In April, our friends at Plywood People hosted a gathering for people who write for their organizations blog or they have their own personal blog. It was a great time getting to know about the writing that people in the Atlanta community are doing, and what some of their hang ups are when they approach it. Jeff Goins skyped in to give helpful blogging tips, and Gisele Nelson of Plywood People wrote a quick recap. Jeff’s points are great for first-time bloggers as well as a “check” for seasoned bloggers.

1. Blogging is web design.

• If you’re blogging, you’re designing web content. Format your blog posts in quick, bite-sized pieces that are easily digestible.
• Create a cadence with your writing that begs readers to read the next line.
• Use short paragraphs and package them well.

2. Own your own platform. [No more .wordpress or .blogspotting it]

• If your platform is free, then you don’t own it.
• When you own the platform you’re using, you’ll take better care of it.

3. Content is not king, relationships are.

• Having great content is a prerequisite, but it’s not THE most important. Having great relationships is.
• Online relationships are the direct result of offline relationships. Cultivate those relationships.

4. Perseverance Wins.

• Online communities are built the same way offline relationships are—with time and patience. So, give it time and have patience.
• The people leaving a lasting impact are the people who keep showing up.

Do you have a blog? What tips and tricks have helped you along the way?

Now for the contest! Plywood People has generously provided three tickets to their event in Atlanta, Plywood Presents, August 15-16, 2012, and three computer/book sleeves made from billboard materials, crafted by legal refugees. Winners will receive one ticket and one sleeve. There are two ways to enter this contest: 1) Leave a tip or comment on this blog; or 2) On Twitter, retweet the link to this article from @orangeleaders and hashtag #thinkorange and #plywoodpresents. You must be a local resident of Atlanta, or provide your own travel and accommodations to the Plywood Presents event. Three random entries from the blog comments and the Twitter retweets will be chosen and announced on Thursday, July 12, 2012. All entries must be submitted by Wednesday, July 11, 2012 at 5 p.m. Good luck!

Plywood People: an innovative community addressing social needs. We are always searching for social problems with the hope to match them with entrepreneurial creativity to organize, innovate, and manage ideas that produce change. We hope to foster conversations and collaboration between the privileged and those in need through educational environments, sustainable ventures, community places, social experiments, storytelling projects, cause marketing campaigns, and new consumption patterns. We live by the mantra: We will be known by the problems we solve.