I have been blogging since 2010. I am grateful for the deep thinking this practice has provided me. I can provide the Blog Post 101 overview because I have learned so much organically.
I have missed this practice as I work through an advanced degree, but am keeping track of all sorts of new ideas to blog about during breaks and after I graduate. I wonder too if I can help other teachers – in this evolving public education culture – to capture what it is like to teach right now?
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Get Started
I recommend the WordPress platform, but feel free to use another platform if you have a background or support with a different platform. Consider if you will want to advertise – and I think you would eventually. In that case, download WordPress and pursue a self-hosted instance of your blog. {Related: Start a K-12 Blog, Part One}
As you look for a place to host your instance of WordPress, consider my current web host as a great place to start and use my affiliate link for hosting. Consider these two plans for WordPress hosting:
Get Writing
The meat of your blog is your writing. Free to HLT subscribers, the Blog Posts 101: Anatomy of a Blog Post is essential to consider how you structure your blog posts. Aim for comparable post lengths, similar layouts, and target your topics to an intentional audience.
Consider your possible posting freqnecy. Can you commit to once a week, once a month?
Get Sharing
Connect your blog to your personal brand via social media. Consider a Facebook page for your blog {See HLT Facebook Page} for potential readers to convert to your blog. Evaluate WordPress plugins for Twitter, Pinterest (high numbers of teachers), and other social media.
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Get Busy!
Are you interested in a worksheet to set-up a basic post and not miss anything? How about a 30 days worth of blog prompts to jumpstart your blog? Find the Blog Post 101 worksheet, 30-days a Blogger prompt list on HLT Thank You page – password delivered to all HLT newsletter subscribers. Subscribe to the HotLunchTray newsletter to also be reminded of the #8WeeksOfSummer Blog Challenge when it launches for the summer to connect with other educational bloggers and a chance to win a $100 Amazon gift card.
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