15 MUST READ Blogging Tips and Tricks
Beginner Bloggers Need to Read These 15 Blogging Tips Before Starting a Blog
So, you want to start a blog? Well, you’ve come to the right place, my friend! Blogs provide amazing value to your business or personal brand—expanding your web presence and bringing in traffic. More traffic means more readers, which means more fans, which means more money in your pocket (if that’s your goal). While starting a blog is fun and exciting for new bloggers and business owners, it can be overwhelming to plan. Don’t worry. These 15 blogging tips and tricks provide the ins and outs you need to know before writing your first blog post. Let’s dive in!
1. Determine Your Blogging Goals
Blogging provides many benefits for small businesses and personal bloggers alike. Well-written blog posts provide value to your readers, show your customers that you’re the expert, and most importantly, boost your website’s SEO—getting you seen in Google’s search results. Before you start writing, though, determine your blogging goals. Writing with a goal in mind will help you measure your success and keep you motivated through the process.
2. Know Your Audience
Before you can write a blog post, you need to know your audience. For example, if you want to create a budget travel blog, your audience is probably a younger demographic who values exploration. Therefore, these posts should be fun, informative, and even a little edgy (if that’s your brand). On the other hand, if you are a healthcare provider, your blogs should be more serious and have a helpful tone.
3. Choose Specific Topics
While you may have a lot to stay about many topics, rein it in and tackle one subject at a time. Readers (and the Google algorithm) value blogs honed in on a specific topic. If you are an interior designer, you may be compelled to write an entire blog about kitchens. But, this topic is way too broad—and will be challenging to write and organize. Break down larger blog topics like “kitchens” to something like “how to choose a farmhouse sink.”
4. Pick a Keyword
Pick a keyword and pepper it through your post like Salt Bae seasoning a rack of lamb. What is a keyword? Keywords relate to your blog topic and are key phrases that the Google algorithm uses to catalog your post and pull it up for readers—like a digital Dewey Decimal System. For example, the keyword phrase for this blog is “blogging tips and tricks,” and it can be seen making appearances in headers and paragraphs.
5. Make Your Blog Easy to Read
Would you rather sit down and flip through the pages of a fun beach read or bury yourself in a lengthy scientific paper filled with words you’ve never seen before? Unless you are a scientist, you probably picked the beach read novel. Most people read at an eighth grade level (and most content is written at or below that). While you may be inclined to show off your robust vocabulary when writing, your readers will appreciate easy-to-read posts that provide information quickly and clearly. When in doubt, keep it simple!
6. Utilize Headings for Skimmers
Some of you are just skimming this blog, which is fine! When writing your blog posts, assume that up to 50% of your audience will just scan the headlines—which means you need to craft compelling and informative headlines that provide skimmers with value.
7. Add Plenty of Detail for Researchers
If you are offended that I’d accuse you of skimming, then you are a researcher. While 50% of your readers will skim, the other 50% will take a deep dive into your content. So, make sure your body paragraphs provide enough detail and even link to other posts with more information.
8. Write Longer Posts
Blog posts with higher word counts keep people on your website longer, provide more helpful information, and are ranked higher by the Google search algorithm. So, the longer your posts—the better. Aim to write at least 1,000 words for every blog post you publish. Anything shorter probably isn’t providing enough value to your readers.
9. Budget Enough Time to Write Your Blogs
Writing 1,000 words can take some time! Make sure you know how long it takes to write a blog post and block off the required hours in your schedule. While everyone writes at different speeds, the average blog post requires up to six hours to complete. That may seem like a lot, but the process includes picking a topic, researching, outlining, writing, editing, choosing images, formatting, and uploading to your website. Don’t rush perfection!
10. Decide How Many Blogs You Will Post
Decide how many blogs you should post and make a schedule to help you stay on track. Now, how many blogs is that? Well, it depends on your goals and available time. Obviously, the more blogs you publish, the more traffic you will bring to your website. However, consistency and quality are the most important factors. Don’t rush the process to cram your website with poorly written blogs—this won’t help you or your readers. Instead, assess how many you can do well and stick to it. I recommend that most businesses aim to publish one blog every week.
11. Know What to Do When Writer’s Block Strikes
Writer’s block is the ultimate enemy of new bloggers. Sitting down to write 1,000 words can be intimidating, and your brain may just want to shut down. Make sure you are prepared and know how to overcome writer’s block before it derails your train of thought. Try breaking the project into smaller sections, going for a walk, or listening to calming music.
12. Include Photos and Graphics
Words are great, but pictures and graphics can help you further convey your message and illustrate your point. Plus, an eye-catching photo will help draw readers in! Using your own photographs and royalty-free images are a great place to start. When sharing someone else’s picture, make sure to provide credit!
13. Share Your Blog With the World
Once your blog is written, formatted, and uploaded, it’s time to share it with the world. Sure, people may find it in Google search results, but you can also show it off. Post your blog on your social media channels, send it to your customers in a newsletter, and even ask others to share on your behalf. If it is well written and provides values, people will be eager to share and read.
14. Find Ways to Turn Your Blog Into a Business
Once you get the hang of this whole blogging thing, find ways to turn your blog into a business or provide another revenue stream for your existing business. You can monetize your blog with advertising spots, sponsored posts, and affiliate marketing programs. Blogs can also help unlock new opportunities. Want to land a public speaking gig on a topic you love? Your blog is the ultimate resume enhancer to show off your knowledge and expertise.
15. Don’t Be Afraid to Ask for Help
Blogging can be hard! But, don’t be afraid to ask for help. Many business owners (and even full-time bloggers) outsource their work to copywriters. A copywriter can help you find the words for what you want to say and save you a whole lot of time in the process. If you need help, I am here to assist!