Tips for Writing an Engaging Blog Post
Before you write your next blog post, ask yourself:
• What outcome do I want this blog post to have? (A result, not just a list of activities)
• What action do I want the reader to take from reading this post?
• What emotion do I want the reader to feel after reading this post?
• What will the post look and feel like to the reader?
• What is the one thing that makes this post unique? What makes this post stand out from all the other posts in the same niche?
• How can I best capture the information I want the reader to know about in this post?
• How will I hold the reader’s attention?
• How can I make this post interesting, engaging, and different from all the other posts in this niche?
• What will make this post more specific and less general than other posts in this niche?
These are all important considerations when writing any blog post, but they become even more critical when writing a blog post for your business.
Outcome
The outcomes you choose for your blog post will dictate everything else about the post. The more specific you can be with your outcomes, the better your post will be.
What outcome do I want this blog post to have?
This is the most critical question you can ask yourself when writing any blog post. What outcome do you want this post to have?
If you don’t choose the right outcome, your readers will feel like they’ve been had, but you can do nothing to change that.
What action do I want the reader to take as a result of reading this post?
You want the reader to take action due to reading your post.
For example, if you want the reader to join your list, you must include a signup box in your post.
If you want them to buy something, include a link to the product in your post. If you want them to sign up for your email list, include an opt-in box at the end of your post.
What emotion do I want the reader to feel after reading this post?
You can lead the reader to any emotion you want them to feel.
If you want them to feel happy:
- Make jokes.
- If you want them to feel sad, be serious.
- If you want them to feel the excitement, capture their attention with a powerful image or quote.
How will I make this post unique compared to all the other posts in this niche?
There are always going to be tons of posts in any niche. How will you make yours stand out from the rest?
For example, there may be dozens of posts about starting a blog in a specific niche. How will you stand out from the crowd?
- Be Specific. Don’t generalize and say, “starting a blog is easy.” Be as detailed as possible. You may say, “I started my blog three months ago, and here’s what I did.” But the reader would rather hear, “My name is _, and I started my blog three months ago.” Even if what you have to say about starting a blog is common knowledge, include details that make your post unique.
Explain the “How,” not the “Why.” Why do you have a blog? Why do you want to start writing about _? Why should they care?
- Your readers want to know how you’re going to make their life better, not why you believe in what you’re doing.
- Keep your post short and to the point. Get to the point as soon as possible because there’s a chance your reader may hit the back button if you ramble on for too long.
What will make this post more specific and less general than other posts in this niche?
The more specific you can be with your outcomes, the better your post will be.
For example, instead of saying, “Blogging is easy,” say, “I started my _ blog.” This is more specific and less general than saying, “Blogging is easy.”
You can also use the “180-degree rule”: “If you can think of anyone who would benefit from reading your post, then your post is too general.”
For example, if you want people to stop saying “no” to starting a blog, then your post should be about how your journey was affected by someone who said “no” too many times.
Conclusion
You’ve made it to the end! Your blog post is almost complete. Now it’s time to bring it all together and finish strong.
- Wrap up the post with a solid call to action. Don’t just say, “Click here to get your free business-building resources.” Instead, say something like, “If you’re interested in building a blog and growing your business, I invite you to sign up for my free business-building email course at _.”
- Make it memorable. This is the last thing you’ll do when writing any post. So, make it engaging, exciting, and unique.
- Follow your blog post with a link to your blog on your website or blog.
- Share your post on social media, and use the buttons provided.
- Continue writing and publishing as many engaging blog posts as you can.
