Blogging and Content Marketing Training Course

I Introduction to Blogging

This lesson is an introduction to the course and into the world of blogs. We discuss some of the influential bloggers that continue to be so and start to introduce the idea of how to best manage your blog content, by looking at some important practices for bloggers.We discuss the impact blogs can have now with case studies and looking at how it has evolved as a medium. We are also going to begin to look at the various platforms to consider setting up on.What is a blog post?Why should you tag and categorise your contentBuilding the foundation for success

II Content Planning and Content Curation

Planning your content strategy has many moving parts and one important element is to curate content from sources that are relevant and you trust. We show how to find and manage this content to add a valuable arm to your growing digital strategy.What is content curation and how it can help you develop your content strategy70/20/10 RulePutting your best foot forward with a content plan

III The Importance of SEO

Search Engine Optimisation is an important component of optimising your blog so that the audience that you want can find you. Social media gets all the headlines but SEO still has a massive impact on the success of an individual blog. So, it is important to cover yourself and understand the basics of SEO to give your blog that extra boost it deserves.The importance of Keywords in your contentWhat you shouldn’t do!Write with SEO in mind, but not for crawlers

IV Should You Start A Vlog?

This is not a passing fad for teens. Vlogging/Vloggers are amassing numbers that eclipse big budget Hollywood movies. Learn about the power of Vlogging and why it has to be considered when starting out. What is best practice for creating vlog content and why you don’t need a big budget?The equipment you need for Vlogging is as important as creating an engaging personable quality to your blogs. We will analyse the best of the best and look to replicate some of the principles that make them so good.

V Content Marketing 101

Your platform will be determined by the type of content that you create. If you are writing on Medium, creating videos for YouTube or simply writing posts on your company blog, the best content is planned content. We will look at what content marketing is and give you a foundation in understanding the form that suits you.The best content should be natural, reactive and engaging and it doesn’t need a big marketing budget to create it. We will look at some examples of blogs that constantly create great content and you will understand why developing a plan enhances your chance at online success.

VI How to Monetize Your Blog

Blogs are no longer a diary for your thoughts as they have become a real viable source of income. We take a look at the various ways that you can monetize your blog and at some of those that have already done so.Advertising within your blogSponsored content, cross promotion and guest writingBuilding a loyal readership and product promotion

VII Creating a Compelling Personality For Your Content

Learn about why you should wholly embrace your own opinion when creating content for your blog. We look at the components of your blog that will compel your audience to return for a second and third visit. You will learn to control your tone and look at adding character to your content.How to connect with your audienceBecoming an authority and a trusted sourceLearn how to resonate with your audience

VIII Managing A Community Of Online Followers

Once your blog is starting to gather a little pace, and you can see that you are gaining traction with an audience, we look at why we should engage with that audience. When you are creating interesting and compelling content, there will be both advocates and critics of your opinions and content. We look at some examples of great communication dealing with some of negative commentary.Handling negative commentersControl is impossible but engagement is essentialThe emergence of the person behind the blog

EXAM

Weekly quizzes are provided by Shaw Academy to candidates for validating their knowledge.