How many times have you started reading a post and your eyes start to glaze over after two sentences..
How many times have you read the words ‘well written content’ while going through posts on blogging and scratched your head – what does it actually mean, you wonder?
Is ‘Content is King’ web cliché of sorts? Of course, it is, but like all clichés, there is 100% truth behind these over used words.
Content is King
This post was inspired by an old favourite I recently revisited for its good writing tips, titled ‘English Essentials- The wouldn’t-be-without-it guide to writing well, co authored by Mem Fox, world-famous writer of children’s picture books. The book is geared towards students of English, however the advice applies equally well to writing a great blog post. Here’s is what I walked away with.
How to write Great Blog posts that will leave your Readers wanting MORE
1. Good Writing Keeps the Reader in mind.
Picture one person you are writing for. Imagine them sitting in front of you while you talk to them about your ideas. Ask yourself these questions. Do they appear to be interested in what you have to say? How can you capture and keep their attention?
What questions might they have? Will they get bored if you write too long, or confused if too little. What might they already know?
You cannot write a post to please everybody, different readers require different levels of language and detail. Write for your one ideal reader. Who do you write your posts for?
2. Good Writing Captures Hearts and Minds Early.
Readers on the internet have limited patience. Hook them in quickly before they move on.
Make sure your posts are ‘scannable‘ , meaning, readers should be able to read them quickly and understand what you are telling them about.
Write short paragraphs. My earlier posts resembled a printed article style and have longer paragraphs. Now I am trying to make my posts as scannable and ‘easy on the eyes’ as possible. Am I succeeding?
Blog posts – in the manner of non fiction – can be clearly set out with headings, sub headings, lists and dot points to help your message get across. Do you do this while writing your posts?
Look at your paragraphs, there should be a smooth flow from one to the next.
How to write great blog posts
3. Good Writing has a Voice.
Every blog has a living, breathing person behind it. It shouldn’t sound like it has been written by a robot. It’s a good idea to develop your voice over time which will stay consistent throughout your posts.
When you write, let your personality, your real self shine through. Advises Mem Fox. If you are funny, be funny in your posts, if you are sensitive, then be that. If you are quirky, allow some quirkiness to come forward .. your readers will love you for it.
Your voice tells the readers that you have enjoyed writing something. It shows your passion for what you do.
I follow a person, not a blog. Do you? Checkout Four Steps to finding your ideal writing voice on Copyblogger. Highly fascinating and satisfying read.
4. Good Writing Connects with your Readers.
We learn from good writing. We FEEL when we read. We are bored and unmoved when we read something we don’t like and don’t even finish reading it.
Be imperfect, be yourself. You are constantly evolving and so is your blog. Be human and other humans will love you. Imperfection is a good thing, says Men with Pens.
5. Good Writing is Clear Writing.
If you can’t understand something, don’t blame yourself, blame the writer. Too harsh? Well this is especially true when it comes to writing a blog post. A well written post is only effective when the message is clear. James Chartrand of Mens with Pens has done a fantastic piece on Copyblogger where he says, “Tight, concise, easy-to-read pieces are heaven for readers. Long, complex, convoluted ones are just confusing.”
Unless you are writing an academic essay, stay away from writing to impress. Get rid of long words, pompous sentences and empty padding, says Mem Fox. ‘Aim to express, not to impress.’
Good writing also has well crafted endings. For a blog post, ask your readers a question and invite them to offer their thoughts on what you have written.
6. Good Writing has been Revised.
Make sure your grammar, spelling and punctuation are correct. These are good table manners of online world. Incorrect spelling puts your readers in a bad mood. It says ‘I am not serious about my work’. It also helps you to maintain your authority over your topic.
How do you define a well written post? What makes you want to stay and finish one post from start to end? And most importantly, did YOU end up reading this whole thing? :) Do share.
Update: After revising and proofreading this endlessly, I still found a few errors … hence revising again. My apologies if you read it before I had a chance to do so.
Thank you for posting! Very helpful tips! :)
Good common sense, Marya, and equally applicable to any kind of writing (including fantasy fiction :P). You are a good researcher, and that’s a real service.
Good to see you Sandra, how are you?
I love to read, I love to write. I am thinking of writing posts on whatever I learn from books in different genres, mostly writing, blogging, personal growth, inspirational pieces and women issues. My take. My niche. What do you think?
I’m doing good, Marya, thanks – hope you’re the same :). As for your niche, honestly if you really enjoy doing that, then go for it. As it says in this last one, your passion will show through.
Look at how many people you have attracted by doing that distillation of the blogging heroes. I think this new idea might be very successful. People will know where to go to get a helpful take on what the book is about. Then they can decide whether to get the book or whether that info is enough.
Even if it isn’t successful, what have you got to lose? (But I think it’s going to be helpful and quite successful.)
I am feeling very excited about this for a while, and you have actually made me even more so. I love nothing more than talking the insights gained from books. and would love if people find that info useful. You have nailed it when you said people can decide whether they want to purchase that book or not, that’s not the point anyway. Plus I might just focus on a single chapter or just a few ideas taken from it. It won’t be like writing book summaries or reviews. I think you know exactly what I mean. Thanks very much for your vote of confidence, like I said, very excited. :)
I have been writing for couple of decades now and I write quite well ( I am told ). It took me lot of hard work to learn to write convincingly simple and purposely interesting. I wish you had written this piece ( if this was ever possible ) two decades ago. You would have saved me all that hard work and learning thru trial and error.
An old dog is learning some new tricks.
Everybody in the family knows how well you write. :) If I am able to help in the littlest way, I am greatly honoured.
I learnt from the best you know. ;)
Every visit here makes me try harder. I don’t mean trying to force something. I mean getting better. I sometimes feel out of my league.That I’m a fraud just taking up internet space. Then I find some little nugget here, and doubt is cast away (for a while anyway).
I really liked the finding your voice point. Something new to consider!
Please keep up the great work!
Ken
Hi Ken, good to see you again. I am so grateful for your positive comments, they make me want to try even harder as well – so encouraging and uplifting they are. Many thanks. :)
Just to let you know, this post moved me enough to quote you. Thanks for helping me find my voice!
Thanks very much.
I will be doing a post on ‘writer’s voice’ soon. I have been feeling a bit down for last few days, as I am having doubts as to what my own voice sounds like – if I have one at all. My earlier posts were written in a different style while the latest ones – hopefully professional sounding and not boring – they seem a bit lacking in personality. So in all fairness, I am actually not paying attention to my own advice. I need to put more of me in there, somehow. Its all a bit of experiment at this stage, to see what works and what doesn’t. Lets see how this all unfolds. Its good to have well wishers along the way- in fact I don’t think I could do this without you guys who are supporting me. Thanks again. :)
Thank you for your information about blogging. Since I am new at it, it was very good for me to read. Some of it is common sense but, unfortunatly, some people to not use thier common sense well. I’m sure I will have good and bad blogs, but my goal is to improve. Best wishes to you.
Thanks very much. Common sense is not so common after all eh? See you later.
Great post – thank you very much for the tips!
Hi Nicole, I am glad you liked it. Hope to see you again soon. Thanks. :)
Nice tips. It is true. If I click on a blog and the post is not written well or it does not interest me, I move on. I subscribe to the ones I like. I like ones to read, like they are talking to me.
Hi Connie, that’s exactly how I feel also, and would think holds true for most people. Thanks for dropping by. :)
Hi Marya!!!
Good tips. There are many bloggers who are new to blogging and in this new year, are looking forward to do some good stuff in blogging. I am sure your post will be very helpful for all of them including me.
Thanks!
I am glad it helps some. Thank you. :)
Answer one — I did indeed read the whole thing! I found it concise, digestable information spiced with entertainment. I smiled a few times and nodded along with the paragraphs.
Answer two — this one’s longer. I guess what I consider a good, well written post differs according to medium. For a blog, I’ve found that sincerity over technicalities wins. Spelling mistakes and a few colloquial phrases (that grammar shuns) doesn’t hinder a post’s effectiveness in the blog world. Like you said, keep the audience in mind — the Internet is fraught with scanners and victims of ADHD, rather than scholars looking for an academic paper.
I personally look for a strong, intelligent voice with a few dynamic folds of quirkiness and individuality when searching out blogs. I really liked this post and must look into the said book that inspired you to write this post!
Hi, I loved reading your thoughts. This also made me promptly click on your blog and I was immediately taken in with your unique style. It looks very fascinating and I will soon be reading up on your posts. Look forward to seeing more of you. Thanks :)
You made me blush and smile at the same time, so thanks. ;)
I’m glad my two cents were of interest to you. I have lots of pennies that are eager to be cashed in via comments or posts. I do hope my blog entertains you as well as gives you some things to mentally chew over. ^_^
To return a compliment for a compliment, your blog is also fascinating and provides me with plenty of content to help me along as a writer and a person going through life.
Thanks very much. I would love to the pennies soon. Keep writing. :)
Thank you Mayra. It’s very helpful to a new blogger.
Glad to help out. Thanks for dropping by. Cheers
Need I say more? Not sure how to write blogs? Need some useful tips? How to get started? Any interesting sites or books to read? Things to keep in mind while blogging – - etc etc etc…Marya has a solution for you! I mean this very sincerely. You have been nothing but helpful to all of us. Thank you again.
Aww… thanks so much, means a lot to me. :)
Very good tips, Mayra. I think writing posts on whatever you learn from books is a great idea. Your posts have already made me add books to my reading list. There is so much to read and learn. Learning through your posts is fun. You are doing some of the work for me. That is greatly appreciated.
Thanks very much. Hope it works out for me as I love nothing more than reading nonfiction, and obsessively jotting down things that I have to have with me. Been ‘reading’ like this for years so I guess it was inevitable that I will somehow incorporate that into my work – in some way. The more I do this, the more I love it. Hopefully readers will too. Fingers crossed. :)
[...] her again, today I’m writing about clarity. Lets consider the following from her post on Top Tips for Writing Fabulous Blog Posts that Every Blogger should Know about . If you can’t understand something, don’t blame yourself, blame the writer. Too harsh? Well [...]
Enjoyed the post and I enjoy this blog. Thanks for the tips. My blog and my writing has evolved and I strive to become an even better writer in the future.
Thanks very much. :)
“You are constantly evolving and so is your blog” – so absolutely right.
I repeatedly read about the necessity of ‘good’ content, but what’s good for some may be boring or irrelevant for others, you can’t please everybody.
A great idea to demystify a phrase used too often in blogging, now can you tackle Search Engine Optimization for me, please?!
Hi Deanna, I agree one cannot please everybody so might as well try to please one ideal reader? heheh. I will get down to SEO as soon as I get my head around it first. I am just getting by myself. If you find any good blogs/posts on this, could you care to write about it? I am sure many would appreciate. :)
Hey!! i so like the post… it’s so helpful.. been thinking how to start blogging and finally share my thoughts. your post is very encouraging for a beginner like me..
Very good advice, thank you!