{"id":5143,"date":"2016-03-17T05:00:53","date_gmt":"2016-03-17T05:00:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/redbooth.com\/hub\/?p=5143"},"modified":"2016-04-29T14:00:18","modified_gmt":"2016-04-29T14:00:18","slug":"guide-to-writing-better-blog-posts","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/redbooth.com\/hub\/guide-to-writing-better-blog-posts\/","title":{"rendered":"A Super-Simple Guide to Writing Better Blog Posts Overnight"},"content":{"rendered":"

Sitting down to write a blog post can be frustrating.<\/p>\n

If you don\u2019t have a plan, you\u2019ll end up staring at your blank Word document for hours, getting more unmotivated to write with every minute that passes.<\/p>\n

Don\u2019t let that happen. Use this post as a guide to writing better blog posts \u2013 even when it seems impossible. Let\u2019s get started.<\/p>\nIf you sit down to blog without a plan, you'll lose steam faster than you can imagine. <\/a><\/span>Share on X<\/a><\/span>\n

Choose the right topic<\/h2>\n

I know that my blog posts aren\u2019t going to get any traffic or engagement if I don\u2019t pick the right topic. So, before I ever start writing, I think about what my target audience would likely find helpful.<\/p>\n

If you aren\u2019t sure how to determine this, think about what challenges your audience faces every day and what information they\u2019d need to overcome those challenges. If you can give them that information in a well-written blog post, you can feel pretty confident that you\u2019ve got a good topic.<\/p>\n

Once you\u2019ve decided on a topic, pick a working title to use. Don\u2019t worry about getting it in final headline form just yet \u2013 we\u2019ll get to that later.<\/p>\n

Write an outline and gather resources<\/h2>\n

Before I start writing, I outline my blog post. Every.single.time.<\/p>\n

Why?<\/p>\n

Because it helps me organize my thoughts and gives me a good foundation to build off of.<\/p>\n

To create an outline for you blog post, all you need to do is figure out what to use for your headers. Keep it simple at first \u2013 just write a header based on what each section is going to be about.<\/p>\n

If you want, you can also add in some links to good resources and notes about what you\u2019d like to include in each section. Doing so will help you remember your train of thought if you come back to write your blog post later on as opposed to writing it immediately after you create your outline.<\/p>\n

Breeze through the first draft<\/h2>\n

Lots of writers are hardcore perfectionists (myself included). So, I totally understand that it can be tough to write a quick first draft that you aren\u2019t proud of.<\/p>\n

But you can, and should, do it anyway.<\/p>\n

Just use your outline to guide the flow of your content, and write freely. And whatever you do, don\u2019t stress about grammar and spelling errors at this point.<\/p>\n

Tip:<\/strong> Try writing the introduction after you write the body content of your blog post. Sometimes, doing this makes it easier to create a cohesive piece.<\/p>\n

Edit like crazy<\/h2>\n

Okay, now is the time for you to start editing and proofreading your blog post.<\/p>\n

I start by reading my first draft. Then, I re-arrange the content to make the piece flow better, removing and adding content when needed. After that, it\u2019s time to proofread.<\/p>\n

But I\u2019ll let you in on a little secret \u2013 sometimes, I don\u2019t proofread at all. I outsource my proofreading to an editor, which helps me save the time I would normally spend obsessing over whether or not my blog post is perfect.<\/p>\n

If you don\u2019t know any editors, you can also use tools like Grammarly<\/a> and Hemingway app<\/a> to check your writing.<\/p>\n

Write a seductive headline<\/h2>\n

Don\u2019t think headlines are important? If so, what I\u2019m about to say might surprise you.<\/p>\n

On average, 8 out of 10 people will read headline copy, but only 2 out of 10 will read the rest<\/a>.<\/p>\n

So, you can see why it\u2019s important to spend a significant chunk of time creating a headline that piques the interest of your audience \u2014 you want to entice them to read the rest of your blog post.<\/p>\n

Here are a few things you should include in your headline:<\/p>\n