Listening+101

=Listening 101: How To Enter the Social Media Conversation=

[|Flickr User TakaMabiblot]

= = =Who are the most influential bloggers writing about your topic or industry? Who should you read and begin a conversation with?=


 * 1.) Identify your list of keywords**

What would people type into a search engine to find your site or blog?

Have no idea? Try this:


 * If you are using an analytics software program like Google Analytics, run a search engine referral report and see what words people are actually typing into search engines to find your site.
 * Use the [|Goolge Adwords Keyword tool]


 * 2.) Use this spreadsheet to organize your research

3.)** **Search on Technorati

Here's what to do**
 * Use the [|advanced search] option
 * Scroll down and type in your key words one by one into the Blog Directory Search
 * Sort by authority, sort by freshness
 * No blogs turn up? Or only low authority?
 * Try exact phrase in keyword


 * Should you add it to your list?**


 * Who's the author?
 * Is the blog updated often?
 * How long have they been blogging?
 * How many community affiliations? (Flickr, widgets, blogrools, badges, etc)
 * Are there lots of comments?
 * Is the writing good?
 * If you decide to add it to your list, check the side bar (or blog roll) for other similar blogs


 * What to put in your spread sheet**


 * Add the names, urls, and technorati authority ranking to your spreadsheet

Definition of Authority: Technorati Authority is the number of blogs linking to a website in the last six months. The higher the number, the more Technorati Authority the blog has.




 * 4.) Find more bloggers using Google Blog Search**

Before your search, do a little brainstorming. You can use a spreadsheet, Google Doc, or paper. Whatever works.

Tips ||
 * **Keyword** || **Why Interested?** || **What do you want to know?** ||
 * RSS Reader || Be more efficient in reading feeds || What is the best way or organize my feeds?

Search on Google Blog Search

1. Type in key words ([|example for above)] 2. Scan results, filter by publishing date 3. Click through to blogs and evaluate 4. Add blogs that might be useful to your beat to your reader 5. Add RSS feed of the search to your reader (last 12 hours)


 * 5.) Identify the Google Page Rank**

[|What] is PageRank? How to find out a site's Page Rank? [|Install Google Toolbar] How to use the [|Google Toolbar]?


 * 6.) Identify the monthly visitation stats**

Go to [|compete.com] and find out what the monthly visitation stats are. Add them to your spreadsheet.


 * 7.) Add the RSS subscriptions to the blogs to your RSS reader and monitor**

If you end up with a list that is huge and need some way to prioritize, the page rank, authority, and monthly visitation stats give you a method.

=**How To Read Blogs: RSS Reader**=

RSS: [|What is it?]

RSS stands for “Really Simple Syndication” and is a file format for delivering regularly updated information over the web.

Just think about the websites and news information sources you visit. It takes time to visit those sites and find the text you want to read. RSS is a way for you to visit all those sites in one place and instantly find the new information. You need to use a free piece of web software called a RSS reader. Bloglines is one reader I'm going to show you how to use.

Any blog reader will do, of course. The best blog reader for those new to RSS readers is bloglines. Bloglines uses a folder and hierarchical structure that is comfortable to many beginner bloggers (who are not 17). If participants are already using a reader, they can continue to use what they are already comfortable using.


 * How to set up bloglines
 * How to add the subscribe bookmarklet to their browser
 * How to subscribe to a blog
 * How to organize and reorganize folders


 * Screencast:** [|RSS Reader - Bloglines]

[|Step-by-Step Instructions for Bloglines] by Preetamrai [|10 Steps] to Using Bloglines [|YouTube Video Showing how to Add Feeds]

[|Bloglines] [|Netvibes] [|Newsgater] [|GoogleReader]
 * A few RSS Readers:**

What is the best way for you to organize your feeds for reading and blogging?

 * Some readings:**

Organize by Work Flow or Value [|Sink or Swim: Managing RSS Feeds With Better Groups] [|Organizing Feeds Yet Again] [|12 Filtering Tips for Better Information in Half the Time: RSS and Bookmarks] [|RSS Feeds Productivity Tips]

Good RSS Reading Habits

 * Set up aside a small block of time to read your feeds everyday
 * Clean house often, RSS subscriptions tend to pile up
 * Don't feel like you have to read every post on every blog, use the "Mark Read" option

=How To Find More Blogs To Read=


 * Do this first ...**
 * Check out the blogrolls of blogs you are reading and add good ones to your reader
 * Follow the links to other blogs from the blogs you are reading and add good ones to your reader
 * Follow the links to other blogs from people who comment on the blogs you are reading and add good ones to your reader

Which ones to add to your reader?


 * Who's the author?
 * Is the blog updated often?
 * How long have they been blogging?
 * How many community affiliations? (Flickr, widgets, blogrools, badges, etc)
 * Are there lots of comments?
 * Is the writing good? Accurate? Authentic?
 * Is there content that you might incorporate into a blog post?
 * If you decide to add it to your reader, check the side bar (or blog roll) for other similar blogs

**Commenting on Blogs**

 * Commenting is the life blood of blogging and key to building a community
 * They’re a way to get more minds into the story.
 * They’re a way to annotate someone’s thoughts such that the ideas can take on another dimension.

Screencast: [|How to have a conversation] Read someone's blog post and start a conversation: Before you leave a comment, ask yourself:


 * What did they say well?
 * What did they miss?
 * Answer questions
 * What are other people saying
 * How does it apply to you
 * Look forward
 * Look backward
 * Ask what if?

http://www.problogger.net/archives/2007/02/22/how-to-add-to-blogging-conversations-and-eliminate-the-echo-chamber/
 * Source:** [|How To Add Blogging Conversations] by Darren Rowse

[|How to Comment Like King or Queen] by Coolcat Teacher Blog [|Strategic Blog Commenting A Screencast] by Amy Gahran [|Strategic Blog Commenting]: Blog Post by Amy Gahran [|Commenting] by Alan Levine [|Power of Comments] by Chris Brogan
 * Resource: Pro Blogger:**
 * Resources**