1. Getting Started: Blogging Created For: By: Blotner Social Media

2. Why Your Hotel Should Have A Blog http://blotnersocialmedia.wordpress.com/2010/0 3/07/how-to-create-a-successful-company- blog/

3. Getting Started & Registering Your Blog  Go To www.WordPress.comwww.WordPress.com  “Click” sign up now (orange tab, upper right)  Create ID & Password  “Click” register a blog  Input blog domain & title See next page for set up >

6. Set Up (con’t)  Go to “My Account” (Top left)  Go To “Edit Profile” Wordpress blogs have lots of bells & whistles (many will soon come in handy). I recommend setting up a basic “shell” of your blog so that it will function properly and have a very professional look. The following are the finishing steps to get your blog up and running>

8. Set up: Edit Profile  Go Settings: -Tagline: Fill In Hotel slant, or tagline -Blog Picture/icon (top right) -Date format -Time format

9. Appearance  Go Back to Edit Profile  Go to Appearance drop down menu  Select a template (you have 83 themes to choose from)

10. Post Content  Go To “New Post”  Copy/Paste or type in Headline  Copy/Paste or type Body and content  When finished, Type “Publish” Post: articles, “Happenings” in the Hotel, Promotions, industry news, Travel tips, menu For more ideas, see the promotions section in this Guide

11. Posting Content- Before ……

13. Posting Content- After……

15. Advance Settings Go to “Edit Profile”  Widgets: Set up a calendar, Twitter and Facebook account (Blogroll)  Add Pages tabs: “About” “Contact Us” “Mission statement”  Media or Links: Add Photos and videos (highly recommended) Note: There are other bells and whistles you can use, but if you set up the basic settings and or advanced settings you should be fine. Most of my clients have the advanced settings and their blogs do well and many have commented on how professional and how easy they are to navigate. As always if anyone needs assistance, please contact me at any time.

16. Promoting Your Blog (In House) Post on Facebook twitter page: Tip: -After posting content on blog, copy and past the link (found in your search bar) -Go to your Links Tab in your Facebook page. Paste the link in the http: space provided. Example: Turn this this:http://www.officialwire.com/main.php?action=posted_ne ws&rid=116473&catid=10 Into This…(See top post)

18. Promoting Your Blog II Subscribe to Some of These Sites: Blog Directories is the 2nd thing (after search List of Top Blog Directories with Page Rank http://www.bloglines.comhttp://www.bloglines.com 9 http://www.technorati.com 8 http://www.blogpulse.com/index.html 7 http://www.blogdigger.com/index.html 7 http://www.getblogs.com/ 7 http://www.blogarama.com/ 7 http://www.blogcatalog.com/ 7 http://www.blogrankings.com/ 7 http://portal.eatonweb.com/ 7 http://blogstreet.com/ 7 http://www.technorati.com http://www.blogpulse.com/index.html http://www.blogdigger.com/index.html http://www.getblogs.com/ http://www.blogarama.com/ http://www.blogcatalog.com/ http://www.blogrankings.com/ http://portal.eatonweb.com/ http://blogstreet.com/

19. Practical Uses For Your Blog  Weekly Rook specials & packages  (If apply) Hotel Restaurant specials  Create regular “Columns” (Example: “Day Tripping-Things To do in Naples, Florida

20. Sample Weekly ‘Blog Log’  Monday-Post past weekend activities. Include written content, photos and video (if available). Guest reviews & Comments (Screen by the Hotel)  Tuesday: Weekly Hotel & Restaurant specials. Weekly columns. (Wedding Guide: Planning your wedding on a challenging budget [This promotes your catering and banquet business]  Wednesday: Upcoming weekend happenings (Example “Concert in the Park”, art gallery shows). Post interesting articles  Thursday: Restaurant specials, Hotel/staff promotions. Feature employee (“Joe Smith celebrated 10 years with Peachtree Corners…”  Friday: Upcoming events for the weekend. Keep it light, fun, informative

21. Helpful Articles & Resources  http://marketingforrealresults.com/why-your- business-needs-a-blog/ http://marketingforrealresults.com/why-your- business-needs-a-blog/  http://www.wordtracker.com/academy/busine ss-blogging-reasons http://www.wordtracker.com/academy/busine ss-blogging-reasons  http://en.wordpress.com/features/ http://en.wordpress.com/features/  http://www.hotelmarketingstrategies.com/laya na-resort-tripadvisor/ http://www.hotelmarketingstrategies.com/laya na-resort-tripadvisor/