Actionable Blog Writing Tips for Beginners

As the digital world evolves and competition continues to rise, you need to be on top of your game as a marketer or business owner.

Think about the benefits of blogging and how it can help you strengthen your brand.

Now, let us look at some blog writing tips that will surely help every blogger.

What Is a Blog?

A blog is a write-up about topics in an informal tone and style. It came from the term weblog. Oftentimes, a blog is a discussion in a diary-style and published on the web. To create a well-thought-out blog post outline, it should be clearly defined.

The posts in a blog are arranged reversely, wherein the latest content appears at the top of the page. Also, blogs are frequently updated, which makes them highly useful for social media, search engine optimization, and content management.

The Five Types of Blog Posts

1. News blog
2. “How to” blog
3. Customized post
4. Listicle
5. Best “X” blog

1. The News Blog

This has a blog post outline that focuses on news and the latest updates in various industries. News and current events are significant to people who need updates about the economy and world events. News Blogs are full of valid information and raw data.

2. The “How To” Blog

This blog serves as a guide to readers, giving them detailed instructions for a task or any actionable item in particular.

Altogether, it provides general information for a step-by-step “how to.” Furthermore, this type of blog uses a more natural language and seems to be a common type of blog.

3. The Customized Post

This type of blog injects a personal touch through the use of stories, personal experiences, or testimonials that will engage the readers emotionally.

This blog highlights the emotional aspect which will capture the interest of readers. Also, the customized posts seem more real and relatable, something people are naturally drawn to.

4. The Listicle

Another way to create your blog post is with a listicle. As the name suggests, this shows a run through of items about a particular subject. It is a summary of vast amounts of information in a way that is understandable and precise.

Common forms of list type includes “Top XX Ways,” checklists, countdowns, and among others. These blogs are popular because they are easy to grasp and quick to read.

5. The “Best X for Y” Blog

This provides a set of solutions for a particular item. It is commonly used when the writer wants to highlight a product and its features. It is also useful when showcasing that a specific product is a solution to a need.

The goal of this blog is to help readers choose the best product(s) for their needs. For example, you can have “The Best Shoes for Trekking,” or “The Best Social Media Channel for Young Professionals.”

How to Write a Blog Post

1. Identify the reader and the idea.
2. Know which type of blog post to use.
3. Research the possible solutions.
4. Determine your main takeaway points.
5. Write your blog.
6. Evaluate the written content.
7. Add relevant photos and links.
8. Publish the blog.

1. Identify the Reader and the Idea

First, you have to focus on the reader and the things that might interest them. This is the first step in creating your blog post outline.

Knowing your target audience is crucial. It will help you understand the behavior of readers, get their attention, keep their interest burning and, finally, find exactly what they need.

For instance, if your target markets are young adults and working professionals, make sure to create blog topics relevant to them.

You do not want to show them content related to topics such as, “Recommended Retirement Plans” or “The Best Resorts for 55+”. Alternatively, avoid creating blogs about “Extreme Adventures in Asia” for the elderly and so forth.

Give your readers a glimpse of the things that they require through your blog title. Again, ensure that your focus is on your readers and have topics that direct their attention towards you.

2. Know Which Type of Blog to Use

The second step in coming up with a blog post outline is to identify which type of blog to use. Writing becomes easy if there is a layout and a rough draft of the blog that will guide you through.

Once you have determined your reader, topic and blog type, you can come up with a draft. Below are a few blog post outlines you can refer to:

Blog Post Outline Sample A (The Listicle)

• Introduction
• Main Problem
• List of Items (Best Products, Top XX Items, etc.)
• Conclusion
• Call to Action

Blog Post Outline Sample B (The Best X for Y)

• Introduction
• Main Problem
• Alternative Solutions
  • Advantage and Disadvantages
  • Price Comparison
  • User Feedback and Rating
  • Others

• Take Away or Recommended Product of Author
• Call to Action

3. Research the Possible Solutions

Blogs are short, with every content consisting of 1,500 words or so. Consequently, your blog must provide your target readers with the quickest way to solve their problems.

In this part, you want to provide options for the reader on how to solve a specific problem. For you to do this, you need to conduct a thorough research on relevant topics and information that you can use for your blog.

Make sure that the information you add to your blog adheres to the following:

• Valid
• Relevant
• Up-to-date
• Authentic
• No plagiarism

For example, you blog about Weight Loss Management where you provide various alternatives on how to lose weight. You mention forms of dieting and/or types of exercise.

As much as possible, you need to be specific and provide enough details so that your readers find your suggestions worthwhile.

4. Determine Your Main Takeaway Points

Do you think there is a solution that is more practical? Is there a product on your list that stands out?

Make your reader’s journey more efficient by adding vital takeaway points. Your blog post outline has to have some type of recommendation.

Your takeaway points can be presented in the form of a conclusion or summary. Choose a product relevant to the readers’ problems and needs. Create a scenario and state the best solution. For example, “If budget is the main concern, go for Product X because it offers more value for your money.”

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5. Write Your Blog

Write, write, write!

You already have your audience, the main topic and blog type. You have also researched relevant solutions to your reader’s concerns.

Now you are ready to write. Do this with passion and dedication. Writing is not everyone’s thing, and it needs the right skill to produce high-quality content.

When one writes, the proper environment may also be necessary to further inspire writers. Get rid of any unnecessary distractions when you write.

Do not hurry and give yourself enough time. As you write, remember to save your work regularly, especially if you are on a computer or tablet.

6. Evaluate the Written Content

A good writer does not stop at merely creating an article or blog. He makes sure that it is worth reading and that it will capture the attention of readers. It is important to evaluate your written content to make sure you have created a quality piece of text.

Check and evaluate the following:

• Grammar.  Make sure you have structured your sentences properly and have used the correct punctuation. There should be no spelling errors, no run-on sentences, and the tone of the post should be consistent throughout the article. You should also check the vocabulary and the expressions that you have used. You can use grammar checker tools such as Grammarly or GrammarCheck.
• Keywords for Search Engine Optimization. Use the right keywords and incorporate them throughout your content. Use keyword generator tools such as Google Adwords, Keyword Tool.io, Wordtracker, etc.
• Flesch Reading Score. The shorter the sentences and paragraphs are, the better Flesch reading score you will have. A higher Flesch Reading Score means that your article is easy to understand. This is measured by the number of syllables per word and number of words per sentence.

7. Add Relevant Photos and Links

The second to last step in creating a blog post outline is adding photos and links. Your blog will be more attractive if there are relevant photos and links incorporated in the write-up.

Images enhance the effectiveness of your blog by communicating your message more efficiently thanks to the concept of visualization.

On the other hand, internal link building allows you to lead your readers to the source of information.

This feature helps validate data, increasing your credit score. Links allow you to maximize your blog site by increasing your search potential on search engine sites. This is because internal link building promotes better search engine optimization.

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8. Publish the Blog

Are you all set?

Once you have gone through the steps in writing a blog post outline, you are now ready to publish your article. Before you do so, always make sure that formatting is nice, you’ve uploaded your images, taken care of SEO, and not left any field empty (title, meta description, alt texts, etc.)

Conclusion

Blogs need to be up-to-date and enticing to gain popularity. They need to inform people of what is going on in the world while providing the latest updates on the subjects they are interested in.

Blogs can also build customer trust and enhance rapport with online users by offering relevant information to them that shows your expertise and knowledge.