and editing web content. Prior to concentrating on web content, he previously wrote for radio, TV and magazines.
Before you register for this class, please read the Outline, Prerequisites, Requirements, Books, and Refund Policy sections carefully.
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