How To Write A Successful Blog

Have you ever wanted to write a blog but don’t know where to start?

Are you a good speaker or writer but are coming to a halt when trying to convey these ideas on the blank computer screen in front of you?

An idea may be fresh in your mind and seem like it would make a great impact but I know for one that it can be a daunting task actually writing a blog, well you can stop scratching your head and staring blankly at the page because we have listed  some brilliant tips that will help you write a successful blog!

1 – What are you going to write about?

Now this may seem like a silly step to start on, but think about it have you decided what subject/genre you are going to write about? Have you decided what target audience you are aiming at? Have you decided what writing style  your audience requires?

If you have then thats great news! You are one step closer to creating a killer blog however, if you haven’t answered any of these questions with a solid ‘yes’ then this is the first thing you need to do.

Many people do not start their blog with a clear goal in mind, they know they want to write a blog but they haven’t  thought about content and target audience. This leaves them sat in front of their computer screen with a blank look on their face and a blank document. I suppose you could call this process  step ‘planning’ and it’s one of , if not, the most important part of blog writing. Does a fashion designer make a garment without planning? No … they come up with an idea, do their research, gather materials and equipment, find their templates and then they start ! Does a football manager just let his team wander on to the pitch ? No… he comes up with a strategy, plans which players he will use and their positions, runs through the structure with them, they’ll train and then they’ll play the actual game, blogging is no different to these two jobs or any other job for that matter, planning is vital!

2- How have other people done it ?

Everyone wants to write their own unique blogs and you can ,however it is a really good idea to find out what  blogs are out there like the one you are planning to write this doesn’t mean you need to copy what they do or their writing style but it is a good way to see whats successful and what is unsuccessful with your target audience, after all everyone is different, this step is basic ‘research’, you are looking at your demographic, the popularity of your chosen subject and how your blog is going to fit in, the whole point of a blog is that people are going to read it, so there is no point going in with no knowledge of what is working, for example you wouldn’t write a blog about ‘the best way to cook steak, rare’ and then aim it at vegetarians (I know that is an obvious and silly example, but you get the point)

3- Make it personal!

People tend to think that because they are writing a blog it has to be formal and written like a news article, this isn’t necessarily the case., a reader will respond better to a blog that has personality,  it will grab their attention more if you crack a few jokes or include some quirky examples during your blog, like I have done  in this  article ,readers like to feel as though they are talking to a friend rather than reading a blog, so keep it lighthearted and fun.

4- Images are king

You may be thinking ‘ i’m writing a blog, its about the writing why do I need images ? ‘…. well its all about visuals! people will get disinterested if they click on your blog and all they see if pages full of words, its a nice way of breaking up all the paragraphs and adding a hint of ‘glam’ to your blog.,people like to have something to look at, its also a nice touch especially if you are writing about a person or an event, it helps the audience build a picture in their mind whilst reading your words.,lets be honest would we read a magazine if the front cover was just plain or just words and when you flicked through, it was just pages upon pages of words, the answer is no. not  many would.

5- If you’ve got it, you don’t necessarily have to flaunt it!

If you’ve followed the first three steps, are happy with what you have so far and feel that its  solid enough to publish … STOP RIGHT THERE!

I and many other bloggers would suggest holding onto and cherishing your blog for at least three weeks  before finalising it, writing a great blog doesn’t happen overnight  (unless you are writing about a current subject such as news  or celebrity)

Some blogs are meant to be held onto and worked on, if your blog is one of those you will know!!!

6- Now you can shout about it

If you’re ready to publish your blog after writing it or holding onto it and perfecting it , then go right ahead, ( we suggest giving it one last check over, just incase)

the best way to get views and shares on a blog is to advertise it, talk about it on your social media sites, Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin or your website, if you have one, you can even share it with your friends, family or colleagues and cheekily ask them to share it for you, Its not a massive ask and it will see your blog getting more and more traction each time its seen and shared,.

You never know this could be that one favour you are owed by a friend for paying their half for the takeaway  friday night and this could see your blog reaching new, successful levels!

So good luck and happy blogging

By Zoe Cresswell

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