Seeing as how tomorrow’s Veterans Day, I thought for today, we’d focus our roundup on content from blogging veterans; what it’s like, what their tips are, and how they keep going. WUL is coming up on five years (five! FIVE!), and I remember how, when I was just getting started blogging, I wondered how people could keep at it for years and years and years. I guess this is how.
1. Had your content stolen? Get over it.
Why: This is something you’re going to run into if you’ve been publishing content online for a while. This is an interesting POV from Alisa Meredith for Mark Schaefer’s {grow} blog.
2. How to write a compelling headline
Why: I’ve known Gini Dietrich for many years now, and the one thing about her that never ceases to amaze me is how she keeps. Coming. Up. With. Good. Content. And this headline speaks for itself.
3. Here’s how you make marketing people love
Why: If you’re blogging as part of your marketing efforts, is it in the TOFU, MOFU or BOFU stage(s)? You’ll have to read this great post from Jay Baer to understand that acronym soup, but trust me, this is one you don’t want to miss.
4. How to incorporate SEO and influencer content
Why: Lee Odden has literally written the book on optimization for our industry. This post walks you through how to create and distribute content strategically… something we are all trying to do.
5. 5 tips to liven up long stories
Why: Geoff Livingston is one of the earliest bloggers I personally am friends with. He is a remarkable photographer as well, and there are a lot of lessons in how he’s structured this post.
6. 12 ways to improve your digital storytelling
Why: Jim Dougherty is a master blogger (which is why I’m so happy he’s part of the WUL blogging team). This is yet another great post for Cision.
7. Quick tip: build a multi-media knowledge base
Why: Rosemary O’Neill is one of the smartest people I know. You should check out what she’s doing with Social Strata, especially if you are looking to build and manage an online community, but I just loved this post about building a knowledge base. That’s really what your blog is.
The photo you see is of my grandfather, who was a career Air Force officer. I still miss him. It sounds like such a cliché, but we can never thank our veterans (my father and husband included) enough, for all that they do.
Frank_Strong You’re welcome to your opinion. However, there is no need to be rude, or mean, and I felt your earlier comment was both.
FYI the word “veteran” does also refer to people who have engaged in a discipline (not necessarily related to the military) long enough to be considered experienced.
For the record, I saw a comment come through to my email from someone with the handle “BLSS,” but couldn’t find it when I clicked through. I didn’t delete it, just in case someone else saw it and is wondering what happened to it.
Shonali Sorry if I hurt your feelings Shonali. Let me try restating my objection: You published a post about veterans that wasn’t actually about veterans the day before Veteran’s Day. That’s a pretty clear example of newsjacking or tapping into the trends as we used to call it. Maybe a post about bloggers is a way of saluting vets but it sure seems like a stretch to me. A post about veteran bloggers a week later wouldn’t have drawn a peep from me. Now if someone wanted to argue that there shouldn’t be a Veteran’s Day…well hey, that’s just the way it is.
Frank_Strong Frank, you’re entitled to your opinion. However, I am very hurt that you use words like “bait and switch” and imply that was my motive. You are one of the people who actually knows me personally, and at the very least, you could have given me the benefit of the doubt. The tone of your comment is really hurtful. Any opinions you have are absolutely your prerogative, but to convert them into my (supposed) motives is not right, nor is it a kind thing to do.
Shonali It’s quite challenging to find something wrong with
admiration but it’s actually the timing I question. You clearly intended for
this post to be part of the Veteran’s Day cycle and yet at the very core it had
nothing to do with the essence or spirit of that federal holiday.
By essence and spirit I mean the duty that comes with
wearing the uniform of one’s country and the valuation of service above self. While
I’m certain there are some veterans that blog, I’m also certain bloggers are
not all veterans not matter how long they’ve been blogging or how good they are
at it.
This post, at the very least, is a bait and switch. But what
do I know? Heck let’s add this to a list
of creative blog ideas and sell it as strategy for brands to try in the future.
Next year, I’d like to see some posts about
“veterans of the oil and gas industry” or “veterans of pharma” or “veteran execs
that take home the biggest bank.”
It’s your blog and you are of course free to publish whatever
you’d like. I’m merely continuing the conversation
with more authenticity and transparency than the situation probably merits. It just hit a nerve and I’ve always struggled
to keep my mouth shut when I probably should.
Frank_Strong Sorry you were disappointed, Frank. I hope you found other Veterans Day-related content that was more up your alley. I chose to highlight a few of the veterans of the blogosphere I admire, and can’t see what is wrong with that. Regardless, I do appreciate you stopping by.
MeghanMBiro leaderswest danielnewmanUV BADConsulting bowden2bowden kmueller62 ShellyKramer TY for sharing the #WUL roundup!
[…] shonaliburke.com […]
You know, Shonali, I read this post with great anticipation but then realized it had nothing to do with Veteran’s Day. Or what Veteran’s Day stands for. And I was very disappointed.
“Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery,” is a healthy way of looking at Point 1. Thanks also for pointing me to Alisa’s post.