It seems like everyone wants to be writing blog posts these days. Does that mean there is no room for you? Absolutely not. You can make it as a blogger as long as you are willing to put forth the effort in learning what it takes to write a successful blog.
Bear in mind that ‘making it’ does not necessarily mean monetising your blog. It may mean generating lots of traffic that gives you the kind of exposure you need to do other things. Success in the blogging world is defined by the number of regular readers, how often they share content, and the ability of that content to affect positive decisions.
Below are the keys to creating great blog content. If you want to learn how to write a successful blog, put them into practice.
1. Make a Point
People read blog posts because they want to learn something. Successful blog writing starts with a point. Before you write anything, come up with the main point you want to present. Follow-up by building your writing around it. If you write without making a point, you will chase readers away.
2. Be Yourself
Successful writers do not attempt to imitate the style of someone else. You should follow that example. Do not copy someone else’s style; be yourself in every word, sentence, and paragraph. Blog readers are looking for a new perspective. They are not looking for content that conforms to everything else.
3. Write with Structure
Writing a blog post as a series of rambling sentences is not going to win you any readers. If you want to be successful, you are going to have to write with structure. Structure includes three fundamental components: an introduction, a body, and a conclusion. Within the body will be several paragraphs with which you make your point.
4. Pay Attention to Length
There is no magic number of words a blog post needs to be to do well in online searches. Make your posts as long as they need to be to make your point effectively, but not so long that you’re having to use filler words and fluff just to fill up space. Long-form content does give you more opportunity to use keywords and phrases, but if they are surrounded by filler the search engines will know.
5. Pay Attention to Aesthetics
Online readers have short attention spans and little patience. Therefore, structure your writing to be aesthetically pleasing. That means short paragraphs, short sentences, and using headings, subheadings, and bulleted lists.
6. Include Images and Links
Statistics prove that people are more likely to read blog posts with accompanying images than those without. Every blog post should have at least one image embedded in it. Also try to include at least one outbound link if you can (and if appropriate). Links help improve search engine rankings.
7. Strive for Perfect Grammar and Spelling
This is the most overlooked aspect of writing blog posts in the modern era. If you want to write a successful blog, you must strive for perfect grammar and spelling. If you don’t, you run the risk of chasing readers away because they perceive you as being ignorant or unintelligent.
8. Include a Call to Action
Lastly, every successful blog post includes a call to action. A call to action invites the reader to make some sort of decision based on what he or she read.
Are you ready to be a successful blog writer? Then put all these tips into practice. The more you do, the more successful you will be.