Return on Investment for businesses that blog consistently is 13 times higher than for those that don’t. What do great blog posts have in common?
77% of internet users read blogs. United States internet users spend 3 times more time on blogs than email. Search is the number one traffic source to blogs across all industries. 70% of consumers learn about a company through articles rather than ads. There were 70 million word press blog posts every month in Quarter 1 2022.
The competition for your ideal audience’s attention online has never been greater, which means that for your blog posts to be effective, it has to stand out from those of other bloggers. Although there is no one-size-fits-all formula for a great post, there are certain elements that all successful blog posts share. Marketers that use blogs get 67% more leads than those who do not. 61% of United States consumers have made a purchase decision based on a recommendation from a blog.
1. Eye-Catching Headline
The headline of your blog post is the first thing your audience notices, and it should grab their attention. Your headline needs to be creative and informative. It must have a clear and concise call to action. Your headline should outline the post’s value and encourage the reader to click through and read.
2. Compelling Introductions
The introduction to your blog post should give your audience a preview of what’s to come and convey the overall message the post contains. Your intro should provide an exciting and engaging way for them to dive into the content. The introduction should be concise, well written and should entice your audience to continue to the body of the post.
3. Comprehensive Listicles
Simply put, a listicle is an article written in list format that is easy to scan. Listicles are one of the most popular types of blog articles, and for good reason. They’re easy to read and understand and provide the audience with a comprehensive look at a specific topic. For asset managers, great listicles tend to go beyond surface-level explanation and instead provide your audience with an in-depth look at each point outlined within the post. Each point should also provide actionable advice your audience can use to elevate their business.
For instance, “The Ultimate Guide to Building a Landing Page” might make some readers feel overwhelmed, or like they don’t have time to consume all that content right now.
By reformatting the post into a listicle — “How to Build a Landing Page in 10 Easy Steps” — you’re breaking complex content into bite-size pieces for your readers and enabling them to feel like they do have the time to consume your content right now. Best of all, if readers are already familiar with some steps in the process, they can skip to sections most applicable to them.
4. Featured Snippets for reaching Position Zero
Featured snippets are small snippets of text or images that appear at the top of Google search engine results even above the #1 ranked organic listing. Featured snippets account for 35.1% of all clicks. Featured snippets are the golden ticket to obtain position zero. These snippets are designed to give users a concise overview of the content within the post.
Having your post feature a snippet is a great way to improve your search engine optimization (SEO), as it can increase your page views and drive more traffic to your blog. Additionally, having your blog post appear in a featured snippet is a great way to boost your name or brand recognition. There are paragraph featured snippets and list featured snippets.
5. Scannable Sections
Most online users are skimmers and scanners, meaning most your audience won’t read through long, winding paragraphs. Only 16% of people read websites or blogs word for word. Instead, use outlines, subtitles, and bulleted lists to keep them engaged and make your post scannable. Additionally, use keywords and bold font for emphasis points to help them quickly skim through the text and find the necessary information.
Also keep sentences short and paragraphs short. Use lists and simple words. Use subheadings to break up the post. Utilize images and image captions. Make important points clear and repeat important points. Don’t introduce too many ideas in one post.
6. Visual and Interactive Sections
Interactive and visual elements make your posts more engaging and appealing to readers. Visual elements such as images, infographics, charts, and videos can draw your audience into your post and make the content easier to understand. Additionally, interactive elements such as polls and quizzes make it more likely they’ll interact with your post and engage with your content.
7. Objective and Never Salesy
Finally, all great blog posts are persuasive but never pushy. Your post should provide your audience with an objective look at the topic and allow them to draw their own conclusions. To ensure your blog post never feels too promotional, use plain language, facts, and figures to provide an unbiased look at the subject.
By following these seven tips for creating great blog posts, you will be able to engage more your audience and keep them engaged with your content. In addition, having a well-crafted blog post following the guidelines outlined in this article will improve your SEO, boost your credibility, and help you create engaging and impactful content.
Quick Summary on Common Things in Great Blog Posts
Here’s the list of techniques to keep the scanner’s attention, again:
- Write great headlines
- Write a great opening line
- Keep your paragraphs short
- Keep your sentences short
- Choose simple words
- Use lists
- Use subheadings to break up your post
- Add other types of formatting
- Use images
- Use image captions
- Use other visual content
- Use blockquote
- Use whitespace
- Use a good design
- Make your main point(s) clear
- Repeat your important points
- Don’t introduce too many ideas
- Write like a human being
If you want help writing and creating top-quality content for your blog posts in a cohesive strategic content marketing strategy, contact [email protected]. You can also call 469-536-8478.
