Blogger Billy McDermott Offers How-To Tips at NJIT Management Seminar

NEWARK, Jun 9 2005

Twelve tips on successful blogging were among the highlights of a day-long business and networking event held yesterday at New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT). The event, aimed at encouraging men and women with technological expertise to start their own companies, was organized by NJIT’s School of Management, Office of Technology Development, Enterprise Development Center and the North Essex Chamber of Commerce.

These networking events are part of an ongoing series at NJIT designed to help new businesses get off the ground. This particular event also raised funds for the School of Management. Tickets were $25 and included a buffet lunch. For more information about similar future events, contact Billy McDermott, william.j.mcdermott@njit.edu, (973-596-3256) director of development at the school.

McDermott was also a featured speaker. He described his year-old personal web log (blog). The blog now averages daily 8500 hits and 250 unique visitors and has amassed more than 70 entries (totaling 80,000 words) and 200 pages. “It’s enough content to fill a book,” McDermott said. The tips he offered include the following.

1. Blogging is great because it gives you power. “Always remember the story of how a blogger forced Dan Rather into retirement,” said McDermott.

2. Don’t treat blogging like a diet you intend to start, but don’t. Just do it.

3. Blogging is easy. If you can use Microsoft Word, you can blog.

4. Learn about RSS which means “really simple syndication.”

5. Subscribe to RSS feeds. Send in nothing more than a headline grabber.

6. Enjoy the process.

7. Use strategic keywords and three-sentence “tag lines.” Tag lines describe what you are writing about.

8. Have patience. Writers are not born overnight. Write a few words one day at a time. And remember, one word is better than no words.

9. Be active about writing. Write in your blog at least weekly.

10. Blog submit search engines will differ from regular search engines.

11. Use Adobe Acrobat. It will allow readers to have a clean typewritten sheet.

12. Pay attention to editing. You’re a publisher now. If you can’t edit your own work ask or pay someone else to do it for you.

Tagged: School of Management, Enterprise Development Center, Office of Technology Development, Billy McDermott, North Essex Chamber of Commerce, blogging

NJIT, New Jersey's science and technology university, enrolls more than 9,558 students pursuing bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees in 120 programs. The university consists of six colleges: Newark College of Engineering, College of Architecture and Design, College of Science and Liberal Arts, School of Management, College of Computing Sciences and Albert Dorman Honors College. U.S. News & World Report's 2011 Annual Guide to America's Best Colleges ranked NJIT in the top tier of national research universities. NJIT is internationally recognized for being at the edge in knowledge in architecture, applied mathematics, wireless communications and networking, solar physics, advanced engineered particulate materials, nanotechnology, neural engineering and e-learning. Many courses and certificate programs, as well as graduate degrees, are available online through the Office of Continuing Professional Education.