By: Edas Chiume

Are you someone who loves to take on new career opportunities by learning about them yourself? If that’s you, then hello young self-taught professional. You’re probably reading this because digital media writing is your next venture. As a young professional myself, I wasn’t an expert on digital media when I first started learning. I wouldn’t even call myself an expert now because there are always new things to learn.

As a beginner, there were a few concepts that I was completely unaware of. These included digital style guides, digital dashboards, customer experience, longtail keyword searches, and content rules that you need to know for creating content. This may be your first time hearing these concepts as well so I am going to compare and contrast all of these concepts for you. It will give you a better understanding of the concepts, so you know the differences and aren’t confused. Let’s get started!

What are Digital Dashboards and Digital Style Guides?

First, let’s talk about digital style guides and digital dashboards. They sound similar right because of the word digital. Well, that is not the case here, digital style guides and digital dashboards are vastly different but have some similarities. Digital style guides are directories or handbooks for writing digital content such as e-books and blogs. Digital dashboards are tools used to visually showcase a company or team’s progression and statistics. As you can see, they are not the same one gives instructions and the other shows information. However, they both share some sort of information.

What’s a Longtail Keyword Search and Customer Experience?

Next, let’s talk about customer experience and longtail keyword searches. Customer experience is creating content that appeals to the reader. Longtail keyword searches are long descriptive phrases that are put into the search bar of a search engine. As you can tell, customer experience and longtail keyword searches are completely different, however, they are easily accessible and inclusive for everyone. Customer experience focuses on the audience’s views on content and making it available for everyone. Longtail keyword searches make products or content easily accessible to the public within minutes. Digital media is full of content that no one thinks about except for digital media writers.

Too Much Info? Let’s Break it Down.

That was probably a lot of information to take in. Information overloads are always a lot to process. Especially when you are learning about something new for the first time. For me, I like to break the materials down after I get them. It makes things easier and I can visually see the information in front of me so I can dissect it. This method can help you as well.  Here’s how you can do it:

1. Write down all the information that is given to you!
2. Make sure that everything makes sense to you.
3. Add comments, questions, or additional materials to your notes as you’re reading.
4. Highlight, underline, or star anything that seems important.
5. Reread the notes that you wrote down as many times as you need to!

The first step of writing down all the information that is given to you will help with digesting the information on the different aspects of digital media writing. Since digital media writing is very extensive this will help to visualize everything. Especially when looking at digital style guides that can be pages and pages long. Writing down or typing notes in a way that makes sense to you makes it better to understand.

The second step of making sure that everything makes sense to you will allow you to understand the information since it is written in your style of writing. Other styles of writing can be confusing to understand especially when text is written critically or professionally. So, writing notes your way will make the material easier to understand.

The third step of adding comments, questions, or additional materials to your notes is that you’re reading or digesting materials. This will allow you to connect to your notes and question things that could be answered later. I also suggest drawing in your notes for diagrams or models. This will help with picturing different kinds of digital dashboards such as financial and marketing. Scribble all over your notes!

In the fourth step of highlighting, underlining, or star anything that seems important will again help visualize your notes on the various concepts of the digital media. You will be able to focus on what is the most important information for you.

The last step of rereading the notes that you wrote down as many times as you need to will probably be the most beneficial. Rereading your notes or the materials that are given will help with your comprehension of the information. Even if you don’t want to reread the information, I promise it will be helpful.

Lastly, I would love to know if this post was helpful for you. Did this help with starting your digital media career? Was this beneficial for studying and notetaking as a student? Please let me know what you think. Also, keep coming back if you need to review definitions or notetaking help. Thanks for reading!

 

Believe it or not, the media is more than a powerful tool for those who utilize it. Rather than a standard kind of media that is used amongst all facets of society, there’s actually an acronym we use to differentiate the different types of media titled, PESO. The PESO model stands for Paid, Earned, Shared, and Owned media. To better understand the different outlets, PESO is a form that helps differentiate the media types into separate categories to help reach a target audience. The PESO model assists in how organizations can utilize different types of media to market their businesses. 

To better understand the media types that fall under the PESO categories, it is best to review each category and exactly what marketing means to classify them into these groups. When reviewing strategies to help better understand how businesses can improve their marketing strategies, by effectively leveraging each part of the PESO model and implementing these strategies, brands can create an impactful marketing strategy that maximizes reach, engagement, and results.

• Paid Media: Examples of paid media can include traditional advertising like TV and radio commercials, online display ads, sponsored social media posts, and paid search advertising (e.g., Google Ads). 

 

• Earned Media: Earned media refers to publicity and exposure gained through organic means, such as media coverage, word-of-mouth, and public relations efforts. It is the result of other people or organizations (e.g., journalists, bloggers, social media users) 

 

• Shared Media: Social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn. Shared media also includes user-generated content, such as reviews, comments, and shares.

 

• Owned Media: Company’s website, blogs, email newsletters, mobile apps, and other content that they create and manage. Owned media allows for complete control over messaging and branding but may have a more limited reach than other forms of media.

 

Based on how PESO can impact a brand’s marketability, it is important for brands to research their audience to select what category of the PESO model may be best to target. If the target audience is better reached through traditional media channels, such as print or broadcast, then the brand may want to consider investing in paid media campaigns. On the other hand, if the target audience is highly engaged in social media and relies heavily on recommendations from peers, then shared or earned media may be more effective. 

3 Key Reasons To Use PESO

1. Helps with adapting to different audiences and fields of marketing and communication-based organizations.
2. Allows you to gather data and insights from various sources, helping you better understand your audience’s preferences, behaviors, and responses.
3. The PESO model enables you to set clear goals and key performance indicators (KPIs) for each media type. 

From how the PESO model can be used to better a brand’s marketing with these tools, I would say I learned more about the different aspects that companies can use to better reach their target audience. With that being said, the PESO model helps utilize what a corporation should look for when weighing in the options available to them. Rather than focusing on a traditional method that works for a certain company, it’s better to overview the different types of media that can be better utilized so that way the goals of the organization are met successfully.

In conclusion, the PESO model is important to learn for the benefit of improving users’ knowledge of marketability. It’s important to consider the benefits of using different media outlets to help build a brand’s credibility and lead to conversions and business growth. Implementing these different strategies can help businesses increase their engagement and results. It is also important to remember that the PESO model works together and when combining paid, earned, shared, and owned media effectively, brands can create an approach that maximizes their potential.

Now, after reviewing why PESO is important, using this newfound knowledge I challenge you to not only take this information and apply it to your personal journeys, but to also consider this? Ask yourself, what form of media from the PESO model you engage with the most, and now try and find a specific kind of media from the PESO model that you don’t tend to engage with and try to utilize it for one week. After doing so, compare the differences and similarities between what exactly you might have liked or disliked compared to what you’re used to. 

In the world of digital media writing, there are a lot of different elements, considerations, tools, and other key components out there. While I am very green when it comes to digital media writing and content creation there are a few things that I have picked along the way. Most of these are things that would have never even crossed my mind beforehand. But, if you want your media to reach your audience effectively you have to stop and think about the content you are publishing.

What does content have to do with digital media writing?

A summary of content is a broad term used to define everything created and uploaded onto a website, including:

• Videos
• Blogs
• Photos
• Webinars
• E-books
• Podcasts

The form of your online content depends on a few factors that shape the type of content that you need to post. According to Content Rules By Ann Handley & C.C. Chapman, these factors include the needs and ideals of your audience, the area of your company expertise, and the time, talent, and budget that you have access to. In summary, digital media is more or less the platform you are using and the content is what exactly you are saying and how you are saying it.

Digital media is exactly what it sounds like, anyway form of communication that uses electronic machines to spread information. This can come in many variations including:

• Audio
• Video
• Social Media
• Advertising
• News

A good example is this blog you are reading. One of the many benefits of digital media writing is how far it can reach people. When I was younger every Friday I would go to my grandmother’s house and spend the night. My Mem always had the local paper and she’s a noisy person so she always reads it. Since it was the only paper delivered to her she only saw what was going on in our small town. With an online newspaper, she could not only read about our little town but the little town to the left of ours or one in Wisconsin if she wanted.

When it comes to the relation of digital media and content though digital media is the platform you are using and the content is what exactly you are saying and how you are saying it. With the proper blend of these two, you can effectively reach your audience and get your message across, that is if you follow the content rules.

What are the content rules?

Creating good content isn’t enough, you also have several other considerations to think about, well eleven other considerations to think about:

1. Embrace that you are a publisher
2. Insight that inspires originality
3. Build momentum
4. Speak human
5. Reimagine; don’t recycle
6. Share or shove, don’t shill
7. Show; don’t just tell
8. Do something unexpected
9. Stoke the campfire
10. Create wings and roots
11. Play to your strengths

Now I know that is a lot to take in at one time and it’s a lot to consider but don’t get put down. While some of them are relatively self-explanatory, some of them need elaboration such as Number 6, share or solve; don’t shill. You want to present yourself as a reliable and valuable source rather than trying to create content with the sole purpose of selling.

Share a resource –> Solve a problem –> Help your customer

Another one is Number 9, stoke the campfire. This one is a running metaphor, with five steps. The first is starting with the same stuff (twigs and leaves), start by doing your research and visiting other successful online content before jumping into yours. While doing this you want to keep a simple goal of raising awareness and traction to your content in mind. The second step is to find bigger sticks, basically keep the people coming back, and create a plan. Next up is to sing campfire songs, to do this you need other people so you have to build your community. Keep in mind quality beats quantity. The fourth step is to add those long burning logs and create content that will keep them coming back without needing too much attention. Finally, keep adjusting and adding fuel to the fire, give your audience new don’t just repeat what worked before.

The final rule breakdown is Number 10, creating your wings. In other words, content must be findable, accessible, and shareable. Findable, when a customer looks it up can they find your content? The best way to answer yes to your question is to formulate a solid search engine optimization strategy. Accessible, post your content on multiple platforms in ensure that many people can access it. Use as many platforms as you can, the more your audience can see it the better. Finally shareable, you want people to not only interact with your content but show other people it as well. To do this it is important to create your content in an easy-to-share way.

Overall, I have learned a lot so far but I am not anywhere near an expert. The simple breakdown between good content and how to use digital media to share that content has taken me a long way, but I’m still green. This is something that takes time and patience, and it’s okay not to know everything right now. I’ll find my specialty and then keep trying and pushing until I’m good at it. In the meantime, I’m a rookie who’s picked up some good tricks along the way. What are some content tricks you’ve picked up along the way?

Written By: Marisa Manns

Creating content for digital media has become increasingly popular and influential in today’s world. If you are looking to begin your journey in content creation for digital media but you don’t know where to start, you feel like it is too complicated, or you don’t want to go through the hassle of getting a formal education it, then you’re at the right place. By answering a few commonly asked questions, allow me to let you in on some essential knowledge I’ve gained through my learning experience that can help you excel in the realm of digital media.

“I want to create content, but how do I start?”

This is a question I often asked myself when I first thought of an idea of something I’d like to bring to a digital media platform, but did not know how to go about it. First, you must choose which digital media platform you will be using. Here are a few examples of popular digital media platforms:

• Blog Posts
• E-books
• Social Media
• Podcasts
• YouTube Videos
• Webinars
• Live Streams

Regardless of which one you have chosen, you must do plenty of planning before you can execute it. One of the most important steps in producing content for digital media is defining your 5 W’s and H. A.K.A., who, what, where, when, why, and how. Ask yourself these six questions:

1. Who am I producing content for? (Define your audience)
2. What will my content be about? (i.e., wellness, sports, food reviews, fashion trends, parenthood)
3. Where will I be posting my content? (What channel am I using?))
4. When will I be posting my content? (i.e., every Wednesday at 12pm)
5. Why am I sharing this content? (What is the purpose for yourself and your audience?)
6. How am I going to bring my content to life? (Think build, establish, and maintain)

If I’m being honest, defining your 5 W’s and H is not as simple as it sounds. It’s important to be specific with each one and take plenty of time to think about it. Once you have defined your audience, put yourself in their shoes. It’s important to not just consider what you are looking for, but carefully consider their needs and what they will best understand. Particularly, your “why” means a lot more than you may think. Without a “why”, your digital content is basically useless.

“How can I best make my content available?”

Found in the book  Content Rules: How to Create Killer Blogs, Podcasts, Videos, E-Books, Webinars (and More) that Engage Customers and Ignite Your Business, are the “Wings of the Web”. These wings consist of your content meeting these three criterion:

1. Findable
2. Shareable
3. Accessible

Let’s say its your very first time producing content for digital media. You will likely start with absolutely zero consumers. So how will you make your content findable? An important part of this is search engine optimization, or S.E.O. S.E.O. involves using keywords that will draw an audience to your platform or individual postings. According to Content Rules: How to Create Killer Blogs, Podcasts, Videos, E-Books, Webinars (and More) that Engage Customers and Ignite Your Business, the context and description of your content should have as much information as possible, including keywords you want to be found for on the web (long-tail keywords or terms you are trying to claim as your own). You can use keywords in your title, headings, subheadings, within a body of text, or also as tags.

In addition to making your content findable, you should also make sure your content is shareable. Allow it to be shared to other platforms like social media, publicize it to be shared with others via links, and allow it to be used as a reference. This is a great way to draw more attention to your content.

Finally, your content should be easily accessible to your audience. You can do this by designing your content to have a simple an easy to understand layout. As much as we love user interface design, user experience is a vital aspect in accessibility. Your audience should not only know where and how to access your posts, but also easily access other areas that are important to your content. This can include an about me page, an FAQ page, and a search bar. Furthermore, be sure to test your content on numerous browsers and devices, and also consider personal barriers like languages. If you want your content to reach an audience from a foreign country, you may need to make it available in more than one language.

“What about copyright?”

Copyright, as I like to say, is the big C word we all can’t stand. However, us young professionals must take legality into consideration before we get ourselves into huge trouble. Respect for copyright is a must.

Ensure that you have the legal right to use any text, images, videos, music, and any other context or information you include in your content. Always seek permission when necessary and give proper credit to the original sources when you reference someone else’s work. Remember that some of these, particularly music, videos, and images, may not be cost free. However, you can find costless media using:

• Public Domains
• Creative Commons
• Royalty-Free Stock Websites
• Government Websites
• Public Domain and Creative Commons Databases
• Free sound Websites
• User-Generated Content

In addition to copyright, other legal concerns to consider include privacy and terms of service. Be cautious when writing about individuals and become familiar with your platform’s terms and services.

For More Information

Now that you have learned some basic, yet crucial steps in the process of creating content for digital media, it’s time to bring your content to life. If you want to become more educated, https://www.digitalmedianorthwest.com is a full service digital media agency that includes further information from digital media professionals with decades of experience in digital media.

Lastly enjoy the learning experience. It has immensely helped me, and I hope it helps you too.

 

By Marissa Sweger

In the World of Digital Media Writing, Your Voice is Uniquely Yours

Finding your voice as a novice in a big sea of writers can be scary. When I first started, I was overwhelmed by the thought of finding my voice among all my peers. Am I being funny enough? Does my content make sense? Is anyone going to read this? Have other people have written the same thing but better? If you have similar thoughts and questions, I want you to take a deep breath and say, “My voice is uniquely mine.” According to Content Rules: How to Create Killer Blogs, Podcasts, Videos, Ebooks, Webinars (and More) That Engage, “In literature, voice is a term used to describe the individual writing style of the author.” It typically refers to character development, point of view, punctuation, and dialogue. These are all elements that contribute to the tone of the writing. Voice is also the way writing sounds when reading. Voice shows a reader that the content was written by a human with a point of view and, most importantly, a personality (Handley & Chapman, pg 32, 2012).

So, how do you find your voice in a crowded market? How do I use it to grow my platform?

As someone starting in digital media writing, I would have said, “Just make your writing flashy with fancy language and lots of embellishments.” Now, as someone who understands more about the digital world, that won’t fly with an audience. While the goal is to forge a unique identity and create a memorable brand that will endure the test of time, you don’t want to use hard-to-read language and phrases that don’t make sense. You must stop sounding like everyone else to differentiate your voice in a crowd. You may think this sounds easier said than done, but I believe in you! Let’s start at the beginning. Your content tone should immediately express your uniqueness.

Before learning about digital writing, I thought that tone was just something you changed in your voice when speaking to show your opinion on something, but it is so much more than that. It’s how an author expresses their attitude in their writing. Think of one of your favorite companies. Do they focus more on their design, logo, and graphics than they do on their language and tone of voice? Well, if they do, as someone who just learned a little more about digital content writing, tell them to knock it off! Language and tone are just as important as design and graphics. Who wants to sound bland when you can be unique? A unique human-sounding corporate voice is key to engaging, stimulating, and exciting your audience. Your markets are real people, not just demographics.

Have you ever read a blog written by a robot?

The answer is probably not (but who knows nowadays with AI technology). When writing digital content, you want to sound human. This is a great way to establish your voice among the masses. In this article by Josh Haynam, he says humans like things we can understand, which I mentioned earlier, that big words are a no-no. “Putting things in plain language can subtly cause the reader to believe what you are saying. When you convey an idea in simple terms, you don’t have to process the information or think twice about it before gaining understanding” (Haynam, 2014). He also says that you should use words that feel like you. Haynam is from the south, so that you might see ‘howdy’ instead of ‘hello’ in his writing. This little quirk gives the reader a peak into his personality. A month ago, I would have asked, “How can writing have a personality, and what does that have to do with anything?” After writing a blog post, I understand that those little quirks like ‘Howdy’ make you stand out from the rest.

Now that you’ve found your writing personality, don’t just talk about yourself. Your readers want to know what you can do for them rather than about how awesome you think you are. One of my key takeaways about digital media writing is that you need to offer something useful to your readers so they keep coming back. User experience is everything. You want them to know what they are in for just as much as who they are talking to when they read your content. I would rather get my advice from a conversational, friendly blog with a personality than a bland, boring robot. Simply write the way you speak.

Don’t Worry, You’ll Get the Hang Of It!

So, what did we learn? 

• Write the way you speak. 
• Avoid jargon and flashy language.
• Offer your readers something useful to keep them coming back for more.

I know I just threw a lot of information at you. It’s easy to be afraid to find your voice, but the words will start to flow once you do. Share with us what makes your voice stand out. Take it from me: the world of digital media writing can feel big and scary, but there are so many resources out there to get your digital content off the ground as a novice writer. Write what excites you, but also know who you are writing for. Lastly, remember to have fun. 

 

The digital world is a multifaceted and continually advancing milieu that has been a fabulous experience for an inquisitive university student such as myself. As I delved deeper into this vast domain, I grasped that having an appreciation for the groundwork of legacy media is not only uplifting but also essential for comprehending the digital universe.

The Patriarchal Media Legacies
Patriarchal media – consisting of newspapers, magazines, radio, and television – might be outdated, yet they are, really, the pillars that hold up the digital media scenery. Those decades-old channels of communication hold the secrets to mastery of storytelling, the might of audio and visuals, and thorough knowledge of the global climate.

Nеwspapеrs arе an artform in thеir own right, sеrving as both collеctions of historical rеcord and cеntеrs of storytеlling. Thеir crеation of еngaging hеadlinеs, intriguing lеad paragraphs, and thorough invеstigations havе had an influеncе on contеnt makеrs in thе digital agе, inspiring thеm to writе narrativеs that capturе thеir audiеncе’s attеntion.

Magazines, a combination of enthralling visuals and scrupulously researched content, exemplify the art of visual narration. As digital content creators, we have the amazing chance to utilize this strength to manufacture visually delightful and informed items that effectively hold the attention of our audience.

Tеlеvision, with its incrеdibly powerful capacitiеs of bringing togеthеr visuals and sound, has had a central role in our culturе and our social discoursе. Whilе it might sееm likе a form of passivе еntеrtaimеnt, tеlеvision programming – nеws broadcasts and documеntariеs – has a profundе ability to shape public opinion. It has also given me insight into the craft of visual storytеlling, showing me the importance of using images, camerawork, and еditing to communicate ideas, sentiments, and ideas. Those tools have proven invaluable for entrepreneurs and digital crеators who want their vidеos to tap into their audiеncеs and rеlatе to their еxpеriеncs.

Navigating thе Divеrsе World of Digital Stylеs
Now, let us explore further into the varied realm of digital styles. In the area of digital media, techniques of communication and content development are as numerous and numerous as the stars in the sky. Realizing these fashions is important for tapping the full power of the digital media world.

Within the electronic milieu, content creators relish the liberty to explore a variety of writing techniques, such as informative articles to imaginative storytelling. The net provides a wealth of knowledge and artistry, and as avid consumers of new media, we have the chance to add to this continuously developing digital stockpile.

The visual facet of digital media is incredibly diverse. From static pictures to interactive infographics and video animations, the digital landscape presents a blank canvas for creativity that knows no bounds. Understanding the visual formats that resonate with varying crowds and mediums is essential for producing a result in the digital domain.

Thе Powеr of Social Mеdia
Social media, with its exclusive content styles and distinctive dialogue conventions, is a fundamental element of the digital media landscape. Platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok each have their individual language and etiquette. Properly utilizing these networks implies possessing an appreciation for their specific trends and their public’s requisites.

Stratеgic Digital Markеting
Within the domain of digital advertising, content formulation assumes a strategic angle. Marketers utilize varied forms and styles to engage viewers, shape corporate persona, and drive sales. Knowing how to customize content to meet certain commercial targets is a useful proficiency in the digital epoch.

Guiding Bеacons: Digital Dashboards
In the expansive digital world, we, as junior professionals, must traverse its intricacy with proficiency and skill. Enter digital dashboards – our directing beacons in this many-sided universe of information! These centralized hubs serve as our administrative centers, proffering a visual embodiment of key data and metrics. They abridge the procedure of gauging our digital media efforts, empowering us to quantify the consequence of our material, follow user participation, and fabricate enlightened tweaks to our digital approaches. With digital dashboards, we can confidently guide our online presence to glory.

Thе Art of Long-Tail Kеyword Sеarchеs
In the digital sphere, where search engines function as pathways to knowledge, the significance of long-tail keyword searches cannot be downplayed. It is essential that we unlock the potential of such queries and traverse the path to increased visibility! As opposed to wide-ranging keywords, long-tail keywords are precise and often protracted search queries that closely echo a user’s purpose. Through dexterous utilization of these targeted keywords in our online content, we can gain the attention of those actively searching for information or solutions in relation to our area. This focused traffic is not only more likely to engage with our content, but also convert into precious customers or patrons.

Embracing thе Digital Journеy
Consequently, my fellow budding professionals, let’s eagerly embark on this digital mission with broad-minded and sympathetic attitudes. With each other’s help, we will take advantage of the sagacity of conventional mediums, delve into the variant realm of virtual aesthetics, utilize digital consoles, and excel in the art of extended-tail keyword scouring. The digital world is available for us to command, and I am certain that our accomplishment in this stimulating and ceaseless cosmos will be unparalleled!

What are your objectives regarding digital content creation? Share your ambitions and fantasies in the remarks below, and let us embark on this thrilling adventure together!

Long-Tail Keywords: What They Are & How to Use Them | WordStream

Long-tail keywords are longer and more specific keyword phrases that visitors are more likely to use when they’re ready to buy. Read on to learn all things long-tail.

What Is a Digital Marketing Strategy?

A strong digital marketing strategy is crucial to organizational success in today’s business landscape. Companies thriving in the digital world typically

By Tyler Rake.

So, you want to go big with digital media writing. That is wonderful, digital media writing is a highly sought after skill and takes both time and creativity to get good at. One of the things to understand before going into the field is there are different kinds of way media is presented. This is where a catchy acronym comes in to tell you what kinds of media there are, and the acronym is PESO. PESO stands for Paid, Earned, Shared, and, Owned media. Organizations can pay for media, they can earn it through reputation, it can be shared online, or it can be owned by the organization itself. For the longest time I didn’t understand how to apply PESO or why it really mattered but eventually I learned the differences in writing for these types of media these are the key things to remember when writing for each media type.

Taken by StartupStockPhotos from Pixabay.

• Write for an audience.
• Write to promote your organization
• Don’t overdo it
• its possible to get bad attention.

When somebody buys a spot for their media, like you would for an advertisement, this is known as paid media. Paid media is everywhere on billboards, online, in the newspaper etc. The important thing to know when writing for paid media is as with most of the media people produce is keep it simple and know you’re writing for an audience. Keep in mind as well that if this is paid media that you want people to see you need to make it bold and stand out so it will draw attention to itself that way people read your content above all of the other content out there.

Earned media is a little bit different as it is harder to put into terms for digital media writers. In order for somebody to produce earned media it has to be very compelling to the point of people talking to others about it through word of mouth. For example it would be like writing a very inspirational post for your organization and have it be so remarkable that a viewer of that post would want to tell their mother or father about it so that they would go take a look at this post. If this is the route that someone may be writing for it is important that they remember that there is a bad form of earned media in that it can be bad enough for people to tell others about it therefore giving your organization a bad reputation and possibly putting you out of a job.

One of the most common forms of media and something that people will be familiar with is shared media. Similar to earned media it’s media that people find good enough to share with other people on the internet. Again shared media is similar to earned in that there is both good and bad ways to get information shared to other people. When writing for media to be shared it’s important to keep it simple but also keep in mind if you want your post to be shared then it is important to make it stand out from others so it doesn’t get lost in the sea of posts on the internet.

Many organizations have owned media. These can be things such as company newsletters or posters that are made by the company in order to get messages out to people in the organization or people who are close to it. For example if a person would for whatever reason really want to keep up to date with what is happening with McDonald’s, they could sign up for their news letter which is something the company produces rather than pays for. When writing for owned media it is important to remember that you are still writing for an audience albeit an informed audience and it is important to still make sure the audience is going to understand the information that they are being given.

Even though this stuff may seem a little overwhelming writing for the different types of media can be done as long as you break down what needs to be done into steps and above all else to keep in mind that you are writing for an audience. The audience is key to yours as well as your organization’s success because if they like your stuff, you’re going to keep writing for your organization. With this I leave you with a question. How are you going to promote your organization in this competitive world?

Written by: Kayla Mitchell

Close your eyes and envision a time where you and a group of people were gathered around a campfire. What do all of these experiences have in common? For me the one common factor is always the engaging conversations we all have and the sense of community we feel being all together. This same idea of a campfire can be applied to content by thinking of cultivating a community.

A common misconception is that if one of your pieces of content goes viral that you’ve made it and that the hard work is done. By creating a safe and engaging environment for your visitors “the longer they will stay, the more they will invite others to visit, and the more often they will come back.” (Handley and Chapman, 2012) Success is determined by creating a community of people who consistently engage in your content.

What are the steps in creating a campfire?

• Collect the materials for the fire
• Continuing to add branches so the fire doesn’t burn out
• Sing songs around the fire
• Connecting with the people around the fire as the night goes on.

These four steps of experiencing a campfire, can be used to create “the content campfire” too!

1. Collecting Materials For The Fire.- In the same way that branches are the base for the fire to ignite is the way that your first posts are the base to your identity, but content as a whole. Your ultimately goal is to create content that is relatable and sharable. If you, the author, wouldn’t want to share your own post then it’s very likely that others won’t either. Thinking of content that is engaging and titles that will capture the attention of your audience is vital in creating a strong base.
2. Finding the Bigger Sticks.– When a fire is first lit after a certain amount of time the fire will die out if you aren’t attending to it. In comparison to content, by creating a consistent uploading schedule and plan what actual content will be posted you ensure that the traction you originally had gained will stay. A content calendar is a great tool in helping to organize the creation/posting of your content. According to businessnewsdaily.com “A content calendar is a written schedule of content that you plan to publish.” (Simón, 2023) Having a calendar and plan for content ensures your fire will never die out! Momentum is vital in cultivating a loyal audience to your content. “Regularly dependable, recurring, reimagined content is the key.” (Handley & Chapman, 2012)

3. Singing Campfire Songs.- Once everyone around the campfire starts singing songs, you know that people are in a comfortable and safe space to have fun together. By creating that same type of environment in terms of your content creation, people are more likely to engage with the content itself, but also with each other. In an article posted by Ross Simmonds on Foundationinc.co provides helpful insight on how to encourage engagement on your content. Some of these tips include, but are not limited to using images and emojis to break up space with the text, writing with humor, and responding to the comments that your viewers are writing to show your interest in their engagement. (Simmonds, 2023)

4. Telling Stories by the Campfire Light.– As the creator of the campfire, it is your role to lead the direction of the stories that are told around the fire. You want to tell stories that have the goal of relating to other people and connecting with them, so that they are more likely to share and connect with others. If you are writing like it is for a grade or for an assignment, the structure and tone will reflect in less audience engagement. No one wants to read a paper for school! Adding personal anecdotes and writing with a conversational tone can make your blog seem like a comfortable space to interact with. If people are comfortable interacting on your blog, the better conversations will occur because they will feel more enticed to share more detail-oriented stories.

Cultivating a community and encouraging community engagement is vital in creating sustainable success on your content that you post. Remembering the steps of creating a campfire can help simplify the process of creating content and ensuring that people will continue to connect and share it as well. Feeling the warmth of a fire surrounded by people you love is an indescribable feeling, and if you can slightly emulate that environment with your digital content, there is no doubt you will have long-term success!

What kind of posts will you make to engage your community?

https://www.businessnewsdaily.com/16011-how-to-create-content-calendar.html

https://foundationinc.co/lab/engagement-on-social-media/

http://www.contentrulesbook.com

By: Annie Coghlan

What is communication and how is it used?  If you’re struggling to answer this question, keep reading to learn all the tips of digital media writing for beginners.

Let’s dive right into it. What is communication; what some individuals see as a way of interacting, others see as an opportunity to express a message. Communication can be used as a tool to influence individuals to partake in a desired behavior. Some content creators can influence individuals to buy a limited-edition lip gloss, others are creating simply to educate individuals. The more skill you have at communicating your content, the more success you will obtain.

What is Media?

As a new member of the communications world, prior to taking this course I had little to no knowledge on anything relating back to media. I immediately found myself confused about what the different media types are and struggling to understand when they should be used. While reading the text and attending our class lectures, I learned those media types can be broken down into two types, legacy media, and new media.

Legacy media can better be described as media with minimal technology use. Legacy media consists of billboard advertisements, black and white print newspaper, television, and magazines. New media, however, includes all types of legacy media but also consists of new digital communication technologies. This subject focuses solely on digital media and what that entails, which I now know is a part of new media.

Simplifying the Content

You might be starting to get overwhelmed at the amount of information being thrown at you; I know that I was.  Now is where we will begin to break down the content and hopefully, make it make sense. . In the start of this course, the first question I found myself wondering was what even is digital media? In the simplest words digital media is any form of digital content that uses electronic devices for transmission and distribution, but there is so much more to it.

Diving deeper into what digital media really is, there are five different categories you should be aware of. Those categories include, audio media, video media, social media, advertising, and news literature and more. Each category of digital media consists of its own list of subcategories representing the different channels used in each type.  For example, social media is made up of different applications and each application represents a different type of ‘channel’ to use when communicating. Some examples of those channels for social media include Twitter, Facebook, Tik-Tok, Instagram, and LinkedIn. Understanding each type of digital media along with their channels is very vital in gaining your desired outcome.

Strategies for Success

Now that we can better understand what digital media is, lets discuss what makes up successful digital media writing. Throughout the first month of this course, I was able to learn many things to help improve my skills in media writing. If you’re like me and always find yourself struggling on where to begin with your writing, take about 10 steps back.

Throughout this course, I have come to the realization that the biggest key to success in your writing is to strategize. You may be thinking “what does it mean to strategize for my writing” and if you are, you’re just like me. Strategizing is much simpler than it seems. In simple words, strategizing is outlining your information and goals prior to beginning your writing.

To get deeper into it, there are numerous tips to help you best outline your content. The steps you should follow when strategizing your writing include, choosing your audience, defining your goals, defining your message(s), choosing the right tools, focus on your design and tone, and finally integrating your product across media types.

Audience, Message, Channel. 

In following these six steps, writing for digital media will become simpler and more attainable and here is why. The way you write should always be geared towards your intended audience. Sitting down prior to beginning your writing will allow you to discover the language, tone, and channel that will be most beneficial for reaching your desired audience.

Next, it is very important to define the overall goal of your writing. In defining your goal, you will be able to dissect your information and research. This will allow you to only include information that is relevant and beneficial in sharing your message.

Your message is another vital part of strategizing your writing. Your message also tends to intertwine with the design of your writing. Prior to writing, you want to discover one clear message that is the main idea of your writing.

You want your audience to be able to walk away from your writing with an understanding of what you were attempting to communicate. For example, if I am creating a video log—or vlog—post about how amazing the new iPhone 15 is, I want my audience to walk away with a list of reasons on why that phone is amazing,

In the following step, “choosing the right tool”, it is important to make this very personal to yourself. Pick the tool that you often produce the most success with.

One of the most important things in your writing is your design and tone. Design and tone relate to the set-up of your content. Your goal as a digital media writer is to produce a tone and design that are unique.

The final step that you want to remember is the ability to integrate your creation across different media types. In today’s communications world, you want the media you create to be as widely seen as possible. Making it able to integrate will allow you to use different communication channels to still produce the same information and content.

In following these important tips and tricks, your digital media success will sky-rocket. It does not take much work to create a writing piece, but if you take the extra time to prepare yourself prior to writing, then you will have the ability to make an amazing writing piece.

Be honest with me. Did that make it make sense or should we diver deeper into more tips and tricks for successful digital media writing?