Blogging is an important part of building a web presence, but it can be a bit intimidating. If staring at a blank screen seems to be more common than you would like, then use the tips below the next time yo are asked to write for the company blog.
- Brainstorm and organize your ideas. Start with your concept as the anchor, create a brief outline and write 2- sentences for each point.
- Include hard data such as facts and statistics, being sure to link to the original source.
- Have a title that is eye-catching. Men are typically drawn to titles with numbers (7 Ways to…) while women are prone to titles with “How to” or “Why”.
- Identify your audience, and determine what type of content appeals to them. This may take a bit of trial and error.
- Write with authority. Establish yourself as an industry expert.
- Check out other blogs within your industry and see what is trending.
- Be consistent. Whether you publish on the same day of the month/week, use the same format every time, etc. don’t change things up every time you post something.
- If you are part of a conference or webinar, blog about it.
- Don’t be afraid to create controversy.
- Write in your own voice.
- Use Spellcheck programs. Proofread multiple times. If possible, have 1-2 others proof your work before posting.
- Link to others, but never let someone pay you to do so.
- Your blog should include the following info:
- Graphics that draw the eye. These can be images, infographics, bar graphs, etc. It is even better if the images are original to you.
- Offer specials (when appropriate)
- Answer questions
- Teach people how to use your product/services
- Have a point; don’t just ramble in order to reach a specific word count.
- Always have a Call to Action
- Use keywords and phrases. Be sure to target the cities where you want to build a customer base.
- Formatting is important!
- Use short paragraphs – no more than 75 to 100 words or 6 lines long.
- Having white space between paragraphs makes it easier to read.
- Use subheadings in bold that include keywords.
- Use an easy to read font.
- Lists with bullet points or numbers make it easy for readers to scan information quickly.
- Shorter sentences are better.
- Align to the left, rather than the center.
- Keep posts to no more than 300 to 1,000 words long.
Blogging is a part of being found on the Web; and, with bit of planning, it doesn’t have to be a stressful process. Of course, if you would rather have someone else write the blog posts for you, contact Write Away and explain the types of post you need, and a few other elements and you can mark “write a blog post” off of your To Do list.