Tag Archives: RSS

Want More Readers? How Online Reading Habits Are Changing and What You NEED To Know

Modified on by
17

Building readership on our new blog, set up this year, compared to the The Edublogger in 2008 – has fascinated me.

It has really highlighted the extent of our changing blog reading habits!

These do have implications for building our readership!

So what have I learnt?

We’ve changed how we use RSS

There’s been considerable chatter the past year that RSS is dead, dying or not doing so well.

Maybe in other blogging niches it’s doing well but in the edublogosphere she’s struggling.

Feedburner subscriptions on the Teacher Challenge have barely increased since we’ve set it up and 70% of these are email subscribers.   Similarly, The Edublogger subscribers haven’t increased much for the past year and I’m seeing the same trend on blogs of other well known edubloggers.

Feedburner stats comparision

The simple truth is we’re less likely to use RSS or email subscription now compared to our RSS usage in the previous era of the Web.  We’re just less into RSS readers and start pages.

Am I saying throw away your RSS and email subscription options?  NO!

You need them for those readers that prefer these options.   And I still believe that all educators need to learn about RSS as it does make managing students’ work online considerably easier.

We’re using real-time web & social networking more

We’re far more social now and more likely to use social network sites like Twitter and Facebook as a buffet.

Consuming whatever we want at our leisure by selecting posts from links shared by our networks.

So while we’ve struggled with RSS we’re getting good site visits on our new Teacher Challenge blog and it’s easy to see the increase in visits to The Edublogger this year compared to the same time period last year.

Google Analytics site visits for The Edublogger

So what does this mean?

  1. Increased traffic to blogs and posts compared to when we were more reliant on RSS
  2. Less likelihood that our posts will be read if we’re not an active part of the edublogosphere and aren’t social networking with others

My advice:

  1. Make sure you know how to use tools like Google Analytics to monitor your blog’s traffic
  2. Be an active member of the blogging community by taking a genuine interest in other blogger’s work, hyperlinking your posts to other bloggers’ content and making time to leave meaningful comments on their posts – read Scott McLeod’s great advice here.
  3. Learn how to use Twitter well
  4. Add social tools like Tweetmeme, Facebook Like, ShareThis to your blog to make it easier for readers to share with their network!
  5. Look at how you might use other social networks like Facebook to interact
  6. Learn how to monitor the social engagement of your posts using tools like Post Rank — you can check out The Edublogger’s PostRank and Teacher Challenge PostRank metrics here!

Using PostRank to check engagement metrics

We’re using mobile apps and mobile devices more

Mobile devices like iPhones and iPad have changed how we’re using the mobile web.

No longer is the mobile web the realm of the geeks —these devices made it easy and they’re becoming increasingly ubiquitous.

And they’re starting to change blogging reading habits in a big way!

Check the growth in visitors to The Edublogger using a mobile device over the past year.

Changing in mobile usage 2010 compared to 2011

So what does this mean?

It’s important to understand how readers are using their mobile devices to consume content.

No! I’m not telling you to rush out to buy an iPad or iPhone… unless you want me too? :)

Instead I’ll explain how it’s changed reading habits for people like me.

Firstly I no longer read books — they’ve been replaced by ebooks.

Nowadays most posts are read while relaxed lazing on the couch or in bed on my iPad.  It’s more enjoyable, faster and easier to scan through the content.

And when I’m out and about, and bored waiting for an appointment, I’ll pull out my iPhone to access my content on it!

Here’s my Computer – iPad work flow:

iPad and computer work flow

The key with mobile devices is how we use and our preferred apps is very personal.

Final Thoughts

The world’s a lot different from when I first started blogging in 2007.  Our readers are changing and we need to be evolving with them.

Would love to hear your thoughts!

  1. Have your reading habits changed?
  2. Have you noticed the same types of changes to your blog’s metrics?
  3. What advice would you give others on building readership?

If you are enjoying reading this blog, please consider feed-icon32x32 Finding and Adding Creative Commons Images To Your Blog PostsSubscribing For Free!

Writing Better Blog Posts: What You NEED to Know

Modified on by
38

Writing good blog posts are more than just the words.

You might post great information but….

-   if it doesn’t grab attention
-   if it’s hard to read

….it might never be read!

So here’s 10 tips to help you write better blog posts.

1. Use attention grabbing titles

Use attention grabbing titleTitles on blog posts are like titles on books.

The better the title, the more it’ll grab the attention of readers and the greater the chance they’ll read what you’ve written.

Captivating and intriguing titles draw readers every time.  Back that with a well written post and you won’t look back.

For further tips on writing post titles refer to 15 Ways to rework your next blog post title.

2. Use Short Paragraphs

Posts with really long paragraphs are really hard to read making it less likely for them to be read and more likely your readers will miss the point of your post.

It’s really simple:

  • Break your posts up with paragraphs
  • The more paragraphs the better
  • Short paragraphs are better than long
  • If you need to make some paragraphs one or two sentences long so they are visually easier to read online then do it!
  • Make the first sentence of each paragraph make your readers want to read the rest of the paragraph

But avoid over use of bold, italics, colored font and so on — i.e. anything that makes it too hard to read the text or makes it visually uncomfortable to read.

3. Use Headings

Use headings, and where appropriate bullet points and number lists, to break up the post into manageable bit size chunks.

Creating a heading is as simple as:

  1. Highlighting the text you want to change into a heading
  2. Selecting the Heading Style you want to apply from the Advanced formatting toolbar (for most themes your best option is heading 3)
  3. Previewing your post to make sure that headings you’ve used has broken your post into manageable chunks

Adding Heading styles to a post

4.  Remember to link

If you write about an article or another blogger’s post link to it!

Why? Because your readers often want to check it out in more details.

Linking is a really important part of being a blogger and linking isn’t hard but a common mistake of new bloggers is to forget to link!

It’s good blogging etiquette to link to:

  1. A person’s blog if you mention a blogger
  2. The post if you are talking about a particular post on a blog
  3. Articles and websites when you write about them

Here’s example of how you might link:

Sue Wyatt, one of the coordinators of the Teacher Challenge, has decided to lead by example and is participating in the Advanced series of 30 Days to Kick Start Your Blogging.   Check out Sue’s Interviewing my blog!

Creating a hyperlink is as simple as:

  1. Highlighting the text you want to link to a website, blog or post
  2. Clicking on the Insert/Edit Link icon in the standard formatting toolbar
  3. Paste the link URL
  4. Then click Insert

Creating hyperlink

5. Use images effectively

Use images effectivelyA picture tells a thousand words.

Effective use of images grab your readers attention and encourage them to read your posts.

Key aspects to consider include:

Resize images before using in posts

It’s really important to resize images before inserting into to your blog post as:

  1. You’ll find it easier to get the image to go where you want them to go; and to wrap text how you want it to wrap!
  2. Photos from digital cameras can be as large as 2.4 MB.  They’ll unnecessarily use up blog storage space and the image will take longer to load in the post than the same image resized

Recommended sizes are:

  • 450 pixels wide – if you want it to take up the full width of your post area  (ideal for most themes)
  • 150-200 pixels – to left or right align the image with wrapped text

Learn more about resizing photos here.

Don’t use copyrighted images

You can’t just use any image you like in a blog post.

Why?  Because unless stated otherwise the law automatically grants full “copyright” over any creative work a person makes.

And if you’re thinking Fair Use Laws.  Forget it!

It’s only really applicable in USA and won’t protect you from the rage that can be unleashed by someone whose copyright has been broken.

Learn to use Creative commons images or create your own images so you don’t get into trouble.

6.  Enhance with embedded media

Embedding media like slides, videos, comic strips, quizzes, polls into your blog post take your posts to the next level.

It provides opportunities for readers’ engagement and interaction in ways not achievable using plain text and images.

So use  them!

Here’s where you can learn more about enhancing posts using embedded media.

7.  Subscribe to your posts

Blog readers are now reading your posts through a wider range of choices than ever before.   From posts on your blog using a computer, to feed readers like Google Reader,  or by email, via sites like Facebook to apps on mobile devices — they’re using it!

Your blog posts need to look good, visually, for all the different ways people are reading your posts.

And if you’ve only been focusing of your readers who visit your blog posts then you need to rethink!  Visits to your blog is only make up a small proportion of your readers.

You need to:

  1. Take time to learn about RSS and email subscription.
  2. Subscribe to your own blog feed using your feed reader and your email subscription
  3. And basically check what your posts looks like when read the different ways.

This allows you to troubleshoot issues with font sizes, image size/alignment, removal of content like embeds and any feed issues.

Embeds like SlideShare, Voicethreads and videos can be removed in Feed readers and are removed in emails.  Good practise is to embed the media and link to the location on the media.

Example of adding a link for an embed

8.  Don’t format like MS Word Document

Formatting posts using the Visual Editors works differently from how you can format documents using software like MS Word.

Accept that it works differently and you’ll make your life a lot easier.

For example, you can align separate images side by side in a Word Document but this often doesn’t work in posts.

The best option is to use a photo gallery or create one image from the images to make it look like separate images.

And you definitely DON”T write and format your post in MS Word and then paste it into your Visual Editor — won’t work!

Creating the illuision of separate images

9.  Have a blogging routine

Blogging routineEvery blogger has periods where they struggle to write posts.

Deciding on how many posts per week or month works best for you, and a routine to fit this means you’re less likely to suffer ‘blogger’s block’ and you’re more likely to consistently write better posts.

Here’s more information on post frequency and blogging routine.

10. And finally advice on what to blog about

What to blog about?For many edubloggers blogging is a bit about their readers and a lot about their own personal needs to reflect on what they are learning or what they want to share.

One of the commonest mistakes made by new bloggers is focusing on what they think their readers want to read.

Our advice is forget about your readers and focus on your own needs.

You’ll be more passionate and it’ll come through in your posts. And never assume that someone’s already written what you’re saying.

Final Thoughts

What have I missed?

  1. What are your 3 most important tips for writing better blog posts?
  2. What blog post recently has made you want to comment and what was it about this post that engaged you?
  3. Has a post recently inspired you to write your own post? What was it about the post that made you take action?

If you are enjoying reading this blog, please consider feed-icon32x32 Finding and Adding Creative Commons Images To Your Blog PostsSubscribing For Free!

Here’s My Five Top Tips For Building Your Blog’s Readership –What Are Yours?

Modified on by
29

Common questions new bloggers ask me is how do you build your blog’s readership?  How do you get people to read and comment on your posts?

If you’re looking for a quick solution – forget it!

Building your blog’s readership and community takes time.  Here’s my five top tips to get it happening!

#1 Become a Better Blog Citizen

Don’t expect people to read and comment on your posts if you aren’t doing the same on other people’s blogs!  Blogging is as much about reading other blogger’s posts and commenting on posts as it is writing your own posts.

Besides being a valuable source of ideas for writing your own posts it also helps develops relationships with others.   Interaction with other bloggers and their readers, in comments, often leads to new readers of  your blog.

Here’s what you need to do:

1.  Subscribe and start reading other people’s blogs

2.  Make an effort to write comments on other peoples blog posts

  • Initially leaving comments can be frightening!  But commenting is an important part of blogging.  It’s often where most your learnng happens.
  • Comments are about adding to the conversation — not ‘ WOW great post!’
  • Don’t comment for comment sake.  Comments should be meaningful, polite, and respond by expanding on the post topic, sharing your thoughts or explaining politely why you disagree.
  • If there is an option to subscribe to be notified of new comments — use it!  This way you will be notified of new comments on that post and can choose whether to respond to new comments
  • It’s okay to direct comments at other readers as opposed to the blogger.

3.  Respond back to comments on your own blog posts

  • Readers like to know you both read and value the comments they leave on your posts
  • Responding back in the comments of your post tells both that reader and other readers you value their input

#2 Link to other bloggers

All bloggers like people linking to their blogs and posts.

A good blogger follows the link in a pingback on their post to check out what a person has written about them.  If they like what you’ve written they may leave a comment and even start subscribing to your blog.

It’s good blogging etiquette to link to:

  1. A person’s blog if you mention a blogger
  2. The post if you are talking about a particular post on a blog

To learn more read:

  1. STOP! Don’t Press Publish! Have You Remembered to Add The LINKS?
  2. What’s A Pingback? And How To Write Links

#3 Building your Personal Learning Network

Personal Learning Networks (PLNs) are all about using web tools such as blogs, wiki, twitter, facebook to create connects with others which extend our learning, increases our reflection while enabling us to learn together as part of a global community.

Making time to connect with others in meaningful ways will build your blog’s readership.  People who already connect online are more likely to read and interact with your blog than your friends and family who aren’t as connected.

Twitter is currently the most important tool for connecting; especially since many now prefer to obtain links to blog posts via twitter than subscribe using RSS.

#4 Write better blog posts

Sad fact of life…not every one who sees your blog post reads it.  Even if they read — they often don’t read it all.

To keep your readers attention:

  • Every title
  • Every paragaph
  • Every heading
  • Every word
  • Every image

——has to count!

Read Here’s My First Five Tips For Writing Better Blog Posts — it’ll help you write better blog posts!

#5 You First, Readers Second!

One of the biggest reasons why new bloggers fail is they focus entirely on writing posts to please readers.  Every post becomes a chore because they aren’t writing about what interest them but what they think interests others!

Write about:

  • things you feel strongly or passionate about
  • what you’ve learnt — if you didn’t know than it’s likely others didn’t either

Good bloggers always write to fulfil their own needs first because they know by doing so they fulfil the needs of their readers!!!!

FINAL THOUGHTS

These were my five top tips for building your blog’s readership!  What have I missed?  Do you disagree with my advice? What would you expand on?

If you are enjoying reading this blog, please consider feed-icon32x32 Finding and Adding Creative Commons Images To Your Blog PostsSubscribing For Free!

What Everybody Ought To Know About Podcasting: Part II

Modified on by
11

One of the hardest aspect of podcasting is deciding on a site to host them.

Sure you can use a podcast hosting site. But most people don’t realise podcasts can be hosted on their blogs.

Hosting podcasts on a blog can be simpler to set up, is easier for your audience to locate all of your content and you don’t have to deal with negative aspects of some podcasting sites.

In this second post of The Edublogger ‘podcasting series’ I’m going to explain how to host podcasts on blogs so readers who know how to create video/audio can set up their podcast feed.

Hosting podcasts on blogs

There are three main things to consider when hosting a podcast on a blog.

1. You’ll need a podcast feed

For your readers to subscribe to your podcast feed using a podcatcher like iTunes you need a podcast feed to your blog.

The easiest way to create this feed is using Feedburner.

2. All podcasts need to be assigned the same ‘unique category’

If you want to blend podcasts with your regular blog posts you need to add a ‘unique category’ to those posts that are podcasts and burn the podcast feed for that category only (read more about adding categories to posts here).

How it works is in your blog sidebar you will have:

  1. Subscribe to My RSS Feed – for all your posts
  2. Subscribe to My Podcasts – for all your podcasts

3. You can only insert one media file into the post

If you want your post to be a podcast then adding more than one audio or one video file means that the podcatcher won’t be able to download the podcast.

Creating a Podcast Feed Using Feedburner

  1. Register for a free account with Feedburner if you don’t have an existing account
  2. Log into your Feedburner Account
  3. Add your feed URL to the ‘Burn a feed right this instant‘
    • For example, if I used the category My Podcasts I would burn a podcast RSS feed for http://theedublogger.com/category/my-podcasts/feed
  4. Tick I’m a podcaster and then click Next
  5. Follow the instructions on each of the next pages to burn your podcast feed.

Adding the Podcast Feed to your blog sidebar

  1. Inside your feed account click on the Publicize Tab
  2. Next click on the Chicklet Chooser and copy the HTML code.
  3. On your blog dashboard, go to Design > Widgets
  4. Scroll down to Text widget in your available widget area (left hand side of dashboard) and click on Add.
  5. Click on Edit on the Text widget that has been added to your current widget area.Image of adding a text widget
  6. Paste code for Feedburner in the Text Widget
    • Tip: Change the words ‘Subscribe in Reader’ to ‘Subscribe to my podcasts’
  7. Click on Change
  8. Click on Save Changes at bottom of Current Widget area (right hand side of dashboard)

FINAL THOUGHTS

Besides using Feedburner to create podcast feeds it is one of the best tools for monitoring how many people subscribe to your blog. Here’s how to:

  1. Adding a RSS Feed From Feedburner To Your Blog – for Edublogs supporters only
  2. How To Add an Email Subscription to Your Blog
  3. Redirect Your Blog Feed To Feedburner

Remember ALWAYS subscribe to your own posts, ideally in both Google Reader and Bloglines, and by email, so you can spot immediately ANY issues fetching your feed. And if you create a podcast feed always subscribe to your podcasts using iTunes!

Please share your thoughts on podcasting in terms of:

  1. How long, in minutes, and/or maximum file size you use for podcasts
  2. What are your preferred file formats for podcasts e.g. mp3, mp4, m4v
  3. Do you tell your readers in the title that it is a podcasts? And any other tips for writing podcast titles.

If you are enjoying reading this blog, please consider feed-icon32x32 Finding and Adding Creative Commons Images To Your Blog PostsSubscribing For Free!

What Everybody Ought To Know About Podcasting: Part I

Modified on by
56

What do you prefer the most? Blog posts, podcasts or online videos?

Good chance if you’re reading this you probably prefer blog posts. But this isn’t the case for everyone. Similarly some people prefer to write posts whereas other are more engaged creating audio and video.

The key is that most bloggers don’t realise that they can host podcasts on their blog, to cater to their readers who prefer podcasts, while blending them with their regular blog posts.

Over the next few weeks I’ll be running a series of posts here on The Edublogger on podcasting “how to’s”. (I was originally a podcaster before becoming a blogger 8-) ) .

What is a Podcast?

The term podcast originated from combining the words “ipods and broadcasting”.

Like blogging one of the most important aspects of podcasts is its RSS feed. The RSS feed is what brings the new information added to a website to you without having to visit the site.

Most people subscribe to the RSS feed from blogs using feed readers like Google Reader and Bloglines.

Whereas those that listen to podcasts usually subscribe to the RSS feed using podcatchers like iTunes. This means the latest podcast episodes are downloaded when iTunes is opened up and atuomatically transferred onto their ipod (or media player) when it’s to their computer.

In simple terms a podcast is audio or video content that you can subscribe to using RSS. Without the RSS it is audio streaming or online video. Please note video podcast are also referred to as vidcast or vodcast.

Best aspects of podcasting include:

  1. Podcasts can be listen and/or watched anywhere, anytime and on any type of device (from your computer to media players like ipods)
  2. Ideal for those that prefer content in audio or video format

Using podcasts with students

There are numerous ways podcasts can be used with students from you creating podcasts to help their learning to them creating their own podcasts. Lets collectively come up with some ideas by all sharing our ideas on using podcasts!

Can you please leave a comment (or write a post) to share:

  1. How you are using podcast with students. Do they listen to any podcasts? Do you create or they create?
  2. What software do you use to create your podcasts? Online or desktop?
  3. What are your podcasting tips?

FINAL THOUGHTS

The next post in our podcasting series will explain how to host your podcasts on a blog for those readers who already know how to create audio and video files. Followed by posts on “how to” create audio and video podcasts.

Please leave a comment to tell me what other questions about podcasting you would like me to explain!

Meanwhile RSS is one of the most important concepts of using Web 2.0 technology — if you are new to RSS please read this information to learn more!

If you are enjoying reading this blog, please consider feed-icon32x32 Finding and Adding Creative Commons Images To Your Blog PostsSubscribing For Free!