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Writing strong articles and blog posts takes practice, practice, and more practice. You need to read, write, read, write, and read some more. It’s a hard process. But the rewards include more readers, more engagement, and more fans. That’s why it’s always worth the effort to write better—and these blogging tips will help.
I always try to write the best I can, and I appreciate reading from writers who give me their best. Nothing beats strong, well-written content.
For that reason, I’ve rounded up five oh-so-simple blogging tips I’ve learned for clearer, better writing. Read on to see a few basic principles for how you can improve your blog posts and articles.
1. Use A Clear Title
Nothing makes me backspace out of an article faster than seeing it won’t deliver what its title promised. A blog post should never stray from its title’s premise. Nor should the title wander from the post’s ideas.
Make sure the content of your article and your title sync. If your title promises to tell readers “The Future of Autonomous Vehicles,” they won’t want to keep reading when the article goes off on a tangent about Elon Musk. They didn’t click for that.
If you’re not sure your title is clear, try showing it to a friend and asking what they think the article is about. When they guess right, great! If they don’t, the title needs a little work.
Here are a few things a good title never does:
- Be like clickbait. (Blog Post Tips You Must Use Before You Die)
- Obscure the real topic. (You’ll Never Guess These Surprising Tips)
- Suggest one topic while really being about something else. (Tips to Market Your Blog)
- Be too short to communicate the full idea. (Blog Post Tips)
- Over-promise. (The Complete Bible to Everything You Need to Know to Write Better Blog Posts)
- Be too long. (Tips for Writing Blog Posts That Shine, Win Over Readers, And Make Your Blog Pop! Write Better Blog Posts And Attract More Readers Today)
2. Introduce The Topic Clearly and Quickly
A good introduction establishes the voice, mood, and topic of a piece. It can be short, perhaps 100 words or less, but it should never be too long. Readers want to get to the meat of an article fast. Try to make sure the intro is no more than one-fifth of the article’s length.
Make sure your intro sets the right mood and establishes the right idea. Don’t start a guide to choosing a doctor with a funny anecdote about medical malpractice. Don’t think you can write like a YouTuber, taking half your time to tell the story of your morning coffee run before getting to your point about investing strategies. Readers need to know where the article is headed and how.
I usually start by asking myself, “What would I like to hear at the beginning of an article like this? What would connect with a reader like me?” Of course, I’m not the person I need to impress, but using your own intuition can often be the best strategy for shaping your intro. Ask yourself what you would like to read first.
One other thing a good introduction needs to do is pull readers in. It needs to make them want to read on, not click right back.
Your intro should introduce the main idea of your post, but not spell everything out to readers. Make sure it sets up your subsequent points without giving them away. If a reader can glean everything they can learn from the intro, rewrite it.
I usually try to include a “why,” either explicit or implied, in my introductions. I tell readers why they should keep reading my post. In this post, I promised in my intro that reading on could give you better writing which in turn could give you more readers—giving you several reasons to keep going.
3. Target a Specific Audience
It’s tempting to believe a blog post will get the most hits if it magically appeals to all types of readers. But that doesn’t work. Successful posts target one or two niche audiences and maximize their appeal to those readers.
You can’t optimize your content for stay-at-home moms, retiring businessmen, woke teens, traveling expatriates, motorbike enthusiasts, and everyone else at the same time. To blog better, you need to identify your key target audience and write for them.
You can have a target audience composed of a very large group or multiple groups. For example, an article about ideal qualities for freelancers could have a wide audience. It could appeal to freelancers of all experience levels, nationalities, and specializations. It could be written to connect with both freelancers and companies looking to hire good freelancers. Just keep in mind the different groups you’re writing for.
Don’t be afraid to talk directly to your intended audience. Make inside jokes, cite common worries, mention current events in their sphere, and identify with them. Use blog images they would relate to. This will make your articles hit home and connect with your readers.
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4. Stay On Topic
Readers really want to hear one clear idea that resonates throughout the whole piece. This ties into the previous tip, sync your content and your title. Readers don’t keep reading when they see the content start to wander.
I always pick one single, central idea. I ensure all my subheadings contribute to this idea. If there are points that don’t contribute, I cut them and save them for another article. This process keeps my posts on point at all times. For example, this blog post is about blogging tips and only that—each header is a different tip.
If your post has multiple central ideas that can’t be yoked together, it’s time to split the piece into smaller articles. This way you can give every topic the attention it deserves and keep readers attention.
5. End With A Clear Point
It’s crazy disappointing when a good piece simply ends, then and there. The author had no more to say, but I wanted more. A strong ending leaves readers with no disappointment and no questions.
I usually head to two options when I want to wind down my posts: a recap and a call to action. You can use one or both depending on the article. Either deliver key takeaways for your readers to carry with them.
Sometimes, by the time I finish an article, I forget what I’ve just read. It sounds stupid, but with distractions everywhere around us, information overload is easy to reach. I can scroll back up, but I prefer oh-so-much when the writer provides a neat recap to remind me of the key points.
A good recap includes all major points in the articles and doesn’t distract readers with any surprising new information. It should never run too long or recover every single idea. That’s too much. A little bit of analysis, a simplification, or some witty quips all go along fine.
A call to action is optional, depending on whether there is any action for your readers to take. A call to action is great for boosting sales or getting engagement. If you want to get your readers taking action, then there are two steps. One: remind them why they should take action. Two: make it easy for them.
Give them whatever resources they need to take action and do it easily. Offers links, telephone numbers, or emails. Guide them to websites, apps, or shops as necessary. Tell your audience exactly how simple it will be. And again, remind them why.
So there you have it. Five simple blogging tips you can use for writing strong blog posts and articles. Use a clear title. Introduce the topic quickly and clearly. Target a specific audience. Stay on topic. Finally, end with a clear point. Clarity, if you haven’t noticed, is the name of the game. Write a piece that is clear and focused from beginning to end, and you’re doing good. Use these blogging tips, and you’re doing great. Don’t compete with clickbait when you can crush it with clarity.
Mint is a writer and digital marketing pro who lives in coastal Virginia with her family and one lovable pitbull. Her passions include helping people and businesses display their best side through the power of communication, buying her dog costumes he doesn’t want to wear, and talking all day about Batman.
