What Makes a Good Blog Post? Key Elements to Keep Readers Engaged
Once again, like I said in the last post about this, I’m not super comfortable with this topic. I’m not sure why. Probably just another reason I should have a good talk with someone, but here goes, since it was requested….
LET’S TALK ABOUT STARTING A BLOG!
BRANDING AND VOICE
The last post we talked about how you need to set up your blog. We did not talk about things like branding because I am still trying to keep it pretty chill and simple and if we talk about visual branding things get a little cluttery, but I will say that the biggest ways that writers brand themselves is with words, with style, with your voice.
The voice of your blog is most likely going to be the voice of you.
Much like in fiction writing, that voice is defined by things like:
Sentence structure. Are you a short-sentence person? A long-sentence person? Are you addicted to fragments?
Paragraph structure. Do you have short ones? Long ones? Do you use the white space (the space that does not contain words) on the screen?
Word choice. Big words. Little words. Anglo-Saxon derived words. Latin derived words. SO MANY WORD choices! and then there are things like words from your profession. If you are a sports writer (or athlete) do you use those words and phrasing (slam, sock out of the park, etc.)? Computer person (matrix, code) do you use those words? And so on.
How you see the world comes through, too.
So, don’t worry too much about visual branding unless you’re into it.
TRYING TO BE CLEAR
Most people like blogs that are linear and clear. That can feel really limiting if you’re not a linear and clear writer/thinker/brain. And there’s something lovely in not being that way.
I’m not.
That’s why I use things like bullet points and subheads. Those help keep my brain in line, help the reader understand what I’m putting down, but also if you are reading, when you get to subheads, you feel like “YES! Look! I made it this far. I will continue on!”
Using subheads can be nice to readers. It’s nice to be nice.
HEADLINES
The first thing people see on your post is usually the headline. I am terrible at them.
Try to be specific.
“How I Saved $500 Shopping” usually gets more reads that “I’m a cutie shopper with cutie shopping secrets.”
THE HOOK
The beginning of your post is supposed to hook the readers in. Some bloggers do this with:
An annoying and bold assertion: Carrie Jones is a poop.
An anecdote: I stood on the porch when the kid pointed at my house and yelled, “BURN!”
Something that surprises the reader about you or the world: There are more manatees in the world than Carrie Joneses.
STAY FOCUSED.
You want to try to stay on one main idea. If there are too many maybe split the post up. This is actually what I’m doing with these blogging posts.
BE VALUABLE.
You want to give the reader something helpful and not just be you-you-you all the time-time-time.
Value doesn’t have to be tips.
Value can be a reminder that life isn’t always all bad, that you can survive, that other people have too. It can be comfort, connection, encouragement or how to make six-figures in two months.
YOU DO NOT HAVE TO BE FANCY
Remember when I was talking about voice earlier? Here’s the thing: You do not have to be fancy or formal if that isn’t who you are. Usually, the more authentic you are the better.
A lot of advice out there says basically that if you wouldn’t say a phrase out loud, you probably shouldn’t write it, but that you should write like you’re talking to a smart friend over coffee.
Or maybe with your bro over some Coors? You do you.
THE ENDING
This is the hardest for me, honestly. It’s basically that you don’t want to wither away or trail off at the end of your post.
You might want to have a nice wrap up sentence.
Offer a final brilliant thought.
Or it could be calls to action.
Ask the reader a question. (This always feels a bit fake to me, how about you? See what I did there? Oh! I did it again!)
Ask people to comment.
Do the YouTube end screen and invite them to stay a bit and read another post.
TRY TO BE HONEST
That just means be you. Don’t pretend to be anyone else. It feels weird. And it’s hard. You’re cool just as you are. Your blog will be, too.
QUICK NOTE FROM ME
If you think all the content I write over the year is worth $6 a month and you can afford to send that along? That is super awesome and kind. Thank you. If not, no worries! Just stay around and read the free posts, okay? And try not to resent me for the paid ones.
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That’s me trying to sell. I am terrible at it, I know!