The Science Of Blogging: Dan Zarrella

Dan Zarrella is an award-winning social, search, and viral marketing scientist and author of the O’Reilly Media book “The Social Media Marketing Book“. He has a background in web development and combines his programming capabilities with a passion for social marketing to study social media behavior from a data-backed position and teach marketers scientifically grounded best practices.

The Science of Blogging

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Key takeaways for me:

• LIWC - linguistics content
• Sex & Positivity sell
• Self referential content is not retweeted
• People like your "insight & opinions"

DO NOT blog about yourself

• People link to video; people do not tend link to photos
• Comments more on photos, less on video
• Words like: "Recent, insight, soon, answers" - people like to link to your personal opinion
• Ask for comments to your blog posts - incentivize comments

Words:

• Most retweetable words - YOU (how can I help you)
• Sharable words - Why, how and most
• Least viewed words – franchise, episode (people don't like episodic)
• Least linked to – boring words
• Stay way from overly technical jargon
• Least retweetable words – game, going, LOL, watching (stop talking about yourselves)
• Facebook is for "Jersey Shore" not for people that understand social media; stay away from dork terms

Grammar matters

• Facebook content shouldn't be written over a 6th grade level
• Write simply and plainly; short
• Like and recommends: The Elements of Style, Fourth Edition
• "Sheeple" - Social Proof reduces fear of content

Timing:

• When should I publish?
• Publish early in the morning
• Linking to your content early morning
• 4PM is more retweetable time
• Post on Monday for views and links
• Weekend post get more comments

How often should I post?

• People want timely content
• More than one post a day for will overtime increased views and percieved expertise