Purpose of blogging

Business blogging is the cornerstone of a well conceived online marketing presence.  It allows you to connect with your audience and educate them in a way that you cannot do in 140 characters or just with images.  This allows you to demonstrate your expertise, as well as generate more search engine traffic to your site.

Skill

While writing is a skill that does not come to everyone, there are ways of crafting a message for people who do not view themselves as natural writers.  Blogging is a tool to communicate and for business and marketing and communication projects, it is now essential.

The technicalities of putting a blog together as part of a social media strategy, means that much of your online presence can be automated.  This does not give you the option however, of abdicating responsibility for nurturing relationships with those who need to engage with you through this medium.

Course content

• Both the marketing strategy of blogging as well as the issue of writing content is covered.

• Why we blog
• Persuading or educating clients
• Entertaining clients

• The tools to use to blog
• Technical issues
• Connecting to the rest of your social and digital media
• Automating your posts
• RSS feeds

• Other peoples blog posts
• Who to follow
• Etiquette

• How to find inspiration for topic ideas
• How to generate lots of topic ideas
• Your theme
• Creating a series or a story

• Using an Editorial Calendar
• Blogging with someone else or a team
• Using different styles
• Using different media

Course information

• The course is 4 hours long and obviously tight packed with information.
• Please bring your laptops and 3G or other internet access with you.
• Comprehensive session notes and guidelines will be provided for you to refer to afterwards.  They will also include some case studies, step-by-step instructions and best practice examples.
• A light breakfast or lunch is included (depending on the time slot).
• Course Attendance Certificates available on request.
• The course costs R950 per delegate.  Discounts are available for early payment or multiple delegates from the same company.
• The presenter is Charlotte Kemp, an experienced social media strategist and trainer.
• Public courses are presented in KZN, Western Cape and Gauteng.  In house courses can also be arranged.