Guest post by Johanna Baker Dowdell
My first foray into blogging was in 2006 when I was a new mother and writing about my experiences was both a good way for me to get things off my chest, but also important for me as a writer.
Since that first blog I have started and written for several other blogs and blogged for clients, but one of the most exciting challenges is guest blogging and, in particular, live-blogging. Blogging as an event unfolds is an exhilarating experience that takes me straight back to my days as a newspaper journalist writing the front page story on deadline while they hold the presses – nothing gets my adrenaline going quite like that.
This love of writing on demand won me a live-blogging spot at the recent Media140 for Foodies event, where The Internet Chef Bridget Davis and her team cooked an array of tasty canapés matched with wines from Robert Oatley Vineyard. As the food was prepared and the wine savoured, panels of food bloggers, writers and chefs discussed how social media had changed the way they operated and opened new doors for the audience of social media food buffs.
One of the topics covered at Media140 for Foodies was how food bloggers often wrote about their love of food and commented on dishes and restaurants from their own homes. I was on the Media140 set to show what this scene might look like, blogging the panels’ comments.
Other events I have blogged about include the first Sydney Media140 event and ANZ’s Febusave and I live-tweeted at ConnectNow and Flying Solo. These opportunities started with me expressing an interest in being involved in Media140 when it came to Australia in November last year and have spread from there.
If you think you’d like to guest blog for a conference, think about an event which interests you, that will be easy to write at least one blog (400-500 words) or a few mini-blogs (100-150 words) about, and then just ask. It might be something organisers hadn’t planned on doing (or didn’t know they could do) or were already planning. By offering your services as an expert in that area, you are promoting the event and providing additional coverage for organisers, but also associating your name with the event and boosting your readership. It’s a win-win for all concerned.
Tips on Blogging for Events
- Research the event/conference thoroughly so you know who will be speaking and their topics
- Use this research to add extra commentary to your blog as the event unfolds (this will add to your standing as an expert on the subject)
- Arrive early so you can meet organisers and speakers to get a handle on what is going on before you blog
- Put together a basic structure to the blog before the event begins to help with your blogging while it unfolds
- Try to catch the mood of the audience as well as the speakers so the blog puts readers right there with you
- If you are writing on your own blog about the event, try to get a special button or logo you can add to the relevant posts
- Make sure you include a link to your own blog and social media contacts at the end of the post if you’re guest blogging on the event website
The best advice is to enjoy the experience. Having fun while learning and sharing those experiences with others is infectious.
Connect with me online:
Twitter – @JohannaBD
Facebook – http://www.facebook.com/Johanna.BakerDowdell
LinkedIn – http://www.linkedin.com/in/johannabakerdowdell
YouTube – http://www.youtube.com/user/JohannaBD
Blogs – http://strawberrycommunications.com.au/blog, http://t-changers.posterous.com/ and http://parentingaustralia.com.au/blog
Sydney Public Relations Agency, CP Communications provides specialist media, traditional and online PR strategies that get amazing results. Contact us today. For more great tips visit our website www.cpcommunications.com.au.