Blogging your Automotive Program Using Blogs and YouTube to Involve Students and Generate Cash for your Automotive Program

Introductions Mike Gray Linda Gray Aiden Gray YOU!

Essential Questions What is a blog? Who blogs? How are blogs used? How can you create effective, instructional YouTube videos? How can you get students to administer the blogging and video production? How can blogging and videos generate residual income to help support your automotive program, students in financial need, or finance your automotive club?

What is a blog? “A blog is a personal diary. A daily pulpit. A collaborative space. A political soapbox. A breaking-news outlet. A collection of links. Your own private thoughts. Memos to the world.” “Your blog is whatever you want it to be. There are millions of them, in all shapes and sizes, and there are no real rules.” »Obtained from Blogger -

How many? Blogging –Started in 1993, “Weblog” was coined in 1997, and shortened in 1999 to Blog. –Over 173 million blogs Image obtained from millions-more-bloggers-and-blog-readers/ millions-more-bloggers-and-blog-readers/

Who’s blogging? Hobbyists (61%) – Blog for the fun of it. Professional Part-time (13%) – Blog to add revenue to their full-time job. Professional Full-time (5%) – Blog as a full-time job. Corporate (8%) – Blog for a company or organization. Entrepreneurs (13%) – Blog for their own company. Source:

Blogging Guidelines In 2009 the FTC released guidelines concerning the use of endorsements and testimonials. »See nnotice.pdf nnotice.pdf Basically you need to know that “the post of a blogger who receives cash or in-kind payment to review a product is considered an endorsement. Thus, bloggers who make an endorsement must disclose the material connections they share with the seller of the product or service” »Obtained from

Highly Popular Automotive Blog Alexa rating 1704

What do you like to read in blogs? Discussion…

How to Write an Effective Blog Post Here’s the Blueprint –Title (make it catchy) –Feature Image (attracts attention) –Short Paragraphs (2-3 sentences) –Section Subheadings (helps visually) –Bullets and Numbering –Links to other Content –Questions (generates discussion) »Info from an article by Anthony Rotolo – Obtained from an-effective-blog-post/ an-effective-blog-post/

Types of Blogs Informational Posts (e.g., What is a Turbocharger?) Instructional or “How-To” Posts (e.g., How to Change a Serpentine Belt) List Posts (e.g., 10 Ways to Save at the Pump) Case Studies (e.g., Are remanufactured starters as good as new?) Review Posts (e.g., First Look at the New Gates Parts Image Capture Gauge) Video Posts (e.g., How to Reset the Change Oil Light) »Category suggestions obtained from an article by Anthony Rotolo effective-blog-post/ effective-blog-post/

Creating a Blog Blogger (owned by Google – It’s Free)

How to Make a Blog

A Look at Blogger

Wordpress Free and Open Source Website and Blogging Tool Content Management System Used with your own domain (e.g, Or used as a free platform at (e.g.,

How to Get Started Register a domain name. –(e.g., at ) Find a web host. –(e.g, Install WordPress. –(usually can be done directly at the host with one click) Get an easy-to-use template. –(e.g.,

Where to Get Ideas for Posts? Twitter Feeds –Follow Auto Related Companies Facebook Feeds –Follow Auto Related Companies New Products Test Drives Student’s Commonly Asked Questions Your Experiences

Let’s See How WordPress Works Let’s Create a Blog Post

If You Have Questions on How to Use Blogger or WordPress… Is Your Friend – Lots of How-To Videos

Creating Instructional or Product Review Videos Focus on frequently asked questions or misunderstood topics Make them short – 1 to 3 minutes Can be simple from your phone or more complex using video editing software like Adobe Premiere. Work with your video production or tech ed class – make it a joint project. Create a YouTube Channel.

Let’s Check Out My YouTube Channel

Create Your Google AdSense Account

Become a YouTube Partner… Enable your videos for monetization. The story of two videos…

Other Revenue Streams Local/Auto Related Advertisers – Local businesses advertising on your website/blog

Other Revenue Streams Let’s look at the example at National Advertisers – Usually work through an ad agency

What’s the Key to Success? Obtain Approval from Administration Post Quality Content and Lots of It Get Help – Be a Facilitator - Get Your Students in Your Auto Club to Take Charge – Get Guest Bloggers to Post on Your Site Don’t Try to Do Everything at Once Plug Away a Little at a Time

Contact Information Michael Gray Rolling Hills Publishing READ Connect on LinkedIn – Follow me on Twitter – Follow my Blog – View/Add Videos – Car Care Q & A Forum – Using Auto Upkeep? – Join the Wiki – Subscribe to my YouTube Channel – Become a FAN of “Auto Upkeep” on Facebook –