Have you ever found yourself wondering about the things you wish you knew before taking on a big project? For me, it was knowing how to write amazing blog posts when I first started my journey as an affiliate marketer and website builder.
Now that I am entering my second year of my site, I have come to learn that you don’t need to be an outstanding author to make it, rather, you just have to be able to masterfully craft content that’s entertaining and informative.
Having a basic understanding of this concept, it’s key that your articles you write for your blog should not only offer something new, they must also work hard to connect with the reader by leaving an impression that lasts.
In the short year that I have been creating content, I have learned that there are all sorts of tricks you can use to do this. These can range from crafting attention-grabbing headlines and selecting eye-catching colors, fonts, and imagery, to writing a catchy intro.
The bottom-line comes down to how well you write will dictate how well your post resonates with your readers and the value the the search engine algorithms believe it brings to the user.
In this article, I’m going to outline some steps on how to write effective blog posts and give you some tips on how to make sure your work stands out.
Ready?
Let’s begin.
Write down your ideas
How to Write an Amazing Blog Posts TOC
Writing an interesting post can seem like a daunting task. However, the first step is actually very simple: write down your ideas.
This allows you to quickly capture all of your great ideas without needing to worry about making them into perfect sentence structure.
Grab a notebook or open up a blank document on your computer and start listing all the topics you’d like to discuss in your post.
Don’t be afraid to brainstorm; just get those ideas out while they’re still fresh in your mind!
From there, you can begin to organize and refine the content, see what ideas fit together, and think about potential headlines and supporting evidence for each point.
Writing down your ideas gives you the freedom to explore new topics without getting bogged down in details
It’s the perfect launch point for anyone looking to create wonderful content that capture their audience’s attention
In addition, if an idea doesn’t work out when it comes time for formatting the post, no problem – just scratch it out and try something else!
That kind of flexibility only comes from letting yourself explore freely from the beginning.
Do some research
Research is an important step for writing content, even for experienced bloggers!
Taking some time to do your research prior to writing your post can help you write more quickly and make sure that the information you’re providing is correct.
There are lots of different sources you can utilize when researching for a new article for your site.
Start by looking online – reputable websites like news outlets and educational institutions are great places to begin.
If the topic you’re investigating is related to an event or historical happening, checking out archives and museum collections can provide you with unique sources of information that may not be immediately available in an internet search.
Other sources include books, both online and at the library; interviews with experts; and gathering data from surveys.
Remember, if it doesn’t feel right to use something as source material, it’s best not to; always check if what you’ve found is reliable!
All in all, doing research will help shape your blog post into one that is better informed for your readers, so take a few moments of time and reap the benefits!
Plan and outline your post
Writing a great blog post starts with careful planning.
Taking the time to plan your post and create an outline before you write will make all the difference when it comes to creating a compelling, structured piece of writing that captures readers’ attention.
Start by selecting a topic that grabs people’s attention and inspires them to read on – something provocative, humorous, or useful.
Then, decide what kind of content your post should include – consider adding images, video clips and breaking up text with quotes or newsworthy articles.
Once you have decided on your topic and content strategy, start outlining – create sections and add in key points you want to cover in each section as well as any transitions between sections.
Having an outline in place gives you direction while writing so that everything doesn’t feel overwhelming.
Plus, writing without having done any research or prior planning can lead to some not-so-amazing posts on your blog.
Write the first draft
Once you have a general idea of what you would like to write about, it’s time to start putting pen to paper (or finger to keyboard) and write your first draft.
When writing the first draft, do not try to make it perfect. Instead, focus on capturing all of your ideas onto paper in an organized and logical way.
This will give you a solid outline from which you can work when you start to revise and edit the post.
Additionally, remember that your first draft does not need to be completely cohesive or even make sense – just keep writting down ideas and rearranging them until your general theme begins to emerge.
Writing great blog content comes with practice and refinement.
Treat the first draft as just part of this process and be sure to return back and read over it later as you continue editing and polishing until you end up with an awesome piece of content.
Devoting adequate time to the revision process is crucial if you want readers to stay engaged – so don’t forget this crucial step in crafting intriguing blog articles.
Write for people, not Google
Probably one of the biggest mistakes that new bloggers make is they try to write with search engine optimization (SEO) as the their focus, but they forget the most important element…readers.
People scour the internet to find content and eventually, they have to land on a page where actual humans can read what is being offered.
Your blog post should satisfy both browsers used for searching information and readers.
Write a headline and description that is SEO friendly, contains your focus keyword, but also focuses on delivering real value for your direct reader.
These are the people who landed on your page after searching for something specific (keyword).
Don’t forget about them in the middle of keyword research and SEO optimizations! Spend more time crafting clear and engaging copy that actively engages the reader, rather than placing the Google machine first.
After all, who wants to wade through dull sentences just because they were optimized for search?
In order to write a blog post, make sure you’re always keeping your target audience in mind as you type away.
When done correctly, SEO will take care of itself, and eventually you will attract more reader, which equals more traffic and business to your site.
Making sure that all stakeholders are checked off is important when you’re trying to write a blog post: valuable content for search results AND something interesting and pertinent enough to hook direct readers alike.
Edit and revise your post
Before you publish your newly written article on your blog post, it’s important to take the time to edit and revise your work.
Even if you feel like you’ve written a masterpiece, it’s always a good idea to read through your post one more time before making it live.
This will help you to catch any typos or grammatical errors, and it will also give you a chance to make sure that your argument is clear and well-supported.
If you’re not sure where to start, here are a few essential things I find that work for me:
Does each sentence flow smoothly into the next? If not, consider reworking your transition words or phrases.
Are all of your sources properly credited? Make sure to include links or references to the original sources.
Finally, take a look at your post as a whole. Does it read well? Is it engaging and interesting? If not, consider revising some sections to make them more compelling.
By taking the time to edit and revise your blog post, you can ensure that it is professional and error-free.
This will make it more likely to engage and inform your readers, leading to a successful blog overall.
Proofread your work
Writing and crafting amazing posts for your blog takes time and effort. If you want your readers to engage with and appreciate your writing, you have to make sure that your efforts aren’t wasted.
One of the best ways to do this is to proofread your work carefully – it may sound tedious, but it’s certainly worth it.
Go through each post line by line, checking for typos and grammar mistakes, sentence structure, and any inconsistencies in tone or flow.
Make sure the research is correct and the facts are accurate; double-check all names, dates, etc.
Also consider how the post looks visually: how does the text appear? Is the font easy to read? Are there enough images or other visuals to accompany the post?
Since readers have short attention spans on the web, every page should be inviting; high-quality imagery and colorful design elements like borders or frames around text blocks can help with this.
Above all else, proofreading can make a huge difference in terms of creating truly great blog posts.
Proofreading your work before publishing ensures that no errors will detract from the value of the content you create.
Publish your post
Once you have written and edited your blog post, it’s time to bring it to the world!
Of course, there are many ways to do that. If you have a blog of your own or are active on social pages, then publishing your post is as easy as uploading it on the platform.
For WordPress sites, simply go to “Posts” and hit the “Add New” button.
Once uploaded, double-check if all images and links work, otherwise add or tweak them until they do.
It’s also important to optimize your post for SEO purposes using keywords relevant to the topic. Don’t forget the final step, add a call-to-action then publish.
Alternatively, you could email your piece over to an editor or friends if you’re looking for further feedback before making it public.
Whichever route you take, publishing will take a few clicks (or a simple email), and voila, you’ve done it!
Your creation is out in the world waiting for readers to enjoy and grow from what you have shared with them.
Final Thoughts
Writing posts that people wan to read doesn’t have to be daunting. Keeping these few tips in mind can really help make the process easier.
A great post should give readers the what and why of the topic, but it should also include personal anecdotes or advice that will leave them with a lasting impression or something to think about.
Making sure your content is engaging and well-written is vital, as well as being sure to keep up with SEO best practices so you can get your posts found more easily in the online queries.
And finally, don’t forget to promote your blog posts! Share them across social media channels, email newsletters, and other services, you never know who might stumble across your work if you spread it around.
What’s important is that you create content that is honest and that resonates with its audience. With practice and dedication, you can soon be writing great blog posts that readers want to share!
