Every week you spend hours carefully crafting your blog posts. You don’t like to brag, but you’re getting pretty good at it. Your writing style is entertaining and engaging and you like to think it hits just the right spot with your readers. Every week there’s a certain amount of nervous anticipation as you press the publish button. However, that anticipation soon turns to crushing disappointment as you check up on your weekly readership stats. Yet again that amazing blog post has failed to really resonate with your readers and you’re at a loss as to why. If this scenario sounds horribly familiar, then help is at hand. Every blogger, even the most successful, have had similar experiences at some point in their careers. The truth is a few simple changes will see your blog posts ranking higher on the readership scale. Let’s find out how.
- Inform rather than sell.
First and foremost a good blog post needs to be informative and entertaining to the reader. Always have the readers’ needs in mind when writing. What will they get out of your post? What value are you adding to their lives? In our information overloaded lives where content is everywhere, readers can sniff out a self-absorbed, sales-focussed post a mile off and most likely will simply scroll on to the next thing. However, keep it entertaining, positive and inspiring while throwing in a few actionable takeaways and you’ll be on to a winner!
- Choose the right topic.
Selecting the right topic is the next step. Perhaps you’ve been guilty of sticking too closely to your niche area or the particular industry that you work in. And much as it may enthuse and excite your passions, the same may not be true of others out there. Don’t limit yourself to just your industry. Check out platforms such as Twitter, Facebook or Pinterest for trending ideas and discussions. It could inspire you to tackle other topics; however, be sure to select issues that you have a genuine interest in and something different to contribute. Potential readers will easily spot a regurgitated post or a subject about which you clearly don’t have any in-depth knowledge!
Once you’ve selected your topic, it’s time to get started. Use a conversational style of writing rather than a more formal one dug up from your days at school. The blog post will resonate more with readers if it includes your personality and is pitched at an accessible, everyday level. After all, you’re not writing for a PhD! The truth is if a reader needs to consult a dictionary, then you’ve already lost them. Simple, concise and above all human is what’s required.
- Come up with a catchy title.
The title is the hook that will draw in your readers so try and come up with something catchy and enticing. Easier said than done I know, but it’s so important that you need to spend almost as much time brainstorming a good title as you do on writing the actual content. ‘How to’ titles are always a good choice along with ‘top tips’ and ‘best ofs’. Another good option is the ‘secret tos’. Who could resist clicking on an article with the title of The Secret To Getting Rich Quick!
Anyone can write a blog but not everyone can write a blog that people will actually read. It’s an art and like most arts requires practice. Try out the ideas and suggestions in this article and see how they impact on your readership stats. Alternatively get in touch with us at Write Solutions for some expert help and advice.