Blogging Basics: How to Write Blog Posts People Love to Read

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Blogging Basics: How to WriteBlog Posts People Love to ReadBy Isra Garcia

Published February 24, 2015

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Do you want people to come back for moreafter reading your blog for the first time?

Write posts that people love to read! The wayyou develop, write and organize contentdetermines whether or not readers areattracted to your blog posts. And it’s not hardto do if you have a process.

In this article you’ll discover nine steps to a well-written blog post. These tips will helpyou create posts that are easy for readers to follow and digest, and makethem loyal fans of your blog.

#1: Collaborate to Outline Your TopicTo start developing content for new posts, you need to collect ideas.

Because inspiration often occurs outside of the office, make a habit of saving ideasfor titles, topics and even paragraphs in tools like Evernote, Google Drive orBasecamp as you think of them.

Now you can take the ideas you’ve collected and share them with interestedgroups inside your company (such as department heads or managers) to see ifanyone can contribute even more examples or anecdotes to help you takethe post further.

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Discover basics for w riting a blog post people love.

This collaboration helps flesh out an idea and link it to other ideas or content youmight not have considered. Some of this input may also help create the sections thatmake up your post.

As your sections develop, create an outline so you have a post structure towork from.

#2: Create Your PostNow you’re ready to pull everything together. Make sure that from start to finish, thestructure of your post is easy for readers to follow.

1. Open with an engaging introduction

The first paragraph of a blog post should always introduce what your post isabout. You can engage readers by starting with a question or by quotingsomething relevant, though always from a personal point of view.

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A good introduction explains the topic and draw s your reader in.

You can use up to 60 words in the first paragraph to connect with youraudience . The short introduction of this RazorSocial blog post clearly and conciselyexplains its topic in just a few words.

2. Break up the body of your post

As you write the body of your post, try to find ways to guide the reader along andmake the content more accessible.

Divide your post into sections to break up your content into small pieces that areeasily digestible, and then add headings.

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Add section headings to make the post easier to follow .

Keep in mind that you’ll probably change the headings within the post several times asyou’re writing it.

3. Bullet information and directions

Bullet points help readers connect with your content so they understand it more clearlyand easily. Use them to make statistics, products, action steps and otherinformation stand out.

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Here’s an example from a Post Planner blog post that uses bullet points to highlightstudy findings:

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This Post Planner blog post uses bullets to call out statistics shared in a study.

This Whole Foods Market blog post uses bullet points to call attention to alternativesnack foods:

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Whole Foods Market uses bullets to spotlight products they recommend to customers.

4. Add visual interest

Include an image with the post to make it more engaging or entertaining. Playaround with different types of images to see what works for your post.

If you don’t already have an image to use, search for images in Flickr’s CreativeCommons area. Be sure to read the license so you appropriately credit theowner for use of the image .

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Brow se Flickr for unusual images to make your blog post more entertaining or interesting.

5. Close with a purpose

There are three effective ways to end a blog post:

The first is to start a conversation with the reader by raising questions at theend of the post. The questions you pose should focus on getting answers thatare valuable for both your business and your audience .

Second, you can also end your post with a call to action. Use a call to action topoint the reader wherever you want.

The third way to end a blog post is to include an actionable takeaway for thereader; something they can do right away. For example, you might show the readerwhere to download an ebook.

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This About Leaders blog post uses all three closing tactics.

The example above from AboutLeaders combines all three of these tactics.

#3: Cut Out Unnecessary WordsWhen you think your post says what you want to communicate, read it from yourideal audience’s viewpoint. As you read, note any passages that ramble andstray from your topic. Put your post on a diet and remove any fluff that muddiesyour point.

#4: Deliver on the Promise of Your TitleThe title of your blog post must be SEO-friendly and attractive, as well as simple andeasy for readers to understand at a glance. Go beyond the typical “How to / Achieve /Improve” format and focus your title on something clear and direct. At the sametime, remember that your article has to deliver on the promise of your title .

For an example, check out this title and blog post from Altimeter Group. Readers knowexactly what they will find—research instead of predictions.

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A blog post title from Altimeter Group.

3 More Tips to Improve Your Blog Posts

1. Use short, reflecting and challenging phrases.

2. Don’t repeat the same word too often.

3. It’s better to blog about one brilliant idea instead of many small ideas.Divide your lengthy posts into a series of chapters you can publishregularly throughout the week.

Conclusion

A good blog post delivers its message by combining words with visual interest in awell-structured format that’s easy to read. Follow the basics in this article to startwriting posts that attract and hold your readers’ attention.

When you’re ready to go bigger with your blog, check out this interesting resourceabout advanced blogging.

What do you think? Do you use any of these tactics to structure your blogposts? What works well for you? Please share your comments below.

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Tips for w riting a blog post people love to

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Tags: blog content, blog tip, blog title, blogging, blogging basics, isra garcia

ABOUT THE AUTHOR, Is ra Garc ia

Is ra, marketer , soc ial media and digital trans f ormation adv isor f or

international brands and agenc ies and speaker . Pr inc ipal at IG.

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PicPresents • 17 hours ago

Thank you for this post Isra. I love the idea of putting your post on a diet. There is a fine line between story telling andrambling and I always re-read my posts with a strict editor's eye before publishing!

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• Reply •

Isra García • 9 hours ago> PicPresents

That's a powerful blogging habit, I'm hooked with the idea of "triple check" (meaning looking for brilliance, notperfection), it always give you an edge in front of your first draft.

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Cymbria • 14 hours ago

Excellent post! From personal experience (8+ years blogging), the following quote will really give your introparagraphs an extra boost... "You can engage readers by starting with a question or by quoting something relevant,though always from a personal point of view." The goal here is instant engagement, human warmth, and implied'street-cred'. The 60 word limit is a great target to aim for.

Blogging is a short attention span medium of communication. We may as well accept this fact, swallow our effusiveliterary pride, and use the medium to its (and our!) best advantage.

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Isra García • 9 hours ago> Cymbria

Hey Cymbria, your tip really helps and enhances the message, gaining attention it's crucial not in oder to getthe post read, but creating resonance with the reader. It's all about staying human.

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