Blog posts don't have to be literary masterpieces, but in order to attract readers, it is necessary to create engaging content.
You don't have to be the next best-selling author to write something that is worthwhile reading. We've gathered the things you absolutely need to do and the pitfalls you must try to avoid.
Do...
- Consider your audience - If you haven't given a single thought to who you're writing for then you're doing everything wrong. Back to the drawing board - start again. It is absolutely necessary that the reader's interests are at the forefront of your mind when you're typing. Who are they? What do they need to know? Will their demographic affect the way you write? These are the type of questions you need to ask yourself constantly.
- Be clear, not confusing - Think you need to pull out the thesaurus to impress a reader with lots of intellectual words? That is an unequivocal fallacy. Understand that? Thought not. Clarity is stepping away from the synonyms; sometimes simple is best.
- Hook your reader with the first sentence/paragraph - The best way to intrigue someone is to give them a reason to read on. You could begin with a question or foreshadow what is to come in the main body, so they have no other option but to continue.
- Experiment with narrative - It may not be plausible with every single post, but try to include a mixture of narrative voices. Using second person narrative (e.g. 'you') is especially effective. By directly addressing the reader, you are encouraging them to read on as they feel actively interacted with.
Don't...
- Bore your reader - Bit harsh, but very necessary to point out. Try to keep your post as concise as possible. Long paragraphs of text can seem unreadable for the average reader. Keep your topic to the point. Also, alternate paragraph and sentence length to make your writing more exciting.
- Choose a vague title and topic - A distinct blog title not only allows your reader to know what they're going to see, but it also helps you decide what content to include. If you pick a broad area, your writing may go off on a tangent and be ineffective.
- Publish without proofreading - Make sure to check spellings and grammar in order to avoid any colossal mistakes. Then get someone else to check, just in case. Your professionalism is on the line (especially if you use 'your', instead of 'you're')!
- Copy another blog - Don't plagiarise other people's work; if you do use a quote or statistic make sure to link your sources. Stand out from other blogs by letting your personality shine through in your writing. It will make you seem more relatable, prompting readers to consistently read your posts.
You now know 'how' to write a successful post, so all you have left to figure out is 'what' to produce a blog on. Good luck and happy blogging!
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