10 tips for writing blog posts that shine
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1. Pick a flexible niche.
If your niche is too specific, you're going to struggle to come up with any content, let alone any good content. For instance, if I'd set up a blog called "James Bond bloggers" instead of writing one post on that topic, I wouldn't have had a lot of potential posts.
The good thing about Top Ten Blog Tips is that I can write top 10 lists about almost anything. Writing great content, tips for commenting, tools you should try, along with a myriad of other options that don't have anything to do with blogging whatsoever. Well, apart from a little spiel at the end about why you should care.
2. Find your writing style.
Writing never goes out of style. Unless you're lacking in style. If you don't have a style, write a few posts on a blog that you never share with anyone. Write some experimental posts, write some bad posts, don't worry about it. Just try it out.
With any luck, you'll soon be able to find a style that suits you, and you'll then be able to work on perfecting that style. Not everyone will enjoy your posts, but if you're consistent with your writing style, those who do like your blog will keep coming back. Repeat visitors are good!
3. Brainstorm topic ideas.
Some people schedule days and times when they feel a new post is required. The problem is, you're not always going to be in the mood to write a post. Some posts come more easily than others. Some posts will have you hitting your head against the wall. It hurts. I've tried it.
To get around this, whenever you feel a burst of inspiration, jot down some possible post titles with a few notes for each. Keep it short and simple. You'll soon see which posts have merit and which smell worse than a smelly thing. Don't waste your time on the bad ones.
4. Plan before writing the detail.
Brainstorming is a good way to get a few ideas down. While thinking up new ideas, you should discard the really bad ones, and push the questionable ones to the side.
Once you have some decent ideas, try writing the headings for each of those posts. Move the headings around, make them clear but don't actually write the detail of the post yet. Can the post have a solid opening, an engrossing middle and a powerful ending that leaves you wanting more? If not - bye bye post. Or work on it! Sometimes you have to make a call. Don't be too quick to throw ideas in the metaphorical recycle bin until you've given them a chance.
5. Use attention-grabbing titles.
Some post titles are so DULL. If the title alone doesn't make readers want to jump into the post and start reading it, then you need to do better.
It's all about powerful phrases and keywords - are you using titles that people might be searching for on Google? Are you writing titles that will make a potential reader sit up and take notice? Or will they lie down and fall asleep? Make them look! (and you're not allowed to use autoplaying audio. BIG mistake.)
6. Write compelling arguments.
With so many blogs on the web, there's a good chance that what you have to say has already been said by someone else - especially if you're not writing about recent events, but looking at more general topics.
Don't let it worry you. Don't just say a few bits and pieces in the hope that people will nod and agree. Instead, write the most compelling arguments you possibly can. Go the extra mile - Inspire people. Do your best in every post. Make your blog THE place to be. If you're writing wishy-washy posts with a lack of focus, why will readers stop and look?
7. Include your own insights.
There's nothing worse than a dry topic with no personal touches or views from the author. Sometimes you can get away with this, but some topics demand an extra degree of attention to ensure you don't bore your readers and send them packing.
In my view, blogging is not only about information. It's about injecting some personality into topics that will benefit from a fresh outlook. So, where possible, include insights for readers to relate to. Perhaps we can all do a bit more of this. And hey, why not include a dose of humour here and there?
8. Be enthusiastic!
This point follows on from #7. It makes me think of public speakers. Some are highly dynamic and they give the impression of WANTING to talk to you. Others are plain boring, and don't appear to have any passion for what they do.
Think about it. If you don't enjoy writing your posts, will anyone enjoy reading them? Put a bit of enthusiasm into your posts! Enjoy writing, and readers are much more likely to enjoy reading. Well, if they have any sense...
9. Do some polishing.
To make your posts REALLY shine, you need to polish them. (Get it?) Don't just sit down, write, and publish. Work on your title. Move headings around. Include an image. Revise your wording. Think about what will make compelling reading.
Proof-reading is one thing, but editing is also important. If your post has no grammatical errors, it doesn't mean you can't get your meaning across in a better way.
10. Leave a few things out.
If you cover every possible point in your post, there's nothing left for readers to comment on. You need plenty of arguments that people can relate to, but you also need to leave a few loose ends here and there.
This is a tricky one to do though - it takes practice. But practice makes perfect. Give your readers the opportunity to expand on your post - they'll be much more likely to comment, and others will join in the discussion. You should also read my tips for increasing comments on your blog.
What are your suggestions for writing blog posts that shine?
Image credit: shoothead
Comments on 10 tips for writing blog posts that shine
2
I'm really fond of #10.
I struggle to be succinct, and thinking about how I can talk about something in the comments, if I lead people to touch on it. lol
You've actually done something I need to do, and cut your posts off so people have to click through...but I can't figure out where to break them up and still get people to click through. I don't have the "I HAVE to read the other nine!" effect going on that you do.
3
Eryn - it was a tough decision, as I've never been a fan of post excerpts. But as my posts are quite long, my home page just went on and on forever. I still display the full post in my feed. The trick with excerpts is to put a good point at the start. Similarly, the trick to getting comments is to put a good point at the end. Of course, you do have to make the middle good, too!
4
So... good start, middle and end eh?
Now there's a tip! :)
5
Yep! :D
6
I can't prove it, but I think I started to land more readers when I did two things:
1. Shortened my posts to 700 words or less.
2. Got right to the point in the first three sentences.
When I go back and read some of my earlier posts, I cringe when I see how long it used to take me to hit the crux of the story. I wrote way too much background information that wasn't necessary at all.
Indeed, when I'm surfing blogs and run into a piece that doesn't clue me into the point of the story almost right away, my eyes begin to glaze over. Maybe that's a failing of mine, I'm not giving it a chance. But when I think of how many blogs some people read, I don't want to be a writer who doesn't grab the reader immediately. I know how quickly they can move on to someone else's blog.
7
I disagree with nr. 1, though I must admit that's the only reason why I opened the post and read the whole thing ;-)
Ok, if you're niche is too specific you will run into trouble. There's no way that I can say that's false, because the word 'too' is in there. We have to look at how specific is too specific though.
I don't think there's anything wrong with picking a specific niche. James Bond bloggers is a bad example. I think it would get no more than 10 searches per day on Google... but because it's so specific, you will also be the nr. 1 result if you're conscious about your keywords. There is no way to make a lot of money with James Bond bloggers however, and you might run out of things to write about fast... Unless... you do the following:
- Write top ten lists about James Bond blogs / bloggers (eg. coolest James Bond bloggers which is about the persons behind the blogs, most up to date content, top 10 scoop blogs, top 10 design, etc. etc.)
- Review articles of James Bond bloggers' sites. This is quite easy content since the content is already there and you simply review it... If your site has a nice pagerank and is seen as the hub of the James Bond blogosphere, James Bond bloggers would LOVE to have their content stolen. woops, I mean articles reviewed on your site.
The only limit is your creativity.
However, I don't think there's much money to be made in that niche. If you're going to be picking a very specific niche, do some market research first and make sure there are enough affiliate programs out there for you... and think about the type of people searching for the content you're writing - what would make them click an ad? would they ever make a purchase online? If not, you're not going to make any money.
It all depends on your goals;
- getting comments and a community around your blog
- networking
- making money
- promoting yourself as a writer/journalist
- personal branding / showing your expertise on a topic
- simply getting your stuff read by a lot of people for the mere rush of it
The best is if you combine a few (or all) of these goals. That, for me, is the only way to keep it interesting :-)
8
@Kathy: true. I've noticed exactly the same. This is really hard for most people with a 'personal blog', but if you force yourself to do it, you'll see a big increase in readers (and a lower bouncerate) very fast!
:-)
9
@Kathy - Read about writing news stories, the method used to write them. It's not just the 5W. In particular there is the inverted pyramid where you write the most important information at the top, first sentence. You might bring in a couple of other points but your main focus should be contained in the top paragraph. From there it works down to where you add information and back up your facts/ ideas from the start.
10
GLITTER text! (Just kidding... too much of this will do anything BUT make your blog and posts shine...)
Great post, Ben. Good tips!
11
I think this is the most important of the list:
7. Include your own insights.
More and more blogs are starting to read like newspapers. If I want to read news, I'd rather go to NYTimes or Huffington Post.
12
Very good post, thanks. I have found that style and enthusiasm usually trump the other points you mentioned. Of course, all 10 points are goals to which to aspire, but if nothing else, have style and enthusiasm, and they can carry the day if other things are lacking. I once had an acting teacher tell me, "Be very, very good, or be very, very bad; but never be BORING." :)
13
Kathy - I've found that it's tough to write a compelling post with 10 points and a dose of humour in 700 words or less. Even with short paragraphs every post on this blog seems to get quite long. It seems to be the "10 tips" that inflate the post content. I think about this every time I write and I have to edit some of my posts down, maybe I could do some more about this. I'm happier with the use of the "more" tag on the home page now though, the automatic excerpts didn't work too well.
Bas - a flexible niche doesn't mean you can't be specific. My main point was that a niche that's too specific will cause problems, which you seem to agree with - it's just that my example wasn't so hot. ;)
Thanks for all the comments. :)
14
Yeah, Ben. You use the more... tag very well.
It compels people to read on and I suppose it reduces your bounce rate.
15
Thanks Bas. :) I think it's the best option with longer posts.
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I really like 6 and 7 cause there are a lot of blogs posting topics which are already done to death. At least have something new to say, a fresh slant, something! Another cookie cutter post just isn't worth reading.