Ten Writing Tips to Create Blog Posts That Get Read

I felt a little weird creating that title, but if we want readers to visit our blogs, we need compelling headlines. And while the one above seems boastful, I know from experience that writers seek writing tips. And they are not looking for bad ideas but good ones. Hence the headline, and my effort below to share what works in writing a good post.

Okay, here is one writer's ideas. I haven't changed what I believe to be good writing in the past 30+ years, starting as a journalist, then editor, then publisher, then freelance writer and today a marketer/communicator. Hope these tips help.

1. Know your audience and write for them. What do they want to read, learn and use in their own lives/businesses?
2. Start with a compelling headline/title. This is our most difficult task. How do we attract readers in three to seven or eight words?
3. Tell a story instead of stringing together a series of related but impersonal paragraphs.
4. Write from a point of view. I usually write from my point of view and talk about ideas from my personal experiences.
5. Vary the length of your sentences to create a readable and friendly pace for your readers. Short sentences are best for creating energy and excitement, longer sentences to express thoughtfulness and provoke readers to think.
6. Create a lead (first paragraph) that moves readers to continue reading. Make sure your angle is in the lead, and it is clear, concise and tells readers why they should care.
7. Use transitional devices to move from one paragraph to the next.
8. Use bullet points and/or numerals if you are trying to share best practices, such as I am doing here.
9. Tie your story together with the last paragraph, which should smoothly link back to your lead.
10. Be authentic. Write the way you and your readers talk. Keep it simple. You are writing a blog post not a thought paper.

Here's the secret to using the above 10 tips or any tips for doing anything: Use what works for you and discard the rest. If you do that, you will understand why headlines need not create a perception of boastfulness, even when they seem to do so like the one used here, and you will learn how to create loyal readers while continuing to attract new ones.

Comments

[John Maver]

Lewis

Great advice. As I look back at my blog, I am partially successful.

At first I thought I would ask if I could use this piece in it entirety. But then I realized I would be breaking the first tip completely as my readers don't come to me for writing help.

Nevertheless, you once again have stimulated my thinking.

Nice job!

Thanks

John

[Lewis Green]

John,

Great insight. We have to know why our readers come to us. For me, some of my readers come to bizsolutionsplus for writing tips and many more to read about social media and marketing tips. Writing/communicating are keys to success in both arenas.

Lewis

[Mario Vellandi]

Lewis, I think your tips are excellent.
Most important is focusing on excellence.
Made to Stick principles too.
Also staying cognizant of spelling, grammar, readability (total length, paragraph size, bullet points, numbered lists)
Having a balanced MIX of short and longer sentences.

Personally, I write for my audience and myself. I really don't want to cover the same subject twice, unless there's a significant new angle or application. The content I choose is to my liking (this reflects my interests, brand, personality). But I try to make sure I mix up the story categories.
Lastly, I try and keep everything I write in one of 11 meta categories, differentiated by tags. It helps keep clean mental order and a personal reminder of the big picture at hand (category) when I write, and can refer back to.

[Lewis Green]

Mario,

Thank you for sharing your tips: They definite resonate and form a solid basis for writing.

Lewis

[Sandy]

Hi there,
I just wanted you to know--I just found your blog, and plan to spend a good bit of time here! I had been doing some searching on the web for something military-related, but your blog has so much more that I'm interested in.

For one, my 'day job' is working at a nonprofit as a graphic designer---and as such, am regularly involved in maintaining our company's brand. And my main passion, done in my off-time, is an org I started - cardsforheroes.org. I've been working on developing that nonprofit, teaching our volunteers the importance of marketing and branding principles, and that's the reason for really loving what little I've peeked at here---you put a lot of information into understandable language I can point the to! (Loved the "personal brand" post below, well done!) And your info here on this post on how to get read is great info too, and I plan on checking out a lot more of what you have to say.

So, again, thanks - for your blog, for your service to our nation. Have a super day!

[Lewis Green]

Sandy,

Much thanks for caring about military men and women. They do so much and ask for so little in return. BTW: My wife runs a graphic design business. Thank you for visiting and welcome back any time.

Lewis

[Marc Meyer]

Lewis, I'd like to add that one should write about what they know and perhaps the audience will follow? Since we all have our own groups, perhaps those groups will find you? I still think though that as you say you have to let them know that you are out there...thus the compelling title...