How to write better blog posts that can turn visitors into loyal readers? Check out these 5 vital writing tips to learn how to write a blog post that converts.
You always have the passion for writing. Ever since you were young, you used writing as a medium to express yourself especially when you feel like people around you can no longer understand. Whenever you’re writing, you can say whatever you want without fear of judgment.
And no matter how busy you are, you always find time to write. And now that you’re looking for new ways to earn, you’re considering becoming a blogger online. You know this is a booming industry, and you’re interested to learn and earn through it. But even with your love for writing, you’re worried if you’re capable of writing blogs which can be attractive online.
5 Unmissable Content Writing Tips
Regardless if you’re writing for years, the online world requires a whole set of writing qualifications. What you think is an excellent writing piece might not gain the same reaction from the online community. To ensure that you can make a name as a blogger, consider these writing tips:
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Tip #1: Never forget to plan out everything
Just like any job in this world, you need to plan your moves if you want to become successful in the long run. You need to be careful in whatever you’re posting online because it can make or break your chance to become a blogger. To help you out, you may take these steps as part of your planning process:
Choose a topic that interests you:
The maxim that states “No fun for the writer, no fun for the reader” is still true when you want to be a blogger. Before you start writing, pick a topic that interests you. Ones which don’t require too much effort researching from you, and the ones you’re comfortable talking about for hours. When you do this, you’ll be able to let your creative juices flow – and this is something which the readers can feel. You’ll be able to expound ideas easily when you write something you know well.
Write an outline for your post:
Great bloggers don’t just happen with the snap of the finger. Even the best bloggers need an outline to keep all of their ideas on-track. And no, your outlines shouldn’t have to be lengthy or too detailed. You just need something to determine what idea goes where.
Know your target audience:
While it can be tempting to write for everyone on the internet, it’s difficult to do it. This will only end up in half-bait outputs which won’t please a single user. For your blogs to earn readers, write for a specific audience. If you pick young professionals as your target audience, write topics which can be pleasing to them. You can start with “how to’s” on employment or relationships, for example. Put yourself in the shoes of your target audience and think what they could possibly want to read.
Check your facts:
Everything you write online will reflect how you are as a person. And when the online community sees you as someone who’s deceiving, never expect that you can make it as a blogger. As one way of being careful is by taking the time to check your facts. Sure, you might be writing something up your alley but don’t convince yourself that you know everything about it. A good blogger knows how and when to sort which information are facts from fiction – and knows when to use other resources when needed.
Tip #2: Write a great headline
The headline is the first thing your readers will see the moment they see your blog. When you don’t write an effective headline, chances are, they’ll immediately close your blog. To ensure this won’t happen, make sure you write a specific headline. You should create the balance of telling them what the blog is all about without giving too much information. Writing headlines for your blogs is considered an art and a science. And since you’re still starting, it might be best if you experiment with your target audience and see what type of headline works best for them.
Tip #3: Write your blog on your terms
Now that you know what to write, who to write for and what headlines to use, it’s time to write your blogs. Since this is your blog, you can always have the option to decide on how to do things – you can either write everything in one sitting or write your ideas gradually over time. In this process, there’s no right or wrong. Whichever works for you will do.
However, it’s recommended that you try to write as many ideas as you can in one session. This will make it easier for you to focus on certain topics while minimizing the chances of forgetting essential parts of your blog.
Some writers would take time to start writing their blogs because they don’t know what to write in their introduction – and you might be one of them. Instead of delaying your work, opt to write your introduction last, when your blog is almost done. Everything that you’ve written in the body of your blog can give you several ideas on how you can write your introduction.
Tip #4: Use images effectively
Writing for the internet and in print are two different things. Most of the time, readers don’t have the interest, will and ability to scan through a post which is full of texts. Regardless if your blog is well-formatted and informative, if it’s lengthy and doesn’t have anything to break the texts, readers would immediately go back to Twitter or Reddit instantly. To drive the point home, these are the reasons why images should be included in your blogs:
Images help ideas in your blog to flow effectively:
Online readers need to see images to break the text they’re reading. With an image, your blog will be more appealing and would seem less intimidating.
Images can make great visual punch lines:
When you’re writing a very technical topic, your readers might feel bored while reading. This is something which you can solve when you use images effectively. A well-chosen image can inject humor in your blog, making your readers stay longer in your page.
Images help readers understand complex topics:
The topics you like to write about might be the topics some readers find it hard to understand. And no matter how long your blog is, they still won’t get the gest of whatever you’re writing. This is when images are helpful. Diagrams, infographics, and charts can help your readers understand complex topics easier.
Tip #5: Take your time to edit, edit and edit
To guarantee that what you’ve written will be appealing to readers, you need to edit – you can’t immediately post your first draft online! During this stage, you’ll be able to determine which parts need improvement and which should be taken out from the blog. You want to end up with a clean, cohesive and informative piece. These tips will come in handy for you during the editing stage:
Avoid repetition:
Sure, you have written different sentences with different words but if it’s conveying the same thoughts, erase it. The train of thoughts in your blog should never run around the bush. This will only confuse the readers and in some cases, can be the reason that they lose interest in your blog.
Read your blog aloud:
The moment you’ve scanned through your blog, you might think everything is perfect. But can you still stay the same when you’ve actually read it out loud? If you find yourself saying out an awkward sentence in your blog, it’ll probably have the same effect on the readers’ minds. Take note of these and edit.
Ask help from others:
Your friends and family can help you come up with an amazing blog. When you’re done with your first draft, give it to them, have them read it and ask for their comments. Their honest opinions will help you determine how your blog is, from another perspective. The more feedback you have on your blog, the better.
Keep everything short:
You might have the liberty to write a 3000-word blog about SEO campaigns, but that doesn’t mean you have to. As much as possible, keep your sentences and words short. You might have the luxury of time writing and researching the contents of your blog, but your readers won’t have the same privilege. Your blog should express your thoughts and ideas simply and directly.
Professionals Can Help
Your success as a blogger won’t come overnight. You need to pour in time and effort so you can achieve your goal; there are no shortcuts. Starting from the very bottom of your career path might be challenging, but once you’re guided, you’ll know how to take your first steps. Aside from the comprehensive writing tips from this article, it never hurts to ask help from professionals.
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