I’m still a bit of a newbie when it comes to blogging, but I’ve been spending a lot of time working on my website and reading other people’s, not to mention doing research on the art of blogging.
There are lots of ways to improve your blog, from design to plugins to link building to advertising.
But I’m a writer, so for me, content is the most important thing, the thing that gives your website meaning. In this article, I’m going to focus on tips for improving your posts.
1. Plan in advance
This tip is something that, I admit, I haven’t quite managed to get to grips with yet. My posts tend to be a last minute, fly by the seat of your pants type thing. But if you struggle for ideas, a plan might be the way to move forward. Jot down your ideas and decide how frequently you would like to post. Make a schedule and assign your posts to a different day. Try to spread out your subject matter for a bit of variety.
2. Use quality images
There are tons of different ways to use a blog, but a good blog post usually features a combination of text and images. If you’re a writer, try to add a couple of attractive images as part of your post. Not only will they catch the reader’s eye and engage their interest, but images are also great for SEO and can help your posts rank higher in the search engines. But don’t forget to be careful when sourcing your images – you don’t want to fall foul of copyright law!
3. Write about your passions
Blog posts have to be engaging if readers are going to keep coming back to visit your website. One of the best ways to achieve that is to infuse your posts with personality and the easiest way to do that is to write about what you love.
4. Carry a notebook
Take a notebook with you wherever you go – just in case inspiration strikes!
5. Write about current or topical issues
Surf the internet a bit and find out what other people are talking about, and not just in your subject area. Writing about a topic that other people are already discussing is a great way of joining in the conversation.
6. Keep it varied
Write as many different types of post as you can and on any subject that interests you. Be willing to be flexible. You might have a structured plan, but if you feel passionate about something that takes you away from your usual topics then go with it – it might turn out to be one of your best posts.
7. Make connections
Use the internet and social media to get to know other bloggers or people with similar interests. You can learn from what other people are doing and you never know, you might build links or be invited to write a guest post that will get your blog extra visits.
8. Live life a little
It’s easy to get caught up in life online and forget about the outside world, but get away from the internet for a while and you might find inspiration for your next post.
I hope you find some of these ideas useful and I’d love to hear any other tips for writing a great blog post!