Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4 Page 5 Page 6 Page 7 Page 8 Page 9 Page 10 Page 11 Page 12 Page 13 Page 14 Page 15 Page 16 Page 17 Page 18 Page 19 Page 20 Page 21 Page 22 Page 23 Page 24 Page 25 Page 26 Page 27 Page 28 Page 29 Page 30 Page 31 Page 32 Page 33 Page 34 Page 35 Page 36 Page 37 Page 38 Page 39 Page 40 Page 41 Page 42 Page 43 Page 44 Page 45 Page 46 Page 47 Page 4810 JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2017 • FOGHORN FOGHORNFOCUS: SALES & MARKETING HOWTOBLOG Telling a story – especially on a blog – is much more than simply putting words on paper: it’s about engaging a reader, hooking them, convincing them to keep reading and coming back for more. For the majority of us, this isn’t something innate; it is something that we must learn. And, for those of us trying to convince potential and current customers to read our content, visit our site, and book a voyage, knowing how to blog a good story is vital. So, what are some tricks and tips for telling a good story? • Focus on content. Be sure to tell a story – get creative and don’t repeat posts in the same manner. Bring your vessel, the area you operate and those on board alive. Keep content fresh, innovative, and unique. • Details matter! Don’t just list, describe your activities. Choose adjectives with care, give a little background information and add flavor to make your post feel like a story, not a diary. • Tap into all five senses in your story to hook your readers to completely immerse them in your story. • Tell your story with different perspectives or style – mix it up! Be whimsical, be informative, make lists, tell a story from different points of view, share an anecdote. Delve into many personalities to keep posts unique. Lists can work, but mix with narrative and visuals. • Add background and context. Examine the historical context sur- rounding an item mentioned in your post, or perhaps discuss it in the social, cultural, natural, environmental or other context. A colorful backgound gives your post more character. • Personalize it. Add characters to your story so that readers can relate, such as crewmembers, passengers, marine animals, locals, scientists, historical figures, or anyone else involved in your story. • Use visuals. It’s often said a picture is worth a thousand words. Intersperse your post with images, or chose a central image to base your narrative on. • Pay attention to formatting. Don’t have paragraphs or posts so long that the reader loses interest, or too short they lack information. Check for spelling/grammar mistakes, and make sure you include a relevant, informative and catchy title/subtitles. Be sure to caption your images! • Make your blog easy to find, navigate and read. Once written, make sure your blog posts are accessible to your readers through your website and social media outlets such as Facebook and Instagram. By Dawn Rainbolt, author of the blog https://themostbeautifulplacesineurope. wordpress.com • CERTIFIED TO MEET EPA’S “SAFER CHOICE”CRITERIA. • CERTIFIED TO EXCEED“VGP STANDARDS”FOR“AQUATIC TOXICITY”;OECD 203. • CERTIFIED TO EXCEED“VGP STANDARDS”FOR BIODEGRADABILITY”;CLASSIFIED AS “READILY BIODEGRADABLE”;OECD 301-D. • CLASSIFIED“ONLY MILDLY IRRITATING TO EYES”;MB RESEARCH;PROTOCOL 2200-07. • CERTIFIED“NOT CORROSIVE TO METALS”(ALUMINUM); NACE/ASTM G31-72. • CERTIFIED SUPERIOR PERFORMANCE VS.NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED LEADING BRAND PRODUCT;ASTM 4488-A6. • SUPPORTIVE OF“OIL COMPANIES INTERNATIONAL MARINE FORUM (OCIMF) “TANKER MANAGEMENT SELF ASSESSMENT” (TMSA) GUIDELINES. EPA CERTIFIED FOR ENVIRONMENTAL AND HUMAN HEALTH CONCERNS CUSTOM COMPOUNDERS INC. 1 Tenbrook Industrial Court Arnold,Mo.63010 636-296-3131 Toll Free:855-638-8661 rjaudon@custmcmpndrs.com www.L44ECD.com APPROVED FOR USE BY RESPECTED MARITIME OPERATIONS AEP River Operations • SCF Marine • Luhr Bros.Inc • SeaBulk Towing