Blogging: An Editor's View

Kit O'Connell (@KitOConnell / kitoconnell@pobox.com), MyFDL Editor Explains

What makes a good blog post?

In the future, we get much of our news from the Internet. But how do you catch the online editors' eye?

Bob Woodward Wax Dummy, Madam Tussauds.Photo by Cliff.

Online Attention Spans

People choose what to read or move on quickly.

Short posts are better than longer posts. Break very long articles into series instead. Consider a "Read More" tag. Divide information into bite sized chunks: Sub Headings "3 Things..." articles

Quality Writing

Proofread & spell check your post. If you copy/paste from a word processor, clean

up your text. Write maturely -- avoid unnecessary curse

words, slang, excessive acronyms, mud-slinging nicknames.

Know your Sources. Call out targets by name (Jane Hamsher).

Internet Journalism is Multimedia

Citizen Journalist Tim Pool (@TimCast).Photo by Joe Lustri.

Add Media To Your Blog

Every post should have a photo, image or video.

Format photos & videos attractively (right justified on MyFDL).

Short, topical videos are often better than longer ones, when possible.

Use Creative Commons or Public Domain photos.

Amplify your Message with Social Media

Image by Danilo Ramos

Amplify your Message

Both Twitter & Facebook are valuable. Facebook is about sharing with friends. Twitter messages are more public and can

travel further & faster. Use multiple social networks but tailor your

message for each. Make use of hashtags & targeted messages on

Twitter.

#Hashtags

Publicize your Hashtags ahead of time. Assemble a team to tweet with you, on the

ground & #Cyber99. Piggy back on other appropriate hashtags. Be consistent. RT others' messages & they'll amplify yours.

Targeting Tweeters Identify key Twitter accounts to reach with your

message. Target key people with individual @Mentions. Try supportive celebrities, politely. Call 'em Out! Use public mentions to add

Twitter direct action to meatspace direct action. Avoid the wrath of Twitter: Don't spam a hapless celebrity. Don't use too many @Mentions, mix it up.

#1 Social Media Tip: Don't spread drama through official channels!

Image by Mindaugas Danys

More from Kit Submit Occupy & Activism News to My FDL

(my.firedoglake.com). Kit O'Connell's Twitter 101 Guide:

http://bit.ly/OATXTweets101 Kit on the Internet: Approximately 8,000 Words (kitoconnell.com) Twitter @KitOConnell Facebook http://facebook.com/kitoconnell LinkedIn http://linkedin.com/in/kitoconnell

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