Bloggin Noggins Update

At our last meeting on July 24 the group discussed the following:

• our schedule
• training programs
• our sandbox blog
• roles - how members can make contributions

Our Schedule
It was agreed that a less flexible schedule and more regular offerings would enable more regular attendance for members. We have chosen to meet on Fridays at The Bagel Bin. We will meet routinely every other Friday for lunch at noon. We will adjust the schedule when holiday weekends occur, eg we would not meet the day after Thanksgiving. Luncheon meetings will feature 30-minute training programs. We will meet once a month Friday mornings at 7:30 a.m. for social conversation and open discussion on blogging. It is hoped that three meetings a month permits all members to engage at least once a month.

All meetings will be posted using the LinkedIn Events applications feature. Simply find the Events application on your LinkedIn home page along the right border. Select the link "See events your connections are attending." You can also use the menu at the left border and open the Applications folder choosing Events. Do an advanced search entering "Bloggin Noggins." Register by selecting "Attending." You can also "share" the event forwarding it to others.

Upcoming events:
August 14 Noon
August 21 7:30 a.m.
August 28 Noon

Training Programs
The following list of training topics was proposed by those in attendance.

• Promoting your blog.
• Integrating your blog with other social media.
• Using widgets, plug-ins and what not.
• Blog rolls
• "Finding you voice" - What to write, finding material to post.
• Choosing a platform - WordPress, TypePad, Blogger or...
• Pros and cons of self-hosting your blog.
• RSS feeds, email marketing, trackbacks, permalinks and more.
• Incorporating images, videos and controlling page layout.
• Building your personal brand using your blog.
• Critiquing blogs - the good, the bad and the ugly.
• Search Engine Optimization (SEO) and your blog.
• Using tags, Delicious and Digg.
  
• and your suggestion added by posting a comment...
  

We ask you to respond with your interest by making comments to this post. Tell us what you want presented on August 14 and in subsequent meetings. You can also suggest other topics of interest. Comments are vital to blogs. Add yours often, please.

Our "sandbox" blog
We've launched this blog as a "sandbox" blog, a place to play, learn and "find your voice." It's for all members to share and contribute. So have at it! If you've attended one of our recent lunches, you've been invited by email to join as an author. Presently eleven have accepted author roles. If you've not yet been invited, send an email Greg.Taylor.RG@gmail.com

Roles
How you can contribute.

• Become an author.
• Be a mentor. See Michele Heine's post
• Be a greeter or host a meeting.
• Be a presenter.
• Offer your skills in a desired role... you name it!