How to Write a Blog Post

Are you overwhelmed at the prospect of writing a blog post for your website? I get that way too especially when I overthink the process of how to write a blog post. When I think of it as an email to a client or prospect giving them information they’ve already requested, it’s a lot simpler. Here are tips for the next time you write a blog post:

1. Select a topic. Select a blog post idea your readers will love. Answer a question your clients and prospects are asking about your business or industry. Take a new spin on an old idea. Just don’t clog your post with an array of ideas. Stay focused. If you find your have multiple ideas, create a series of blog posts and start and an editorial calendar.
2. Use an editorial calendar. An editorial calendar is a roadmap for your blog, keeping your topics focused. It can be as simple as a spreadsheet with a list of topics, publish dates for posts, and associated research.
3. Track the word count. This is a topic of great debate. The rule of thumb is for a word count of at least 300 words and as many as 2,000. My rule of thumb is 400-650 words. It’s enough to dig into a topic and keep readers’ attention without overwhelming them with information.
4. Make your blog post readable. Bullet points and numbering are your friend. The percentage of websites visited via mobile devices is increasing every day. If your blog post isn’t easily readable, visitors will leave your site and go to another. The last thing you want is for your competition to get the sale that should have been yours. Use bullet points and/or numbering to make your content pleasing to the eye and easy to read.
5. Step away before hitting publish. This is especially important is you’re self-editing. I write blog posts for clients and my own blogs and then step away. I check the laundry, grab a snack, go for a walk, and come back to read the post. It’s a fresh look. I often find errors or edits that I wouldn’t have seen if I had read through once and hit publish.

Writing blog posts can be overwhelming. If you’re struggling to find ideas or don’t have the time to write, give me a call at 480-206-6452.