If you have started a blog and are looking for tips for writing good blog posts – I’ve got you. I have been blogging for over 3 years and have 10 practical ways to improve your blog posts. This is the third post of the Blogging Tips series.Now, let’s get straight into it.
#1 Choose a good blog post title
Your title should give readers a clear idea about what they can expect from your blog post. To take it a step further, it should include keywords or key phrases that readers use to search for information about that topic.
Tip: Google Keywords is an effective tool for researching which words are commonly used to search for information about that topic.
#2 Stick to the topic
If your blog post title is “travel hacks for first time travellers” then make sure the content. To keep your audience’s attention, your blog post needs to be what you’ve claimed it is. You can’t switch to speaking about something off topic. If you find yourself doing that, it may be a sign that you need to write a separate blog post about that.
#3 Make it easy to read
When you turn to Google to find information, you want an answer quickly and hope to understand it easily, right? The same should apply when you write a blog post. You can achieve this by using simple words instead of complicated and fancy words. Always choose words that are easy to understand. Another great tip for writing good blog posts is to write short sentences.
#4 Use subheadings
Dividing your blog post up using subheadings gives your blog post good structure. This makes it easier to read and easier to write. Sometimes a reader is only interested in a particular section of your blog post. If your post is divided using subheadings it helps readers find what they are looking for quickly.
For a blog post about a destination, I divide the blog post using subheadings such as:
- How to get there
- Where to stay
- When to visit
#5 Use numbered lists
We are halfway through the 10 practical ways to improve your blog posts. This is an easy one. As with using subheadings, numbered lists give your blog post good structure. These also help to catch a readers’ attention.
Sometimes it’s more appealing to know that you can get something done in 5 steps versus 100 steps. You can include this in your blog post title and then number each of subheadings.
In another example, you may be wanting to show that your blog post is packed with ideas and information. In this case showing that you have listed 50 ideas is appealing to readers who are brainstorming and looking for lots of options.
#6 Include images
Include images in your blog posts to create breaks between text. You can use Unsplash to source free stock images for your posts.
#7 Link to other content
Include links to other content on your website. While you have readers engaged in a blog post, make sure to let them know about other similar content that they can find on your website. This must be done organically and the links must be related to the blog post.
For example, in a blog post about understanding the difference between WordPress.com and WordPress.org blogging platforms, I would include a link to to this blog post.
#8 Include a call-to-action
A call-to-action is an action that you would like readers to take while they are on your website. Examples of call-to-actions are:
- Follow me on Instagram
- Subscribe to this blog
- Buy a product
- Share this post
You don’t want readers to simply, read your blog post and disappear. At the very least, retain them as subscribers. Readers might find your blog post so interesting that they take these actions anyway without being asked. However, some may not know that there is an option to subscribe or that you are active on social media or sell products. Guide them to do what you would like them to do.
#9 Get to the point
Don’t make your introduction so long that readers forget what the topic is. Don’t use more words than you need to. Get straight to the point.
Read your blog post and edit. Cut out sentences you don’t need. Shorten sentences that are too long.
#10 Write for the future
Write as if someone will be reading your blog post next year. This has helped me make my blog posts more timeless so that I don’t have to do frequent updates. You do this by making small changes in the way you write. Don’t assume your blog post will be read when you publish it. For example, instead of saying “When I travelled to Cape Town last week…” say, “The last time I travelled to Cape Town…”
And that’s it – 10 practical ways to improve your blog posts. Start applying these today.
Very informative, thank you for sharing. 4 years ago I used to blog and deleted it (I regret it) but getting back to it. So reading this just gave me that push and motivation. This piece is excellent.
I’m so happy to hear that you are feeling motivated to get back to blogging. I have a lot more blogging tips to share that I hope you will also enjoy. Thank you for the positive feedback!
You are heaven sent, I’m starting to blog soonest and I took some valuable lease one from this blog.
Thank you for sharing openly with us