Writers, Here's 7 Ways to Beef Up Your Blog Posts
Content needs to stand out. If it doesn't, it's instantly lost to the exabytes of data that form the bottom of the Internet iceberg.
We've collected some surefire ways to add a little something extra to your work that will greatly increase its value and the value of your personal brand.
See also: 7 Ways to Create a Comprehensive & Detailed Blog Post
To be better than the competition, you need to write factual articles that use recent studies, surveys, and polls. You need relevant, timely statistics and data to substantiate your points. With so much mediocre chatter on the Internet, you want to offer quality content that serves your readers.
One of the reasons people love how-to articles is that they teach us how to do something new or something better. Readers want to know not only why something is important, but also how to incorporate strategies into their own lives. The best blog posts are both informative and educational. These articles offer new ideas or a different slant on old ones. By providing tips, strategies, and advice on subjects useful to your target audience, you're more likely to keep readers engaged.
In some cases, you can write a blog post off the top of your head. The problem is that most readers probably already know this information. To really interest your audience in reading further, you need to do research, use authoritative sources, and offer in-depth information as succinctly as possible. Readers want to learn something novel, not just reread what they already know.
Quotes can add another perspective to your material. They give you license to use well-crafted language from an expert, thought leader, or some other figure who's an authority on the topic. Provided that your content agrees with or supports what the original author is saying, quotes can be a powerful tool for building its credibility.
Clients want content that speaks to their target market. By knowing the demographics of the readership, you are in a better position to write posts that will address the main concerns and problems of this audience. Understanding the buyer's business persona also helps you develop targeted content that suits their needs.
Follow the principle of addition by subtraction. If there's a more logical or concise way to format your post, do it, no matter how much reorganizing it takes. If a paragraph describes a process, break it down into bullet points, which can be short phrases instead of complete sentences. Taking the time to ensure that the post's structure is clear and easy to follow will go a long way in holding your audience's attention from start to finish.
The Internet is a visual medium. By providing at least one relevant and intriguing image per post, you can capture a reader's attention almost immediately. Pictures enhance a blog post and make it more visually interesting, which entices people to start reading. Blog posts are increasingly important for any business, but only if the content offers something of value.
To create blog posts that get attention and are highly shareable, implement the above strategies. Happy blogging!
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We've collected some surefire ways to add a little something extra to your work that will greatly increase its value and the value of your personal brand.
See also: 7 Ways to Create a Comprehensive & Detailed Blog Post
1. Use Statistics and Data
To be better than the competition, you need to write factual articles that use recent studies, surveys, and polls. You need relevant, timely statistics and data to substantiate your points. With so much mediocre chatter on the Internet, you want to offer quality content that serves your readers.
2. Provide Actionable Advice
One of the reasons people love how-to articles is that they teach us how to do something new or something better. Readers want to know not only why something is important, but also how to incorporate strategies into their own lives. The best blog posts are both informative and educational. These articles offer new ideas or a different slant on old ones. By providing tips, strategies, and advice on subjects useful to your target audience, you're more likely to keep readers engaged.
3. Go Beyond the Obvious
In some cases, you can write a blog post off the top of your head. The problem is that most readers probably already know this information. To really interest your audience in reading further, you need to do research, use authoritative sources, and offer in-depth information as succinctly as possible. Readers want to learn something novel, not just reread what they already know.
4. Find a Compelling Quote
Quotes can add another perspective to your material. They give you license to use well-crafted language from an expert, thought leader, or some other figure who's an authority on the topic. Provided that your content agrees with or supports what the original author is saying, quotes can be a powerful tool for building its credibility.
5. Understand Your Audience
Clients want content that speaks to their target market. By knowing the demographics of the readership, you are in a better position to write posts that will address the main concerns and problems of this audience. Understanding the buyer's business persona also helps you develop targeted content that suits their needs.
6. Build It up by Breaking It Down
Follow the principle of addition by subtraction. If there's a more logical or concise way to format your post, do it, no matter how much reorganizing it takes. If a paragraph describes a process, break it down into bullet points, which can be short phrases instead of complete sentences. Taking the time to ensure that the post's structure is clear and easy to follow will go a long way in holding your audience's attention from start to finish.
7. Add Images
The Internet is a visual medium. By providing at least one relevant and intriguing image per post, you can capture a reader's attention almost immediately. Pictures enhance a blog post and make it more visually interesting, which entices people to start reading. Blog posts are increasingly important for any business, but only if the content offers something of value.
To create blog posts that get attention and are highly shareable, implement the above strategies. Happy blogging!
To Read More About Content Planning, See Below:
Spice Up Your Content Calendar With These Creative Solutions
4 Ways to Repurpose Evergreen Content
Content Outage? Don't Panic, Here's Your Back-Up Plan
Published by JD Peterson on Thursday, June 19, 2014 in Writing, Blog, Bloggers, Content, Post, Tips And Tricks.