How to Write a Blog (That Isn't Rubbish)

Writing a blog post that gets traction is not easy. That's why people pay for professional blog writing services. Whatever you're blogging about, you need to know what you are talking about, have an audience that is receptive to your content, and take the time to craft a quality article. You need to also have a natural writing style that conveys information in a way that is pleasant and engaging to read.

While I can't help you with your writing style, this blog will give you seven tips on how to make sure your articles aren't just a waste of bandwidth.

1. Know your blog's target audience

A successful blog post should be targeted at a specific audience. Knowing the wants and needs of your readers will make it easier for you to create content that they will love, engage with and share. Your content shouldn't just be about what you want to write - it should be about what people want to read.

2. Know what you want out of your blog

This seems like a simple issue, but it's more complex than it seems. It's always the first question I ask a new client who is looking to hire me for blog writing services - because they are often looking for different things. Some are blogging for thought leadership and industry presence. Some are blogging for content marketing purposes. Others are blogging purely for SEO, but if someone does happen to read it, they want to look credible. Others are blogging just because they think they should but they don't really know why... Make sure you know why because it changes the flavour and style of your blog considerably.

3. Blog Regularly

I'm so busy writing blogs for UK businesses that I neglect to practice what I preach. But, businesses that blog frequently tend to do better than those that publish less often. Keeping your followers updated with new content gives them reasons to come back for more. It gives you reasons to engage with your audience, gives visitors to your website the impression that you're active and full of energy. There's also the small matter of SEO - Google loves regularly updated, fresh, rich content.

4. If you can't beat the competition, copy them

Successful content creation is not about creating content in a vacuum. It is about understanding the market and then producing content that addresses the needs of the audience. Who better to tell you what works than your most successful competitors?

Use keyword and competitor research to know what you should be writing about, and then offer your individual take on it. Plagiarism won't be tolerated by search engines - if the majority of your content is not original, you will be penalised for it by Google. If the source of the plagiarism doesn't get to you first.

5. Keep it well structured and easy to read

It's important to remember that people are short on time, so you want to make sure that what you say can be understood in a few seconds. Nobody wants to read your stream of consciousness ramblings, no matter how many keywords are neatly tucked within it.

Many people think about this point as the most difficult one. However, it's actually very straightforward. The secret is in the planning. I always map out my content, step by step. This enables me to keep my points reigned in, and to maintain structure and clarity.

Listicles, like this very blog, are a great way to keep tight control over your content, get all your points across, cover all your keywords. And readers and search engines alike welcome tightly structured, neatly headed and categorised sections of text.

6. Make It Shareable First - Then Write It!

We are more likely to share content if it is more relevant to us. Copywriters know that the key to making content shareable is by understanding their readers' interests and then writing content that they would love and that they can relate to or feel others would find value in.

7. Make it legal

Copywriters need to acknowledge their sources and references, either through citation or a footnote at the end of the article. It is important for them to do this because it can help their credibility as writers. The same goes with your images - you either need a licence, or you need to source free-to-use images and give the relevant attributions.

If this all seems too much to handle, get a professional blog writer to help!

Clearly, I'm not here to talk myself out of a job. Whether it's picking up the odd post, to completely managing your blog for you, I'm here to help. My clients are usually looking for a UK-native freelance blog writer to write blog content that sounds like it comes from them. I really take the time to understand everyone's unique business and make sure that the blogs I write fulfil the purpose my clients want them to.

Talk to me about how you want your blog to work for you and your business. Email kirsty@the-blog-writer.co.uk.