22 Tips for Writing a Great Blog Post

Writing a blog post is not as easy as it may look. You can come up with a great idea, but that is only the beginning. Once you start writing there are many pitfalls to avoid and many things to keep in mind beyond just putting your thoughts on paper.

In a recent study, HubSpot revealed that companies blog less and less. One key reason is that many companies do not understand or know what it takes to write a great blog post.

Here are the twenty-two tips you need to know about writing a great (and successful) blog post.

Start with a Catchy Headline

Your headline is the first thing that draws people in, so it must be compelling and relevant to your target audience. If you find yourself struggling with creating a headline, try writing down three or four different headlines and see which one resonates most with your readers. That’s the perfect choice for your blog post title.

Write in an Informal and Conversational Tone

Your readers want to feel like they’re having a casual conversation with you. Don’t get too bogged down in industry jargon and technical details; write for your reader, not the search engines or your peers.

Take Your Time Completing the Post

It may seem ironic that you should take your time writing an article about how to complete an article quickly, but if this is your first blog post, you want it to be good! The more time you spend crafting each word into exactly what you want it to say, the better experience the reader will have read it.

Format Posts Appropriately

Use short paragraphs, plenty of subheadings (but don’t overuse them), and white space.

Remember: people read online differently than they do on paper. On the Internet, people are searching for information quickly. If they want to read your blog post in its entirety, they’ll bookmark it or subscribe to your feed.

Don’t worry about putting “the good stuff” at the beginning of a post; if there’s something that must be at the top, most modern blogging platforms have built-in features that let you highlight your points so readers can easily find them.

Give Your Post Structure with Bullets and Numbers

This is especially helpful when you are writing how-to posts or listing steps. When you mention each step in the numbered list, put it in bold so readers know where they are or what task they should be working on. You can also use this formatting style to separate different points in your post as you compare them.

Give Your Post a Strong, Climactic Finish

Your article should have a strong closer that ties up all the loose ends and gives them a clear idea of the next steps. It helps to return to your opening statement or quote here, so they know exactly where everything started. This step is also great for summarizing key takeaways or including a call-to-action that encourages readers to comment or share their thoughts with you on social media.

Make your Points Clear and Concise

Your posts should be about 300-600 words, at most. There’s no reason to write a novel when all you need is a few paragraphs to convey your message. The more succinctly you can explain your point, the better chance it has of being read by your readers.

When in Doubt, Quote an Authority

Quotes are great for adding credibility and illustrating whatever idea you’re talking about. But don’t just quote anyone; if the person is relevant to your post’s topic, even better! If not, consider including a picture with the quote instead of using only text.

Don’t Overreact or Understate Things

Your blog posts should reflect positively on you as a professional and take people in the direction that will benefit them.

Don’t overreact to negative comments or topics you know nothing about. People will be able to tell if you don’t have a good grasp of the subject and might decide not to trust you further down the line.

Don’t Forget Links

Links are a great, convenient way to include more information without having to write it all out yourself.

But don’t repeat yourself by linking back to your site every few minutes; sprinkle links throughout the post so readers can learn even more about what interests them.

Try Out Different Formats

While there is no “one-size-fits-all” formula for blog posts, testing different formats is an easy way to see what works best for your audience. For example, listing ten items with a corresponding picture and a summary may work better for one subject than another.

Provide Helpful Information, Not Just Salesmanship

Don’t immediately try to sell your product or service; instead, include it in the post where it makes sense and be helpful first. If you do this consistently over time, people will start to notice that buying from you is their best option.

Be Consistent with Your Voice and Tone

Audiences respond well when they can tell exactly what sort of tone you’re going for before they read everything themselves. Once they pick up on your style, don’t change it part way through the blog post unless there’s a good reason for doing so!

Use Images and Videos to Break up your Text and Add Visual Interest

Don’t be afraid to use screenshots, if appropriate, and feature them alongside your text. People look at them and will appreciate the break between paragraphs of text. If you can find a relevant video on anything related to your topic, post it with a link so people can watch while they read about what interests them.

Try Different Blogging Platforms

Every blogging platform works differently, so you must know how to get the most out of yours! For instance, some platforms allow for more advanced formatting than others; don’t skip over these features just because you’re not familiar with them!

Keep an Open Mind but Know Your Limits

The best blog posts are ones that bloggers want to write themselves instead of writing because they feel obligated to. If you don’t see your blog post idea happening, abandon it right away and come up with something else instead of wasting time on an idea that doesn’t fit your style or interests.

Engage your Readers by Asking them Questions

Informational content is great but asking your readers to share stories or their own opinions is an easy way to get them engaged! Try asking questions at the bottom of each post so you can learn more about what interests your audience. For example, if you’re writing an article about Online Dating or how to find sugar babies, it would be ideal if you could ask your readers about their own experiences with the topic.

Use Humor and Personal Stories to make your Points Relatable

People like to read about other people and what they’ve been through. Sharing stories of your trials and tribulations is a great way to connect with readers on a personal level that often has nothing to do with the topic at hand. After all, sometimes you just need a good laugh!

Write about Topics that Interest you and your Audience

Your blog post will be much more compelling if you write about topics that interest you! This way, you’ll never run out of things to say and could even start sharing your knowledge with readers you’ve never met. Even though it’s okay to stretch boundaries in posts, this is your opportunity to show your expertise instead of trying something different.

Research your Topic Thoroughly Before Writing your Post

Show off your expertise on a topic by knowing more than anyone else! If you aren’t knowledgeable enough on the subject, there are plenty of books you can read or people who can answer questions before writing. Otherwise, readers will catch onto your lack of research and start to question everything you say.

Proofread your Post for Grammar and Spelling Errors before you Publish

Nothing screams ‘amateur’ like a post filled with words spelled wrong and grammar mistakes. If your blog is about your expert knowledge, this would be the last thing people expect to find on it! Be sure to have someone read over anything you publish before publishing it yourself, so typos are less likely to happen.

Share your Post on Social Media to Reach a Wider Audience

Don’t be afraid to share your posts on social media! If you have a Twitter account, don’t hesitate to tweet about your latest blog post. On the other hand, if you prefer Facebook or Instagram, make sure those are linked as well so people can find it easily if they aren’t regular readers.

Conclusion

Congratulations! You’ve just written a great blog post.

Now it’s time to sit back and let the traffic come rolling in! These ten tips will help you write a compelling blog post that engages your audience and provides interesting content for them to read again and again.

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