If you’re attending a conference or event – say Apple WWDC or Google I/O – related to your blog or niche, you need to consider live blogging. Live blogging is posting ongoing updates to your blog about the live event, rather than posting a post-event report.
Through live blogging, when you able to provide regular updates with useful insights during an event, your readers will most likely turn to your blog as a focal point for event coverage. Also, live blogging can help your blog get more visibility in web searches and can also help improve your blog rank in search engines.
Reading: How to create a live blog
That’s why you need to learn the tips and tricks of the Learning Live Blogging -Blogging like a pro is the goal of this post. So let’s get started.
1. Prepare well before the event
First you need to choose a relevant event with the right audience. The live conference or event needs to fit your blog niche and your readers. Then you need to set goals for live blogging. Finally, as you need to post updates as soon as possible, you need to prepare as much as possible before the event.
Check the event’s website
An event website is a great place to start researching the event. You can get the event schedule along with their speakers, sponsors, and corporate attendees.
With this information, you can research more about them and start creating content for your live blog, including speaker details and links.
Talk to the speakers
If your live event has a website, it will likely list the event schedule along with the speakers. If the website doesn’t show it, try to visit the website later as they may not release the speakers’ information until a few days before the live event.
Once you know them, try to get them over Reach out to social media and tell them about your plan to cover the event. You can share the post link with them and on social media by calling them in a conversation.
And when they interact with you on social media, share your excitement about them listen.
Design graphics and templates
It is good to include graphics in blog posts as it engages users and helps with search engine optimization. However, creating graphics takes time, so consider creating them in advance.
If this is not possible, consider creating or downloading graphic templates with enough space to some information or include quotes from the event.
Be ready to talk to your audience
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People always love an inside look at events. So you need to create a list of questions to ask the speakers and/or the audience at the event. By speaking to the speakers, you can get their opinions about the event.
Or you can discuss the event with the attendees and ask them what they think of the event and its speakers.
You can also report on your social media channels that you can interview people at the event and ask people to send questions. You may be surprised by people’s creativity and curiosity in asking questions about the event.
2. Choose a blogging platform
Now that you’ve prepared for the event, it’s time to choose your blogging platform. You can choose between several options based on their pros and cons (which I will discuss below under each subheading) and your preferences.
Your existing blog
Using your existing blog there the live blogging platform is the most obvious choice – especially if you’re looking forward to growing your blog audience through live blogging. You’ll probably need to create a category or tag for the event for your readers to follow. It is also recommended to write an introductory post.
Alternatively, you can create a single blog post or page dedicated to the event. However, for a multi-day event, you need to create a post or page every day. Also, consider having multiple writers for large conference coverage.
Microblogging site
Using a microblogging site such as Twitter or Tumblr for live blogging at an event might work better than your blog if you want to provide quick updates.
Also, if you have a large following on Twitter or Tumblr, it’s probably a better idea. Otherwise, you should consider live blogging with your blog or a live blogging service.
If you decide to use a microblogging website to cover the event, check for hashtags with the event are linked and use them.You can also embed the microblogging feed on your blog to send updates to both audiences.
Live blogging service
Using a live blogging service such as 24liveblog or Arena.im gives you additional benefits over your blog or microblogging site. These tools offer features to engage your audience and increase social engagement, such as >embed your liveblog into your blog, increasing the reach of your event coverage. Also, 24liveblog allows contributors and editors to write on your live blog and allows you to live stream the event directly.
3. Choose a convenient device
After choosing a platform for live blogging, you need to choose a device for live blogging. Since you’re on the go, laptop, cell phone and tablet are the most obvious choices.
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It also depends heavily on the event: will the session be tight, will you need an all-day fee, or will you be comfortable using the device?
You must ask such questions before selecting the devices. You must charge your devices to 100% before leaving for the event. It is recommended to carry extra batteries or power banks just in case; you never know if you need them. And as well as a camera, you should also have a tripod with you – especially if you plan to live stream it.
Also don’t forget to test your devices before the event – especially if you have bought new equipment for covering the event. There’s nothing worse than when you’re working or recording for an hour and your device crashes. Or the recording will be blurry or deleted or recorded with no sound.
4. Post a blog at the live event
If you’re attending the event, there are a few things to keep in mind. First of all, you have to understand that you will make mistakes. Live blogging will have grammatical errors, typos, and so on. It’s mostly unavoidable – especially if you’re trying to post quick updates as close to real time as possible during the live event.
Then be mindful and respectful of other participants in the event. You should choose a device there based on comfort, i.e. H. use a phone or tablet instead of a laptop if you have less space.
When you click on a photo or record a video, remember to Turn off the flash ( it distracts the speakers) and increase the ISO setting instead. Also adjust the brightness of your device accordingly if the lights are dim there.
5. Live Stream at the Event
If you want to enrich your audience’s experience after the event, you can live stream in addition to live blogging. It helps your audience to cover the event better and more comprehensively.
If you have team members with you, one of you can manage the camera for the live streaming while the others run it Live blogging.
If you are going to the event individually, you should also bring a tripod (like I suggested above). You can set up the camera on the tripod and then focus on live blogging while the camera manages the live streaming to your audience.
For live streaming, you can use a variety from platforms including Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube. Also, if you decide to use a live blogging service to cover the event, check if it supports live streaming. If so, you can live stream directly, and if not, go with the platform with the most viewers.
6. Go beyond live blogging
Live blogging cannot be the end of your coverage of the conference or event. They should consider more ways to cover the event and reach a larger audience. You can set up a collection on Flickr to showcase your images from the event. Then you can share your live blog on social media channels like Twitter and Facebook.
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