6 Tips for Creating a Better Blog Post

Writing effective blog posts isn’t as easy as you might think. There are a ton of things to take into consideration, including creating a catchy headline, the length of your piece, even the words that you choose.

I’ve spent some time scanning the Internet to find some useful tips on how to craft a great blog post from several different sources. Read on to gain insights from professional bloggers.

Be Focused

Focusing on one topic or piece of information will keep your blog post succinct and easy to read.

It happens to me too at times. I start out with a single topic in mind – but then the post morphs into something else. By the time I’ve finished, I’ve added another five different bullet points, talked about related problems – and suddenly my post is long and, well, rambly. —Write to Done

Giving your readers many options and topics will make them feel overwhelmed. Plus, a blog post that has too much information is too long! No one wants to spend 20 minutes reading a blog post.

Tackling just one topic or point per blog post makes your job easier, too. If you find that you are coming up with other ideas while you’re writing, jot them down and use them to craft a whole different blog post. Many shorter blog posts are better for your search engine optimization than one incredibly long one.

Create Catchy Headlines

Writing a great headline takes time and practice. But it’s so worth it! The headline will either entice someone to read more, or turn them off and away from your blog.

Your headline is the first, and perhaps only, impression you make on a prospective reader. Without a compelling promise that turns a browser into a reader, the rest of your words may as well not even exist. —Copyblogger

Your headline gets people to read the first line of your blog post. And, if you have written a great first line, to read the rest.

Here are some tips on creating a great headline from ProBlogger:

• Communicate a Benefit
• Ask a Question
• Use the Word “You”
• Use Keywords
• Use Power Words: Free, Discover, Secrets, Easy
• Be Humorous

Make Your Content Scannable

Most people read online by scanning the page for individual words or phrases, headings and other visual cues. Studies have shown that reading from a screen is more tiring and therefore about 25% slower than reading from paper – hence scanning becomes a technique that most employ. —ProBlogger

Help your readers’ eyes by making your copy stand out. Here are some ways to do that:

• Lists: Lists with bullet points are easy to scan and read. Lists help you break up and organize your thoughts in way that is easy to comprehend.
• Headings and Sub Headings: Large, bold words act as visual cues, and your eyes travel to them without even thinking about it.
• Blockquotes: These help make main points stand out on the page.
• Include Photos: Using photos helps break up the space on the computer screen. Our eyes are naturally drawn to pictures, and if you place them cleverly in your blog post, you will give your readers a better chance of reading your entire post.

Create Short Paragraphs

When I see a long paragraph on the computer screen, I automatically get tired. It’s hard enough to read on a screen, and long paragraphs are a turn off.

Long paragraphs can add to the monotony of a post just as much as a short paragraph can break it. When you write, think from the reader’s perspective. Would you have read the article if it had 1 or 2 long paragraphs or would you prefer to break them down into short, crisp paragraphs? Short paragraphs can save the article from looking boring even if it actually is. —designrshu

The same goes for long sentences. Break up the monotony and give your readers a break.

Create a Conversation

A blog post is not like a newspaper article. Online your readers can leave comments and easily share your blog post with others. A great way to get them engaged is to create a conversation.

If there isn’t a dialog, you’re talking to yourself. At the end of your posts, always ask people what they think, and tell them to leave their thoughts in the comments. –PRDaily

I love it when people leave comments on my blog posts (hint, hint). It shows me that they either like (or don’t like) what I’ve written about—and I welcome both acclaim and criticism. Asking for feedback is a great way to create a conversation.

Read Your Post Aloud

I do this with my magazine writing, but it works for blog posts, too.

Reading your post aloud in a new environment, one that’s different than the one you’re editing on, will help you locate some possible spelling, grammatical and formatting errors that you wouldn’t have caught otherwise. Also, you’ll be able to hear the flow of your post. Maybe it makes sense in your head, but when you read it out loud it might not sound right or things might need to be rearranged a little. —smartpassiveincome

It’s not a good sign if your tongue trips over the words. If you have a hard time reading aloud, your readers will have a hard time reading it silently in their heads. You want your writing to be as smooth and careless as possible to create an easy reading experience.

There are lots of other tips, but these are some of the basics. What would you add to this list?

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