How To Write A Blog Post In 2021
This week I want to share the bones of a blog post and an image that shows some of the essential parts.
It’s important to blog, to write content for your website regularly. This is a fantastic SEO thing to do. It tell’s google that you have new information that might be the perfect answer to things that people are searching.
HOW MUCH SHOULD I WRITE IN A BLOG POST?
What I know for sure is that any length of blog post is better than none. But if you want to really impress google, she loves longer content 300 - 3000 words. I have been in small business for 23 years and not everyone has the time or resources available to them to write long articles. Something is definitely better than nothing.
WHAT IS H1?
Have one main heading or title - this is called your H1. Google's robots and spiders that index your content look for headings as a quick way to work out what your content is actually about. So make sure you use your headings to say what you are writing about.
Your heading is your hook - unless you are clever with your writing, just use the heading to state the obvious.
If you use the H1 more than once, it will confuse google and her spiders and robots... feel free to use H2 and H3 (heading 2 and heading 3) throughout your blog post.
This is a Heading 2, H2
This is a Heading 3, H3
This is a Heading 4, H4
KILLER PARAGRAPH 1
It takes practice to nail this, but try to spend a good chunk of your time on your first paragraph. Really hone in on what is in it for the reader - what question have they asked and what is your answer.
It’s great SEO practice to have your keyword or phrase in the first sentence or two.
HEADING 2, H2 - SUBHEADING
Google and humans will scan your blog post. We have been doing that for years, think about how you read a newspaper article... you kinda look at the heading, then the first paragraph and then all the bold type throughout... then if it all seems interesting or relevant, you might then go back and read the content from top to bottom.
Use your headings to reassure the reader that you are giving them information that they need.
Use your H2 to reassure google and her spiders and robots that your blog post matches the Title. They are not going to read (index) your entire blog post, so use the headings to make it clear what you are writing about.
Does Formatting Matter?
It's important to keep your readers eyes moving and to keep it interesting*
If I typed in all caps and no paragraphs and just had word word words... how bloody boring and hard to read would that be? Keep your sentences short and punchy.
Try to get to the point without blabbing on too much.
Use numbering;
Use headings;
Use quotes;
Use italics.
Images
Rename your images before you load them into any blog post.
Keep your images lean and mean - under 300kb.
Use your Alt Text.
CALL TO ACTION - BUTTONS & LINKS
WHAT YOU WANT THEM TO DO NEXT
2nd last element of every blog post is to give them a big ole hint as to what you want them to do next. Buy. Read More. Click Here. Read this article. Call Me.
Get them to do something, point them to your most popular blog post and keep them on your website longer!
INTERNAL LINK
The longer you keep them on your website the better. Google loves it, she see's it as proof that she sent them to the perfect website. And you should love it because the longer someone is on your website, the more it says they are interested in what you have to say and what you have to offer!
KEEP IT SIMPLE AND THE SAME
I use this template and it keeps me in check - I can't tell you all the ways that I can procrastinate (it's a lot!). By using the same layout I have one less decision to make and it makes come together faster. Feel free to come up with your own!
Okay. I had to crank this out today - later in the week I am going to talk more about how to write your blog post! Let me know if this helps or if you have any questions.
*People love interesting notes and it keeps them engaged... see what I did there....
Author - Tanya Northey, Sunshine Coast SEO Coach
