You’ve heard of blogging, tweeting and Facebooking (yes, this has been made a verb), but how many of you have heard of live blogging? It’s not as popular as the other tools – yet, but it’s just as effective and really cool. If you’ve heard of live blogging, this post is a refresher. If you haven’t heard of it, this is your introduction.
What is Live Blogging?
Simply stated, live blogging is sharing information in real time just like Twitter. Unlike Twitter, there are no character limits. Also, blogging, social media and multimedia are combined to give your audience an online “experience”. Lastly, audience engagement is critical for a successful live blog; therefore, many tools are provided to optimize interaction.
Who’s Live Blogging and What Are They Live Blogging About?
Huffington Post is notorious for blogging politics. Many technology bloggers are first to report new technologies and gadgets. DJ Slim, a huge American Idol fan, has been live blogging these shows on his Idol Blog Live since 2004! I live blogged the very first 1-Day WordPress Workshop and the Women’s Business Development Center’s 25th Women Entrepreneurial Conference. These are just a few examples of who’s live blogging and what they are covering.
Other events that can be live blogged include:
- Tradeshows
- Community events
- High school and community sports events
- Real-time Q & A sessions for political and community leaders
- Community meetings – PTA, city hall meetings, town halls
Why Live Blog?
The ability to share what’s happening RIGHT NOW and immediate engagement with your audience are two of the main benefits of live blogging. Following are five more reasons.
- Report information first. Because you are an independent operation, you can report information first and accurately. Also, you can share information that mainstream media outlets would not share because of time and relevancy.
- Get paid. In addition to charging for live blogging services, you can charge people to advertise during the live blog and you can submit stories to paying publications after the event.
- Additional blog content. You may decide to use the content from your live blog for posts on your site or as guest posts.
- More exposure to events, knowledge and people. Blogging opens doors to a world of opportunities. You can live blog the topics beyond those on your site. Check out different industries and events. Additionally, you may attract new visitors from around the world.
- Garner support for causes important to you. This is great for real-time fundraising.
Live Blogging Tools
To date, there are four main live blogging programs. WordPress Live Blogging Plug-in, Cover It Live, Scribble Live and G-Snap. Read a review of the different programs.
This is just a quick lesson in live blogging. It is definitely more work than blogging and tweeting, but it can be fun, especially when you are engaging your onsite audience and sharing that information with your online audience. For more information on the many aspects of live blogging as well as tips on how to live blog, purchase my eBook, The ABCs of Live Blogging: Quick Tips to Live Blogging Success.