Valuable Tips for Writing Blog Posts

You've probably heard a lot about blog posts and the importance of quality content.

Maybe you're already using some of the strategies and tactics you read about, but you're not sure if you're doing everything right. 

Since a lot of my work involves writing blog posts, here are some valuable tips that will help you find out if you are on the right track:

Choose a topic based on research. Is what you want to write about relevant? Does your audience have any need for that piece of information? What benefits are they looking for when searching for that particular topic? Is there already a lot of articles on that subject?

Think about structure. Try to cover hot new topics and industry news. It is an excellent way to get to the top of the SERPs fast.

Write articles based on the keywords. Check here What is the best keyword research tool?

Articles length should be pushed to a minimum of 1000 words. Longer posts (1000 words +) help you provide more value for readers, but also make a greater impact in SEO terms.

Always include Meta Descriptions (with the keyword in it). They still directly affect how much traffic a web page can receive from search result pages.

Articles with photos, infographics, and other visuals can get up to 94% more views and are sure to keep the reader’s attention better.

Keyword density should be kept at around 3%. The main keyword needs to be included in the title, first paragraph of the text, as well as in some sub-headings. Keyword placement should feel natural. Feel free to also use related keywords - synonyms, collocations and grammatical variations.

Headlines are very important. Your title has to entice people to read your blog post, otherwise, no one will click your link. Try including power words:

• “How to…”
• The current year
• Review
• Best
• Fast
• Checklist
• Guide
• Tips
• Easy
• Simple
• Valuable

You can take a look at these headline formulas for more ideas:

https://www.chrisg.com/wp-content...

Each article should have an introduction. The introduction should be interesting and attract the attention of the reader. It's best to use the APP formula - Agree, Promise, Preview:

• Agree - Start with something interesting with which readers will agree, which will show them that you understand their problem.
• Promise - Promise them that you will solve this problem
• Preview - Draw the attention of the readers right away by showing them HOW you will solve their problem ie how they will use content they read

Some examples of phrases for use at the beginning of paragraphs:

• With the… You might wonder why…Well, … Trust us, we’ve been there... Firstly, .. Secondly, …
• Have you ever thought about…?
• You may have never wanted to know much about ... But I guarantee you’ll...
• The importance of ….has never been higher… Luckily, ...
• If you’ve been asking yourself … you’ll be glad to hear that you’re not alone.
• You’ve probably noticed that...
• There are many different ways to… Let’s break it down
• When it comes to... However, when...

All articles should have practical value for the reader. The text should not be written just to fill the word quota, this mustn’t become obvious to readers. Explore a couple of best articles already available on a particular subject, combine some of their content, and always add a personal touch.Always provide some value.

While readers are reading the text, there is a great chance that in some part they would lose their attention. In order to avoid this, occasionally use phrases that break down monotony:

• Here’s the deal:
• Now:
• What’s the bottom line?
• You might be wondering:
• It gets better/worse:
• But here’s the kicker:
• You must be wondering now …
• This becomes more interesting when
• The secret is
• But what exactly is behind it?
• Want to know the best part?
• Here's what you need to do from start to...

Put the audience in the first place. They are the focus, you are addressing them and solving their problems. Give Them Answers. When people have questions, they type them into Google. When you answer those questions insightfully and credibly as a content writer, your copy ranks, engages, and ultimately sells.

Improve readability. Write short and clear sentences (below 20 words) and short paragraphs (2-4 sentences). 

Add white space between paragraphs to visually separate the ideas.

Avoid passive voice in the text. 

Do not repeat if you have already written something just to fill the quota of words.

Use Subheadings (h2, h3). They also describe your content to search engines. Add keywords to them.

Also, when applicable, each article should have naturally placed internal and external links. Include statistics and relevant information wherever possible and link to the original, external source.

You can quote influencers in the industry. Linking out to relevant websites is great for SEO and you can reach out to influencers once the blog post is published. Some will share it on their networks. That’s the way to attract attention and get more traffic.

Each text should have a conclusion where it is convenient to put some CTA and “share to social networks” buttons. A good example is: “There’s no reason to not get started today – visit Zeqr knowledge platform to learn more about the perks of sharing your knowledge online!”

When you finish the text, read it and correct any errors. Is the text practical? Is it useful to you when you read it? It should be.

Since each article should have at least 1000 words, I advise using https://wordcounter.net to count words and characters at the same time. It’s easy to use, fast, and very accurate.

Grammarly is a great tool that quickly checks and corrects grammar mistakes. 

Be unique and original. Use plagiarism checker to avoid unintentional duplication.

Update your blog posts occasionally, it is good for search engines and readers. Search engines favor posts that are more recent and relevant.

Writing a great article is only 50%, other 50% is a promotion.

Good luck! Hope this was helpful :)

P.S. If you have something to add, feel free to comment below.