Ways to Write Better Blog Posts and Improve Your Content

by Cris Yeager
DIGITAL MEDIA GHOST
Writing

Writing blogs and producing quality content can seem like an overwhelming task if you’re new to the game. It doesn’t have to be, though! Not only will you learn how to come up with topics, but you’ll also learn what goes into making great content that readers actually want to read. Writing your own blog posts isn’t easy, but it’s worth it! You never know what doors blogging might open for you — but you do know that if you don’t start now, you might miss out on something great!

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To make your blog content stand out, you’ll want to avoid common mistakes when writing blog posts. Writing good content will not only help you attract an audience but also keep your readers coming back for more. The tips in this article will help you avoid these common pitfalls and learn how to write better blog posts!

Finding a topic
If you want your content to be read, you need to write about topics that people are actually interested in. But you also need to make sure that your take on the topic is unique. One way to do this is to check out what's trending on social media or Google News. Another way is to look for stories that haven't been covered as much as they should be. There's no shame in repeating a story but try to come at it from a different angle. Try providing a new perspective or adding more information than has already been provided by other sources. Or maybe provide an opinion instead of just reporting facts (although both approaches can work). Whatever your writing style, find something that works for you and stick with it!

Create the perfect headline
A good headline is essential if you want people to actually read your blog post. Keep it under 60 characters and make sure it includes the most important keywords. This will help ensure that your post shows up in search results. In fact, content found through searches has been shown to outperform any other form of content by 3x! Once you have a great headline, use keywords appropriately throughout the body of your blog post. Don't overuse them though or they'll lose their effectiveness. Good web content starts with a great headline but it doesn't end there!

Research, research, research 
No matter what you're writing about, be sure to do your research. This will help ensure that your content is accurate and informative. In the age of the internet, it's easy to find information on just about anything. However, not all of it is reliable. Be sure to only include information that is coming from a reputable source. It can be tempting to put every single piece of information that's relevant into one blog post, but this often leads to long posts which are difficult for readers to digest. Instead, break up larger pieces of information into individual posts so as not to overwhelm readers with too much detail at once. Lastly, make sure that each point you make supports your argument or drives home a specific point so readers know why they should care about what they are reading!

Outline your material 
Do not skip the outline. It's your most important writing tool. Take some time to outline your resource material again. Once you have a good understanding of what you want to say, start writing your outline in full sentences. This will make your post easier to read and understand. Use strong verbs and an active voice throughout your post to keep readers engaged. No one wants to read a boring, flat blog post! Use the main points of the information to form sub headers. Readers are more apt to scan and pick out the bits and pieces they really want to focus on. Sub headers help create the content into sections so it's easy for them to find what they're looking for. Don't forget to use lists or bullets when needed!

Transform your outline 
Now, it's time to string all of those sentences together into paragraphs to form a rough draft of a blog post. You can do this by highlighting each sentence in the outline as you create them or by copying and pasting them into the Word document you're writing in. 

It will seem like a lot of work at first, but once you get into the groove of it, you'll be able to complete your draft post in no time! The biggest key is maintaining your focus on what is written rather than being distracted by other things around you — stay focused!

Fill in any necessary details 
Once you have your sections written out, start filling in each sentence with additional information to make it more detailed. Read over each section to make sure you haven't missed any crucial points. Once you've re-read all the material and fill in anything you wanted to include, insert keywords and links!

Backlinking:
It's also a good idea to make sure there are links back to related posts as well as links to other bloggers who can link back to you. If you create backlinks to trustworthy sources such as schools, government agencies, nonprofits and libraries (those are all considered quality websites), then you'll increase the credibility of your blog while giving yourself more material to work with. Linking back to relevant articles on other blogs will also help because they'll be able to see what other people are reading on this topic and may choose your blog post over another one based on those factors.

SEO:
Use SEO techniques like keyword placement and links to get your words noticed by readers in the internet age! One of the most important things is making sure that search engines know what you're talking about. Using keywords or phrases that relate to your content will help give them something to find when they search for it on Google or Bing. 

Proofread and edit 
It's important to proofread and edit your work, especially if you want people to actually read it. Content is key, and if your writing is full of errors, it'll be hard for people to take you seriously. Make sure to proofread and edit your work more than once or ask a friend to go over your material. Writers miss more than we'd like to admit. Make sure each sentence makes a point or is at least linked to a point. Remove any fluff or filler that's unnecessary. 

Editing is more than proofreading. Edit by using your program features or an online editing platform. Editing can help catch any mistakes in spelling, grammar, word usage and punctuation. A thorough read-through should also reveal vague statements and repetitive words.

Publish that better-written blog post!
Blogging is a great way to share your thoughts and ideas with the world. But to get people to read your blog, you need to write captivating blog posts that will actually be read! Let's recap! Start with a catchy, unique headline. Make sure your content is well-written and engaging by using research and an outline. Use helpful formatting techniques, such as headings and lists, to make your content easy to scan. And don't forget to promote your blog post on social media and other online platforms once your newly better-written blog post is published!

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