Trib U: Creating Your Own Blog: Part Three, March 20

 
You’ve already started your own blog—now it’s time to grow your audience. In this intermediate-level class, learn to write blog posts that get shared. Then learn how to promote your blog using social media and SEO (search engine optimization).
 
In three hours, you will learn how to:
Write attention-grabbing headlines that also increase your SEO
Focus your writing into digestible blog posts
Find photos that you have the right to re-use online
Ask questions of your readers to encourage interactions… Show more
Respond quickly and effectively to your readers’ comments
Install widgets on your blog that link to the top social networks
Integrate your blog into your Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter accounts
Use the top social networks to find new readers for your blog
Use free SEO tools to research what people are searching for—and thus interested in learning more about
Use Google Analytics, a free tool, to understand how readers are finding your blog through Google search engine.
Our class is a lively mix of discussions, presentations and short tutorials. A computer is not required for this class. At the start of class, attendees will receive a printed handout that follows the presentation. Afterwards, they will be emailed a PDF of the complete presentation.
Our social media classes are designed and led by Tracy Samantha Schmidt, manager of educational programs at the Chicago Tribune. In the last year, Tracy has taught more than 2,000 people how to use social media effectively. Previously, Tracy was the editorial director of ChicagoNow, the Tribune’s network of 350 blogs.  She also taught several graduate-level classes on social media at DePaul University and has presented at conferences nationwide. 

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