5 Simple Steps To Take Your Shop Online

HOW TO WRITE A GREAT BLOG POST

 

One marketing activity that we encourage our customers to undertake is writing blog posts. Not only are they great for your website’s SEO ranking, it’s a perfect way to share your industry knowledge & interact with your audience.

Most people think that blogs should be really formal if you’re giving out information, but this isn’t always the case. Some bloggers have a more friendly, casual writing style which in turn makes their content much easier to process for the reader. Although this is the case, it should still be structured in a sensible way.

— Compelling titles

All blogs should start with a title that engages the reader from the off. The title is the first thing that the reader will see, so it’s got to be captivating enough for them to click on your article.

We suggest that you try utilising one of the following techniques when thinking about a title:

  • The Question Title: This is when you ask a question to your reader to get them to think that they’ll find the answer within your blog. For example “Have you thought about GDPR for your website?”. 
  • The Helpful Title: This is where you’ll offer your audience a title that will tell them how they can do something. For example “How to get more sales using your website”. 
  • The List Title: This title is where you’ll let the reader know that there is a quick list for them to read so they can easily identify the information in the post. For example “6 Reasons to have an SSL certificate”.

The use of trigger words like “why, what, how” are excellent in persuading someone to click on your post. Paired with emotive words that might exaggerate a readers problem, you’ve got yourself a dream team.

Still stuck? Here’s a post that will help you find your perfect blog title.

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— Engaging opening paragraph

First impressions count, you never know who is reading your blog posts so you should be sure to create an interesting opening paragraph that follows on from your clever title. You may want to try one of the following techniques:

  • Questions. If you haven’t already used one in your title, use one in your opening statement to intrigue your reader. This method forces your reader to interact with the blog, even if they think that they’re not. 
  • Quotes & statistics. Providing a quote/stat shows your reader that a) you have done your research and b) that the information that follows is credible information from valid research. It’s good to show where you sourced your information from, it can be as simple as just linking a website on a word.
  • Bold statement. Sometimes the most engaging intros are the ones that prompt a reaction. 

Opening paragraphs don’t have to be long, just enough to give the reader a taster of what they’re about to see.

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— Meaty middle section

The section that follows on from your intro should be the main part of your blog. It’s where your readers will find the good stuff. 

Most readers tend to find blogs easier to read if they are broken up into subheadings, so that they can find the content that they are looking for easier. Take this blog post for example. You can tell by just simply scanning the post roughly what the blog covers, and it’s easy to locate the specific information that you might be looking for.

Remember your middle section doesn’t always have to be in chronological order, but it makes an easier read for viewers if you take the time to plan how your sections will flow. It also doesn’t need to be an essay – just quick simple points to sum up what you’re trying to say.

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— Relevant Imagery

The main thing we tell our clients to put on their blogs is a featured image. This is an image that will be fed through on your social media when it gets shared out. It’s important to make sure that this image is not only somewhat relevant to your blog, but also original and eye-catching to support your title. 

You can also use imagery within your post. This helps to break up the written content with a visual aid. This is especially the case with mobile devices, as the pages get much longer as the screens are smaller. Again, try and keep your imagery relevant to help your reader understand what you’re trying to say in your points.

Images are also great to use as a punchline. An image that is well chosen and pokes fun at your content can create a more lighthearted feeling when reading your blog. This is ideal if your topic isn’t the most interesting thing to be reading about.

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— Wrap it up

Once you have finished writing the main part of your blog, you should start thinking about how you want to finish it off.Think about what your reader wants to do now they’ve finished reading. Here’s a couple of ways you can finish your blog:

  • Call to Actions: This is the main one that we encourage our customers to add at the bottom of their blogs. Ask for something. Tell the reader to do something, and give them the means to do it (like a button for example). This is great particularly if your blog was written to promote one of your products or services in any way.
  • Subscribe: Asking your readers to subscribe to your blog will ensure in the future they will see any new content that you post out. This option is useful particularly if you plan on campaigning in the near future. It also gives your customers a durect database of useful tips & tricks relevant to your industry!
  • Bullet Points: A simple way to summarise what your blog has been about. This is great as a recap tool, so if for any reason your visitor missed any information, they know it was covered so can go back to it.
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Do you have time to blog?

Within our concierge plans, blogging is the #1 service we do. Take a look at our plans and see how they may benefit you and your business!

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