Hey there! After 15 years running my own blog, I‘ve learned a few tips for writing posts that both connect with readers and rank well in search engines. Whether you‘re a new or experienced blogger, having a proven structure can make creating compelling content much easier.
In this post, I‘ll walk you through exactly how I write posts that get results, step-by-step.
Contents
- Choose a Topic Based on Keyword Research
- Craft a Magnetic Headline
- Engage Readers With a Compelling Intro
- Use Headings to Organize Your Post
- Include a Clickable Table of Contents
- Keep Paragraphs Short and Scannable
- Use Images, Charts and Infographics
- End with Key Takeaways and Next Steps
- Close with a Strong Call to Action
- Promote your Post to Drive Traffic
Choose a Topic Based on Keyword Research
The first step is finding a blog post topic around a keyword your audience is searching for. Write down a few keywords and related questions your ideal readers may be asking.
Then use a tool like Ahrefs to see:
- Monthly search volume
- Keyword difficulty
- Top ranking articles
Look for keywords with:
- 500+ monthly searches
- Low-medium difficulty
- No authoritative content ranking
This indicates an opportunity to rank!
Craft a Magnetic Headline
Your headline is the first thing readers see, so making it irresistible is crucial.
Follow these tips for headlines that pop:
- Incorporate your target keyword
- Keep it between 7-12 words
- Try adding numbers, newness ("just released"), or urgency ("you need to read this")
I also recommend using a headline analyzer tool like Coschedule‘s or the one in AIOSEO. They use data and scoring to help you refine your headline.
Engage Readers With a Compelling Intro
The introduction is your chance to hook readers and let them know what the post will cover.
Some proven ways to open posts:
- State the problem you’re solving or question you’ll answer
- Share an interesting stat or data point
- Tell a relatable short anecdote
Keep your intro brief, about 3-5 sentences. End by clearly stating what the post will cover.
Use Headings to Organize Your Post
Break up your content into logical sections with descriptive headings and subheadings.
Headings make posts skimmable and show readers what each section is about. They also help with SEO, as Google will index headings.
Only use 2-3 levels of headings. Stick with H2s for main sections and H3s for subsections.
Include a Clickable Table of Contents
A table of contents enables readers to quickly jump to the sections they‘re most interested in.
This improves time on page and content digestion. It also helps with SEO, as Google displays TOC links in search results.
Easily add a TOC by using the AIOSEO table of contents block.
Keep Paragraphs Short and Scannable
Big blocks of text are hard to digest online. Separate each main idea into its own paragraph of 3-5 sentences.
Use brief paragraphs and bullet points to make your post easy to scan. Share only one point per paragraph and get right to it.
Use Images, Charts and Infographics
Including visuals in your post breaks up text and drives engagement.
Integrate simple graphics that illustrate key points and concepts. Photos also bring posts to life. Optimize and correctly size images for web.
But don’t overdo it, as too many large images can slow down page speed.
End with Key Takeaways and Next Steps
Wrap up each post with a conclusion summarizing your main points and takeaways.
You can also suggest next steps for the reader, like related resources on the topic or other posts. This gives them content to continue engaging with.
Close with a Strong Call to Action
Every post should end with a CTA (call to action) inviting readers to take a next step.
Some blog CTAs include:
- Download a related resource
- Comment with questions
- Subscribe to your email list
Make your CTA relevant to that particular blog topic and communicate value.
Promote your Post to Drive Traffic
Writing an epic post is just the beginning. You also need to get it in front of readers.
Some top tips for promoting your blog content:
- Share on social media
- Run Facebook and Pinterest ads
- Pitch guest posting opportunities
- Syndicate on Medium and Apple News
- Link to it internally
- Send email blasts when you publish
Now you‘ve got a proven system for creating high-quality blog posts that engage readers and rank well in search.
The more you practice this process, the easier it will become to whip up posts that people love reading and sharing! Let me know if you have any other questions – I‘m happy to help fellow bloggers.
