Posts, also known as entries or articles, form the bulk of your blog’s content. They are what blogs are really known for. They are the material you write – stories, guides, tutorials, walkthroughs, recipes, lists, news articles, case studies, product reviews, etc.
Your posts are what gets Google to notice your website (mostly). They are what makes people notice your blog and come visiting. They are what helps people, answers their questions, provides solutions, makes them laugh or cry or be inspired or whatever. They are what makes people remember your blog, and keep coming back for more. Also, they are what makes you money (mostly).
But before you start hacking away at your keyboard, it’s an excellent idea to find out what really makes a good – no, a great – blog post. After all, the success of your blog (largely) depends on your how well you compose your entries. You don’t want to settle for writing just good posts (ordinary posts are out of the question!). You want to craft great blog posts. Because good blog posts bring visitors, yes, but great blog posts make them stay and keep coming back for more.
Of course, defining what a great blog post is is very much subjective. After all, great blog posts come in all shapes and sizes. Nonetheless, they do tend to share certain similar characteristics. With that in mind, a great blog post:
- Has a clear topic. It has a specific, well defined, and straightforward subject, and doesn’t stray from that from start to finish.
- Is interesting or helpful or both. It’s something that appeals, engages, solves problems, answers questions, and imparts information, insight, and inspiration.
- Has an intriguing title. Your title is the first thing people will see – and the last, if you don’t do it right. So grab people’s attention and get them to click with a title that tickles.
- Has a captivating introduction. The title is what makes people click, sure, but the intro is what makes them stay. So get them hooked right from the get-go.
- Is well outlined. A proper outline provides structure and organization to your post, and helps you convey your topic effectively.
- Is scannable. Make sure your post is easy to digest. Use headings and subheadings. Break up long paragraphs. And your sentences are generally better off short than long.
- Is well edited. Four words – write well, edit often. Proofread your post before you publish. Weed out typos. Rewrite awkwardly put together sentences. Use proper punctuations.
- Has images. Whenever possible, add images to your posts for visual engagement. Did you know articles with images get 94% more total views than articles without?
- Has a compelling call to action. At the end of your post, encourage your readers to take an immediate action – whether that’s to buy your product, subscribe to your newsletter, share your content, donate to your cause, etc.
- Is SEO ready. A great blog isn’t just something search engines can find, but something they’re fond of. Make sure your post is SEO friendly.
Remember, these are all just tips. They’re not meant to limit your creative freedom or force you into altering your own writing style. These are but to guide you into crafting a blog post that works for all. Because if you want other people to discover and delight in your blog, then you can’t just write for yourself – you have to write for them, too.
