Blogging for BusinessBlogging for Business

What is a Blog?What is a Blog? A blog is a type of website, usually maintained by an A blog is a type of website, usually maintained by an

individual with regular entries of commentary, individual with regular entries of commentary, descriptions of events, or other material such as descriptions of events, or other material such as graphics or video. The ability of readers to leave graphics or video. The ability of readers to leave comments in an interactive format is an important part of comments in an interactive format is an important part of many blogs.many blogs.

Types of BlogsTypes of Blogs Personal BlogsPersonal Blogs - Individuals (ie: Dooce.com) - Individuals (ie: Dooce.com) Corporate or Organizational BlogsCorporate or Organizational Blogs - Companies - Companies

(ie: coca-colaconversations.com)(ie: coca-colaconversations.com) Genre BlogsGenre Blogs - Political, Travel, Education, Music, - Political, Travel, Education, Music,

Legal, Family (ie: whitehouse.gov/blog)Legal, Family (ie: whitehouse.gov/blog) Media TypeMedia Type - Video Blogs, Photo Blogs - Video Blogs, Photo Blogs

(ie: photoblog.com)(ie: photoblog.com) DeviceDevice - Mobile Device (aka: moblog), - Mobile Device (aka: moblog),

Live Video (aka: vlogs)Live Video (aka: vlogs)

Why Use a Business Blog?Why Use a Business Blog? Blogs used internally to enhance the communication Blogs used internally to enhance the communication

and culture in a corporation or externally for marketing, and culture in a corporation or externally for marketing, branding or public relations purposes are called branding or public relations purposes are called corporate blogs.corporate blogs.

See http://googleblog.blogspot.com/See http://googleblog.blogspot.com/

Blogging ToolsBlogging Tools

MovableTypeMovableType WordPressWordPress LiveJournalLiveJournal

JoomlaJoomla DrupalDrupal BloggerBlogger

Some of the most popular include:

WordPress, started in 2003, is the most popular blog software in use today, used by 202M websites internationally; 62.8M in the United States.

Companies Using WordPressCompanies Using WordPress YahooYahoo - Powers many blogs they own. - Powers many blogs they own. eBayeBay - Manages eBay’s official website. - Manages eBay’s official website. DiggDigg - Blog is powered by WordPress too. - Blog is powered by WordPress too. FordFord - Runs their official website, using custom themes - Runs their official website, using custom themes

and plugins.and plugins. Wall Street JournalWall Street Journal - The most famous journal in the - The most famous journal in the

world trusts it’s business to a free tool like WordPress.world trusts it’s business to a free tool like WordPress. Others include: People magazine, CNN, NY TimesOthers include: People magazine, CNN, NY Times

http://wordpress.org/showcase/tag/fortune-500/http://wordpress.org/showcase/tag/fortune-500/

WordPress FeaturesWordPress Features Static pages and dynamic Static pages and dynamic

postsposts Themes (site layout)Themes (site layout) CommentingCommenting Spam protection toolsSpam protection tools User registrationUser registration Password protectionPassword protection Hundreds of plugins (site Hundreds of plugins (site

features)features) Easy installation and Easy installation and

upgradesupgrades

Multiple authors Multiple authors Support forumsSupport forums Works with most mobile Works with most mobile

devices like iPhone, devices like iPhone, Blackberry and AndroidBlackberry and Android

Integrates with Twitter, Integrates with Twitter, Facebook and other Facebook and other social networking appssocial networking apps

Open sourceOpen source

... and best of all it's FREE!... and best of all it's FREE!

Types of WordPressTypes of WordPressInstallationsInstallations

WordPress.comWordPress.com It’s free and much easier It’s free and much easier

to setupto setup Everything is taken care Everything is taken care

of: setup, upgrades, of: setup, upgrades, spam, backups, security, spam, backups, security, etc.etc.

Your blog is on hundreds Your blog is on hundreds of servers, so it’s highly of servers, so it’s highly unlikely it will go down unlikely it will go down due to trafficdue to traffic

Your posts are backed up Your posts are backed up automaticallyautomatically

You get extra traffic from You get extra traffic from blogs of the day and tagsblogs of the day and tags

You can find like-minded You can find like-minded bloggers using tag and bloggers using tag and friend surferfriend surfer

Your login is secure Your login is secure (SSL) so no one can get (SSL) so no one can get into your account if you into your account if you use wifiuse wifi

No custom plugins, No custom plugins, themes or coding themes or coding availableavailable

WordPress.orgWordPress.org Ability to upload themesAbility to upload themes Ability to upload pluginsAbility to upload plugins Great communityGreat community Complete control to Complete control to

change code if you’re change code if you’re technically mindedtechnically minded

You need a good web You need a good web host, which generally host, which generally costs $7-12 a month, or costs $7-12 a month, or thousands of dollars per thousands of dollars per month for a high traffic month for a high traffic sitesite

Requires more technical Requires more technical knowledge to set up and knowledge to set up and runrun

You’re responsible for You’re responsible for stopping spamstopping spam

You have to handle You have to handle backupsbackups

You must upgrade the You must upgrade the software manually when software manually when a new version comes outa new version comes out

http://en.support.wordpress.com/http://en.support.wordpress.com/com-vs-org/com-vs-org/

Let’s Get This StartedLet’s Get This StartedImportant: Username will Important: Username will also become part of your also become part of your website address, so choose website address, so choose carefully. Might use your carefully. Might use your own name or the name of own name or the name of your company. You can also your company. You can also purchase a domain name purchase a domain name and use that as your and use that as your website address.website address.

http://en.wordpress.com/signup/http://en.wordpress.com/signup/

Administrative FunctionsAdministrative Functions DashboardDashboard - Stats, - Stats,

Comments, SubscriptionsComments, Subscriptions UpgradesUpgrades - Add a - Add a

Domain, Upload Videos, Domain, Upload Videos, Custom CSS, Add Space, Custom CSS, Add Space, No Ads, Unlimited UsersNo Ads, Unlimited Users

PostsPosts - Edit Posts, Add - Edit Posts, Add Posts, Add Tags, Add Posts, Add Tags, Add CategoriesCategories

MediaMedia - Upload images, - Upload images, MP3 files; Video upgrade MP3 files; Video upgrade allows video uploadsallows video uploads

LinksLinks - Create a list of - Create a list of favorite websitesfavorite websites

PagesPages - Edit and Add - Edit and Add Static PagesStatic Pages

CommentsComments - Administer - Administer CommentsComments

RatingsRatings - Enable/ - Enable/ Administer RatingsAdminister Ratings

PollsPolls - Enable/Create/ - Enable/Create/ Administer PollsAdminister Polls

Administrative FunctionsAdministrative Functions AppearanceAppearance - Administer - Administer

the look and feel of your the look and feel of your websitewebsite

UsersUsers - Administer your - Administer your users, give permissions, users, give permissions, invite usersinvite users

ToolsTools - Special tools, - Special tools, import/export postsimport/export posts

SettingsSettings - Main settings - Main settings for your blogsfor your blogs

Working with PostsWorking with Posts Title your postTitle your post Type out your postType out your post Style postsStyle posts Upload/insert mediaUpload/insert media Tagging postsTagging posts Create categoriesCreate categories PublishPublish

Working with PagesWorking with Pages Create an "About" pageCreate an "About" page Title the pageTitle the page Type out informationType out information PublishPublish

Creating a BlogrollCreating a Blogroll Add links to favorite sitesAdd links to favorite sites Categorize links (ie: family blogs, news sites, search, Categorize links (ie: family blogs, news sites, search,

social networking, etc.)social networking, etc.)

Changing the AppearanceChanging the Appearance Hundreds of pre-designed templates that you can use for Hundreds of pre-designed templates that you can use for

your blog.your blog. Click on any design to preview what your site would look Click on any design to preview what your site would look

like; like; Click on "Activate" to choose it. Click on "Activate" to choose it. Search for "INove" and then activate it.Search for "INove" and then activate it.

Working with WidgetsWorking with Widgets In preview mode, the right In preview mode, the right

hand sidebar is made up hand sidebar is made up of widgets. of widgets.

Widgets are a simple way Widgets are a simple way to arrange various to arrange various elements of your sidebar elements of your sidebar content. content.

Under Appearance, we'll Under Appearance, we'll click on the Widgets tab click on the Widgets tab to control the order of our to control the order of our sidebar elements and sidebar elements and what types of information what types of information we want to show up. we want to show up.

Drag sections from the Drag sections from the left to the right side, left to the right side, where you can drop them where you can drop them and reorder them.and reorder them.

Let's add a search, Let's add a search, archives, Flickr, Twitter, archives, Flickr, Twitter, Links and Meta.Links and Meta.

Other custom Other custom appearance controls appearance controls include: extras, options, include: extras, options, fonts and css.fonts and css.

Controlling UsersControlling Users Authors and UsersAuthors and Users - allows you to control the type of - allows you to control the type of

access users will have for your website.access users will have for your website. AdministratorAdministrator - Somebody who has access to all the - Somebody who has access to all the

administration feature; including deleting the entire websiteadministration feature; including deleting the entire website EditorEditor - Somebody who can publish posts, manage posts - Somebody who can publish posts, manage posts

as well as manage other people's posts, etc.as well as manage other people's posts, etc. AuthorAuthor - Somebody who can publish and manage their - Somebody who can publish and manage their

own postsown posts Contributor Contributor - Somebody who can write and manage their - Somebody who can write and manage their

posts but not publish postsposts but not publish posts SubscriberSubscriber - Somebody who can read - Somebody who can read

comments/comment/receive news letters, etc. comments/comment/receive news letters, etc.

Using the WebsiteUsing the Website Everyone goes to their own websitesEveryone goes to their own websites Comments on each others’ websitesComments on each others’ websites Editing the site and using RSS feedsEditing the site and using RSS feeds Using the top dashboardUsing the top dashboard

Publish to Facebook/TwitterPublish to Facebook/Twitter Go to Dashboard --> My Blogs --> Go to Dashboard --> My Blogs -->

Check Facebook and Twitter (need accounts)Check Facebook and Twitter (need accounts)

Adding a Payment SystemAdding a Payment System If your business offers services, you can accept online If your business offers services, you can accept online

payments through PayPal. payments through PayPal. Need to set up an account and then add a payment Need to set up an account and then add a payment

button to your website. button to your website. The PayPal site will walk you through creating a "Buy The PayPal site will walk you through creating a "Buy

Now" button and then will provide code to copy and Now" button and then will provide code to copy and paste into a page on your site.paste into a page on your site.

Adding a Photo GalleryAdding a Photo Gallery Earlier we added a Flickr widget to your sidebar. Earlier we added a Flickr widget to your sidebar. Create a Flickr account and then add photos to your Create a Flickr account and then add photos to your

Flickr account. Flickr account. Those photos will show up on your website.Those photos will show up on your website.

AddThis WidgetAddThis Widget Goto the AddThis.com website, and go through the Goto the AddThis.com website, and go through the

setup to Get a Button. setup to Get a Button. Then we'll add the code to the sidebar in a TEXT widget. Then we'll add the code to the sidebar in a TEXT widget. The title will be Share This and the code will go into the The title will be Share This and the code will go into the

body of the widget. body of the widget. Now the site can be shared with other social networking Now the site can be shared with other social networking

services.services.

Adding a YouTube VideoAdding a YouTube Video Once you've added your videos to the YouTube site, you Once you've added your videos to the YouTube site, you

can post them into your website fairly easily. can post them into your website fairly easily. You'll create a post for your site, using the media tool You'll create a post for your site, using the media tool

you can embed a video into your site by using the you can embed a video into your site by using the following format, from URL: [youtube=URL]following format, from URL: [youtube=URL]

Update from a Update from a Blackberry or iPhoneBlackberry or iPhone

Download the app through your phone; you'll need to Download the app through your phone; you'll need to enter your Wordpress.com username/password to set enter your Wordpress.com username/password to set the app up and then you can post simple posts from your the app up and then you can post simple posts from your phone to your blog.phone to your blog.

Overview of WordPress.orgOverview of WordPress.org For a more fuller featured version of Wordpress that For a more fuller featured version of Wordpress that

includes the ability to host your own website, add any of includes the ability to host your own website, add any of the plugins available, any of the themes available, the first the plugins available, any of the themes available, the first step is to find a host for your site:step is to find a host for your site:

Bluehost.com or Dreamhost.com offer a one-click setup of Bluehost.com or Dreamhost.com offer a one-click setup of Wordpress websites for a low price. These hosts provide Wordpress websites for a low price. These hosts provide full control of your website including the ability to create full control of your website including the ability to create custom email addresses, domains, etc. You should only custom email addresses, domains, etc. You should only go this route if you're confident in your ability to navigate a go this route if you're confident in your ability to navigate a hosting site. It can be very complex and there's a potential hosting site. It can be very complex and there's a potential to lose your website; however, if you do this, you'll have to lose your website; however, if you do this, you'll have the complete version of Wordpress with every feature the complete version of Wordpress with every feature available and full support of the Wordpress community.available and full support of the Wordpress community.