5 Ways to Create the Perfect Blog Post
If you’re looking for a way to promote your product, carve an identity for your brand, or just share your thoughts—a blog is a way to do it. According to TechJury, 77% of all internet users read blogs. This means that almost three billion people online can be potential readers of your work. That said, although blog audiences are plentiful, so is the competition. As of 2021, there are over 600 million blogs today. Thus, in order to stand out and retain a following, it’s important to know how to craft the perfect blog post. To get you started, here are some basics to keep in mind:
1. Create a catchy headline
Studies say that 8 out of 10 people only read the headline. As such, it’s important that based on this alone, you can pique interest and give readers a preview of what to expect. According to Jessica Stillman’s review of the evolution of headlines, some of the most successful headlines today are shorter, have numbers, and are quite hyperbolic. If in doubt about how your headline will perform, study the content on similar sites. Typically, headlines are approached differently depending on the beat and blog type. So, reviewing how similarly themed sites write their most read and shared posts will be a big help for you.
2. Practice proper structure
“Your blog, your rules” may apply in terms of creative direction. But in terms of the article structure, your blog will be much better off following traditional content flow. Since 43% of blog readers only skim content, a poorly structured article will not allow them to lift any helpful details. At the same time, without a structure, readers will have difficulty grasping the idea you’re trying to present. In such cases, readers are more likely to simply close your tab rather. To keep readers invested, try including a clear introduction, body, and conclusion in every article. Regardless of what topic you’re writing about, if you have this structure clearly reflected, readers will appreciate the clear flow you’ve laid out for them.
3. Consider search engine optimization
People who search for content online usually have a specific intent. As such, the perfect blog post must have content that will be easy to find online. To do so, it’s important to employ search engine optimization (SEO) strategies in your writing. This includes optimizing keywords and phrases that will help your blog show up among the first few online search results. As explained by Ayima, an international SEO provider specializing in content marketing, SEO strategies help expand your audience, increase conversions, and build brand credibility. Because SEO practices can bring in up to 50% more site traffic, even large companies like British Airways and Amazon use these. Thus, when successfully rolled out, SEO can help you grow your following at little to no extra cost.
4. Play with your visual branding
Given that the human mind processes image up to 60,000 faster than text, it’s no wonder that blogs with images attract 94% more views. This is why image-heavy sites like Buzzfeed and Upworthy receive huge traction. With this in mind, try to use visuals as often as you can in your post. This way, your readers are engaged and they get a break from text blocks. When deciding on your visual, make sure the images you use are relevant and aligned with your branding. As explained in this post about brand colors by Anita Nipane, the visual communication of your blog can improve how effective your posts are. As a general rule of thumb, try to keep your visuals high-quality and emotive. This way, they complement instead of being distracting.
5. Link to social media for engagement
Statistics from Data Reportal show that the number of people on social media has now grown to almost 5 billion. If tapped, this massive group of active internet users can be converted into readers for your blog. As you’ll see in all major blogs, having an official social media account is the best way to do this. Since the algorithm regularly recommends new pages to users, there is a high likelihood that your account will show up on their feed. Should they click on this, you’ve immediately increased your traffic and opened up your engagement. If you’re on social media, followers will also be more encouraged to talk about and share your work on these platforms. In time, this will create a ripple effect that redirects to traffic on your blog.
Perfecting your blog posts can take some time. But with practice and dedication, you’ll soon nail an approach that is the perfect one for your unique needs and goals. For more on content creation, please visit the blog at DiggiNet.
Exclusively for digginet.com by Erin Barnes
