10 Ironclad Blogging Tips That Really Work

Writing a blog post takes time, above average writing skills, a well-rounded vocabulary, and a clear point of view. Whether your blog is business related, a personal journal, or just a social outlet, your words have a worldwide viewing audience. Blogging, like any other literary genre, requires some essential skills. There is no magic bullet or shortcuts. Success in blogging comes with hard work and patience.

It was the best of times,
it was the worst of times,
it was the age of wisdom,
it was the age of foolishness,
it was the epoch of belief,
it was the epoch of incredulity,
it was the season of light,
it was the season of darkness,
it was the spring of hope,
it was the winter of despair.

A Tale of Two Cities (1859)

Charles Dickens understood the importance of a great opening line. Literary experts offer a laundry list of suggestions for producing an exciting blog post. These are some of the best.

1: › Get the viewer’s attention. Entice them to keep reading with a stellar first line. It does not matter if you elude to the point of the topic, or if you use shock value. What matters most is that you start with a compelling first sentence.

2: › Paint a clear, concise picture. In just a few sentences, give a brief excerpt of the contents. Use the active voice, eliminate prepositional phrases, and strive for action verbs. In simple words, find your voice, be honest and be consistent.

3: › Every keystroke counts. Every word is critical if you want every sentence to feel important. Use as few words as possible. There is no need to say “the color of the book is blue,” when “the book is blue” is sufficient.
4: › Use powerful words to paint a visual picture that will elicit an emotional trigger. The best word to use is one that elevates you above the ordinary without sounding pretentious. Communicate with precision. Use “power words” in headings, subtitles, and in a call-to-action, to imply logic, peak curiosity, and persuade.

5: › Keeping paragraphs short makes the content more engaging. Your viewers will scan, not read. Short articles (no more than 5 or 6 sentences) makes it easier for them to read and understand. Ideally, aim to capture the viewer’s attention quickly. You only have a few seconds to make an excellent first impression.

6: › Format like a professional. Be generous and deliberate with your use of bullet points, lists, and headlines. Think of these as the iconic Burma Shave signs. Each end should make the reader want to see more. Stay focused and stay on topic. Keep your reader’s interest.

7: › Quotes are impactful, and metaphors instill memorability. Incorporating a quote in your blog post allows you to use someone else’s expertise to support your writing. Illustrating connections between two objects show relevance and increases interest.

8: › USE relevant buzzwords and identifiable references. Tap into the culture of your target audience. The more you know about your readers, the better focused your writing will be.

9: › Not every topic will interest you. Not every blog post topic is interesting, but, if you spin it right, it will interest the reader. Step out of that comfort zone and research all the complicated facets of your topic. Perspective is essential if you plan to morph boring facts into an exciting read.

10: › Never start your conclusion with “in conclusion.” Don’t just summarize. Either restate your initial thoughts, insert a call-to-action to engage the viewer, or ask a question.
A blog post worth reading is easy to understand, succinct and deliberate. Make a point, take a stand, and then stand firm. Are you ready to make your blog more interesting?

Worth Reading:

• Start Your Blogging Career From Today [Beginner’s Guide]
• Blogging and SEO Tips: Optimizing Your Blog for Mobile
• Blogging and SEO Tips: Finding the Right Keywords

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