Tips on how to write the perfect blog for your business
You see them everywhere. It’s almost impossible nowadays to go on a company website that doesn’t include them. What are they? Blogs.
If you have a business, you probably have a blog. (If not, then you need to stop right now and read why blogging in business is a good idea). It’s an excellent way to connect with customers when it’s done well.
So, how do you accomplish a well-done perfect blog? Read on for some handy pointers:
Plan it Out
If you were getting ready to go on a road trip would you just wing it? Most likely, you would have a map or GPS and plan out your route ahead of time. When you set out to write a blog, you need a plan.
A plan helps things go smoothly and stay organized. It also helps keep you on track and limits the risk that you will omit important information. Make an outline for your perfect blog and know what you will include before you begin.
Grab Your Audience
Use a headline and a subheading to grab your audience’s attention. You want to make sure that these headings are informative, so your readers know at a glance what your perfect blog is about. Make sure your chosen headings are relevant and that they stand out. You’ll want to put them in bold print and make them a larger size. This looks nicer, and it helps with Search Engine Optimization (SEO).
You should also include keywords that are specifically chosen for SEO. As this article from www.simpletiger.com points out, make sure your headline is focused on informing the consumer. It should give a clue to the content.
Write it out
After you have your plan, you’re ready to write. Keep your content short and sweet. Deliver the information in a creative way that will engage your audience. You want your blog to be informative, but it doesn’t have to read like a dictionary. Keep it simple and easy to read, and write it as if you were trying to explain something to a friend.
Avoid overly wordy sentences and lengthy paragraphs. Also, know your target audience and write to them. Research keywords that can help with your SEO and direct your desired customers to your doorstep.
Add Visuals
People are attracted to imagery. Include relevant images in your blog to help catch people’s attention. Make sure the images enhance, rather than distract from, your blog. Quicksprout.com sites a recent study which states that people read “20% of your content on a page.” This means that people scan. So you need a way to deliver your message quickly – and you probably have heard this before, “a picture is worth a thousand words.”
Edit Before You Publish
Proof your work! As soon as you complete your blog, step away from it before going back to edit it. This will make sure that you have a fresh set of eyes, and usually helps you find things that you hadn’t seen in your first revisions. You want to eliminate all spelling and grammatical errors and remove any sentences that are redundant or don’t make sense.
It can also help to read your blog aloud to see how it flows. Remember, it should be easy to read and understand. If you sound unnatural or feel you’re rambling, then it’s time to make some adjustments. Once you’ve edited your blog and edited again, then you are ready to publish!
After you publish your blog, you need to make sure that people read it. Since you’ve set it up for good SEO, you’ll have strangers reading it — but what about the people already in your network? Include the link to your blog on your social media pages and your related business websites. If you also include a link on your personal pages, just make sure they don’t include inappropriate content. You want to keep your brand clear.
How about LinkedIn?
LinkedIn is another great place to post your article, especially if you are new to blogging. If you do not already have a LinkedIn profile, consider creating one. It’s designed to specifically provide a place for business professionals to connect.
No matter what, remember to keep your blogs informative, relevant and engaging. If you don’t have the time to meet these criteria, consider outsourcing the task. You can learn more about finding writers in our other blogs. To discover more about additional topics that are engaging your potential clients, visit our agent education center at http://www.CindyBishopTraining.com.