This week I had the pleasure of interviewing Renee DeCoskey. She is a former educator and talented blogger/writer. If you ever need help with copy writing or content development, she is a very good person to speak with!

1. How long have you been blogging?

I’ve been blogging on some level or another since July 2001 (almost 10 years!). I felt compelled to follow suit with a few friends and register for a LiveJournal, and through college, my “blogging” was just that — journaling. It was another way to facilitate my love of writing. One LiveJournal, two Bloggers, two WordPress.com blogs, and one WordPress.org site later, and my blogging has evolved immensely.

2. What is your process for producing valuable blog content?

I read like it’s going out of style because I find that I’m generally inspired by what others write and I get a little thrill out of making the connections. Also, reading everything helps me learn so that, by the time I write, I feel confident in my knowledge. It’s important that readers trust what you have to say.

Inspiration and ideas can strike anywhere, so I keep Moleskine notebooks all over the place, an app on my phone for idea organization, and a folder for writing ideas that I email myself in the middle of the night.

For a more in-depth response, check out my post on the 10 Commandments of Content Creation.

3. In regards to editorial calendars, do you have any quick pointers for scheduling blog posts?

I’ve always been taught that with time-sensitive posts, the earlier you can post them in the work day, the better. When the topic isn’t time sensitive, the scheduling isn’t quite so strict. I try to avoid posting on weekends and holidays because not as many people are hanging out online and reading blogs.

4. What blog post titles tend to resonate with readers?

In my experience, people like numbered lists and tips (5 Ways to Increase Traffic, 3 Must-Have Social Media Tools, etc.). People also like a humorous title (as long as the content follows suit while still being valuable).

5. Have any quick SEO tips?

Try to include your major keywords in your title and in the first sentence or two of your opening paragraph. Metadata is [also] important when using images.

6. Where can readers learn more about you?

Readers can learn more about me by visiting my website, blog, LinkedIn, and Twitter pages. They can also find me hanging out and blogging over at Business2Community.