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A Guide To Writing Your First Blog Post
The use of blogging is by far one of the most popular forms of marketing out there today. A blog is a great opportunity to engage your audience and pass on your expertise to those who are reading. Blogging also links with SEO, which is a great way to increase your organic traffic. For most, starting a blog or even writing a blog can be a daunting task. In our latest article we have developed a guide to writing your first blog post.
What Makes A Good Blog Post?
Writing a good blog post does not need to be over complicated. It comes down to two factors, one being engagement and the other adding value. By adding value to your readers through informative content, it makes them want to come back for more time and time again. Engagement is the key part of blogging, as you need to get your audience to engage with your blog through leaving data or even sharing it with friends. Both are great lead generation tactics.
The Steps To Writing A Blog Post
As we said at the start, thinking about writing a blog post can be a daunting task. If you are not a seasoned writer then you may not know where to start or what you may need to consider. Our steps to writing a blog post will therefore give you a process to follow which could make the writing experience a lot easier. These steps within a guide to writing your first blog post include the following:-
Understand Your Audience
One of the most important parts of writing a good blog is to understand who is going to be reading it. By knowing who your audience are, also allows you to focus on a key topic as well as tone for your blog. For example if you are looking to have highly qualified industry professionals read your blog then you may need to include technical terminology which they will understand.
The best way to understand your audience is also to look at what your competitors are writing. Reading their content will allow you to look at their tone and also understand what may be relevant to your audience. Do not copy their content as it needs to be authentic and put your own business twist on it.
Identify Your Blog Topic
The topic of your blog is going to be key. Relating this to your audience is also going to be important to make sure that they have an active interest in that topic. Your topic needs to be engaging and also add value to your reader. Most industry professionals will talk about their products or even key issues within their sector. This way they can add their opinion and also ensure they are adding maximum value to their reader.
Come Up With A Title
Coming up with a title can sometimes be what takes the longest. Playing with the idea of various words, phrases and how it looks on the page can be difficult. However, what is key is not to overthink it. Your blog needs to be directly related to your topic and also what is going to engage your audience the most. Your title is a key aspect to drawing in your readers so make sure it’s catchy.
Write An Introduction
An important part of your blog is your introduction. This is where your audience will decide whether or not they are going to keep reading. Keep it brief, explain the topic then move on. By creating a short and sharp opening paragraph your audience will have an understanding of what they are reading. If done well, this will entice them to keep going.
Write Your Post
Now you have done all the leg work, it is the time to write your post. Do not be hesitant in doing this, as you will find over time your blogs become better and more fluid. Start to write, add all of your thoughts on the page and then tailor and amend as you go along. Writing a blog is an exciting task and gives you a chance to really engage with your readers.
Proofread & Post
It is important to make sure that once your blog is complete that you proofread it. Looking for any mistakes in grammar, spelling or even structure is required so that it reads well for those engaging with it. If you feel you are not best qualified to do this, then it is always advised to ask colleagues or a friend to read it to get their opinion.
Once all the checks are complete, now get it posted. Using your social media platforms is also a great way to promote your blog and ensure that it is read by more and more people.
To Conclude
A blog is one of the best ways to offer opinion or advice on industry topics. It also helps to create a positive reputation for your business as when done well it builds trust. By developing a guide to writing your first blog post we have given you a basic formula to follow which will lead to even further success.
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