How to Blog like Disney

It’s no secret Disney does everything above and beyond.
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It’s no secret Disney does everything above and beyond. As a Disney viewer, visitor, customer, etc., I always noticed the company pays attention to detail, but when I attended the Disney Social Media Moms Celebration, I was blown away. Disney doesn’t just pay attention to details, but the details in those details, then in those details. I could go on.

One of the highlights of the trip was hearing about how the Disney Parks Blog operates. Thomas Smith is the founder of the blog and the editorial content director at Disney Parks. In a sentence, he runs the blog like a newsroom. (Yes, he was speaking my language.)

So, how does Disney do this? Content. Every post includes three things:

1. Moving Forward

What’s next? Disney is always thinking ahead. After Frozen broke records and everyone was singing “Let It Go” for months (or years), Disney moved forward with the Frozen Ever After ride at Epcot.

Another example would be the remake of Beauty and the Beast. It was a hit in 1991, so why not bring the characters to life again in 2017? It worked for the Jungle Book and Alice through the Looking Glass. Beauty and the Beast is next.

2. New Things

Is it just me, or does Disney figure out a new, innovative way to make things happen on a daily basis? It’s not me. It’s Disney. I think this is reason the Disney Parks Blog needs to operate like the well oiled machine it is.

There are new things happening every single day. I mean, that’s what makes Disney what it is, right?

Even if one day passes and nothing new happens, they would create it.

For example, ghosts and pirates have even taken over the blog to entertain readers… and according to Smith, writing like a pirate is NOT easy. (Argh!)

3. Curiosity

When you log online, you do it for one reason - you’re curious. You want to find out what’s going on - whether it be the latest political news, how your friends feel about that political news (or not), who’s getting married, what their honeymoon pictures look like, and much more.

Disney fills that curiosity online, while moving forward with new things.

Those three aspects aren’t enough. Disney also includes images, infographics, lists, and videos.

Video Series

Something else Disney does that I LOVE is a video series called iNSIDE Disney Parks. As a former TV reporter and anchor, this is right my alley.

I think every business should do something like this to show people their brand, not just write about it. I’m borderline obsessed with this part of the blog. It’s so cool!

(iNSIDE Disney Parks, are you hiring?)

Engage

Disney does a lot of great things to engage with fans... and social media is the best way to do it.

Instagram is the fastest growing platform for the company.

Facebook live streams bring in viewers and comments from around the world! It’s the happiest place on Earth and if you can’t get there, Disney can bring it to you via live streams.

On Twitter, every tweet I sent while I was at the park was responded to. It sounds like such a simple way to interact with fans of the brand, but you’d be shocked at how many don’t do this. While it only takes a couple of sentences to acknowledge a fan, it makes a world of different in their eyes.

So, how do you operate a blog like a newsroom? In a sentence, you keep content fresh and exciting… like Disney does.

Christina Nicholson is a former TV reporter and anchor who now owns and operates a public relations firm, Media Maven. She helps small business owners earn exposure through media relations, video production, writing, and blogging. She also recently launched Master your PR - an online course that teaches small business owners how to handle public relations on their own. Christina also has a local lifestyle and family blog, Mascara Maven. She lives in South Florida with her husband and two young children.

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