How to grow your network using social media and blogging collectives.

1. Blogging for beginners
@ U3AC
Session 1: Blogging for fun, funds and fees
Session 2: Exploring content
Session 3: Growing your audience with social media
Extra session: Blog surgery tba

2. Blog privacy: how to restrict your audience

3. Social media is a new form of mass
media. It is defined as human beings
having conversations and
relationships through the use
of online technology. Promoting a
blog with social media will increase
your reach and audience. Other
benefits include:
•* Low cost
•* Personalisation
•* Flexibility
•* Global reach
•* Measurability
•* SEO
Social Media

4. Facebook
Originated in 2004 as a social network for
recreational use. It has now been embraced
by B2C businesses trying to boost
engagement through competitions and
interactive discussions. Some stats (2017):
• 1.28 billion daily active users
• 1.94 billion monthly active users
•Approximately 85.8% of daily active users
are outside US and Canada.
How to use it
• Create a Business Page (if required)
• Promote events
• Promote sales, promotions and offers
• Get feedback
• Ask questions

5. Has been around since 2007, has 271
million monthly active users and is
available in over 35 languages. It’s
defined as a micro-blogging platform
because of its text restriction to up to
140 characters. Some stats (2016):
• 313 million monthly active users
• 82% of Twitter active users are on
mobile
• 79% of accounts are outside the U.S.
How to use it
•Create a Twitter profile
•Follow influencers, celebrities and media personalities
•Build up your following by offering/retweeting links to good content
•Broadcast blog links
Twitter

6. YouTube is the second largest search engine after Google.
Launched in 2005, it currently boasts over 1 billion unique
users each month. Online videos have moved from
entertainment to education, including “How To” videos. It is
used by mass media agencies to showcase TV adverts - a
one-off, 30-second TV ad does not provide the same viral
potential.
Some stats (2017):
• Over 1 billion users
• Hundreds of millions of hours of videos watched every
day
• Localised in 88 countries, 76 different languages
covering 95% of the world’s internet population
How to use it
• Create a series of videos linked to your blog
• Upload your videos and embed them on your blog
• Use keywords to categorise videos and place a link to your blog
• Spread your videos through other Social Media channels (share button)
YouTube

7. Launched in 2003, LinkedIn is the world’s largest
professional network online. It is a great platform for finding people,
recruiting staff and discussing industry topics. Members are sharing
insights and knowledge with status updates and in groups. Some stats
(2017):
• Over 467 million members in over 200 countries, available in 24
languages
• 67% of LinkedIn members are located outside the U.S.
• Over 40 million students and college graduates
• Over 10 million firms have Company Pages
How to use it:
•Create a company profile – best for B2B (if required)
• Join groups and become involved in discussions
• Connect with employers (if relevant)
• Ask/answer questions or give/ask for recommendations
• Ask for introductions
LinkedIn

8. Fast-growing photo-sharing platforms launched in
2010, with Pinterest prevailing at first and now
being challenged by mobile app Instagram.
Pinterest stats (2017):
• Over 175 million users worldwide
• 50% outside the US
• 80% on mobile
Instagram stats (2017)
• 600 million monthly active users
• 400 million daily active users
How to use Pinterest
• Gather photos, grouped in theme boards. You can link them to a blog.
• Re-pin other users’ photos (the visual equivalent of a retweet)
• Launch a competition and invite users to post their best photos.
How to use Instagram
• Set up an account to share photos. You can edit photos in the app.
• PC extensions will get Instagram on a computer but this is a phone app;
most users share photos from their phones.
• You can build a following by using the photos on your blog. You can have
competitions… This is a channel popular with celebrities.
Pinterest and Instagram

9. How to monetise your blog
http://www.kiddycharts.com/blogging/blogfoster-uk-influencer-marketing/
Bloggers’ networks
• @bloggerrequired - connects brands & bloggers
• http://bloggers-lounge.co.uk/
• http://www.j-sainsbury.co.uk/media/blogger-community/ (food)
• https://www.gransnet.com/
A few communities