The document provides 3 ways for bloggers to grow their blog with groups: 1) Start a blog carnival where bloggers write on a monthly topic and share each other's posts. Consistency is key. 2) Form a critique/mastermind group of 5-7 bloggers who give feedback on draft posts using a checklist. This improves writing quality before publishing. 3) Organize blogger meetups on Meetup.com to find others and potentially create your own meetup group to build community. Working with others through groups engages more readers and supports bloggers.

1. 3 Ways to
GROW
YOUR BLOG
WITH GROUPS

2. Hello, I’m Tea (aka The Chef)
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•
•
•
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20+ years in
marketing
Author of
“Attract & Feed a
Hungry Crowd”
Passionate about
food & stories
Proprietress of
StoryBistro.com
@teasilvestre

3. First, Make Sure…
1.
Your blog addresses a REAL
need in the market place (do
your research!)
2.
You've done the requisite
homework to understand
your Ideal Client/Ideal
Reader

4. Everybody deals with
Not
Enough
Eyeballs

5. You Compete w/ 80+ million blogs
In 2012, there were 160+ million blogs in
existence.
Today, more than 50% are inactive.
-Wikipedia

6. Everyone is an Influencer
 Don’t discount your peers and
colleagues
 “Big Name” Bloggers aren’t The
Answer
 Today’s B & C-Listers are
tomorrow’s A-Listers

7. #1: Twist on an Oldie
The Blog
Carnival

8. What’s a Blog Carnival?
A blog post that contains links to
other articles covering a specific
topic.
Most are hosted by a rotating list of
frequent contributors and serve to
both generate new posts by
contributors and highlight new
bloggers posting in that subject area.

9. WordCarnivals.com
The Word Carnival Group

10. After 1 Year Together, We…
 Rotate the Leadership
 Pick a monthly topic together
 Commit to writing 10 out of 12 months
 Comment on each others’ posts
 Share via social media
 Create your own website
 Start an email list (publish via RSS)
 Publish eBooks to give away

11. What to Look For…
 Quality writing!
 Regular posts (2x/month)
 Similar audience
 Size (look at social media)
 Type (same readers?)
 Fresh Voice/Perspective

12. Be Consistent
 The Leader Must Lead
 Pick one day per month (e.g. Last
Wednesday)
 Reminders
 Membership Guidelines &
Expectations
 Communication!

14. #2: Focus on the Writing
The Critique/
Mastermind
Group

15. Polish Prior to Publish
You could spend ALL DAY posting and
emailing links to your blog. If your writing
sucks, your readers …
 Won’t Finish Reading
 Won’t Share
 Won’t Comment
 Won’t Turn Into Subscribers

16. Fiction Writers & Playwrights
 Small Groups work Best (5-7)
 Gather to share pieces of their work
 Give constructive feedback
 Brainstorm ways to approach topics
 Provide a supportive environment
 Publish together

17. Critique Checklist
 Does the title/headline hook you?
 Does the opening line pull you in?
 Is the point of the post clear?
 Does the post fulfill the promise of the headline?
 Is it interesting?
 Is it easy to read?
 Does it tell a story?
 Is it relevant to your Ideal Client?
 Is there a call to action?
(Full checklist avail by email: tea@thewordchef.com)

18. Support After Publishing
 Comments
 Social Media Sharing
 Mastermind larger projects (books!)

19. #3 Twist on Networking
The Meet-up!

20. Find ‘Em
 Google: Your City + Bloggers
 Check Meetup.com

21. Create Your Own

22. It Won’t Be Perfect
 People will come and go – always be
on the lookout for the right new blood
 Create ways to build community (e.g.,
private Facebook group, teambuilding and purely social events)
 Communicate, communicate,
communicate

23. Questions?
•
What’s one thing you will implement
immediately?
•
What did you find unclear or want more
examples of?
•
Other burning questions?
•
Talk to me! @teasilvestre (Twitter)

24. Join Our Group:
Learn More:
http://bit.ly/blog-master