“Conversation is king. Content is just something to talk about” – Cory Doctorow

Do you want to write blog posts that people will read and share? Have you ever wondered if people actually are going to care what you write?  What if it were not so much about what you write about as it is about the strategy you use?  It’s all about strategy. Keep it simple, keep it relevant, keep it real and keep it fun. You don’t have to be a litterary genius; you only need to be willing to have a conversation about something you love and have a strategy to get it out there.

Have a Strategy

Your strategy should be simple and effective. A good outline with key elements keeps you on topic and focused. Here is a winning list of essentials for your blog:

• Write a captivating headline

• Write an attention- grabbing Lead

•  Write to your audience

•  Write a post that is easy to read

•  Have a strong call-to-action

1. Write a Captivating Headline

A captivating headline is what attracts readers to the blog post.  A headline needs to be short and to the point. Long, wordy headlines will turn off your potential readers. Readers today are looking for specific information and want to find it quickly. A good rule of thumb for the length is about 8 words. This is enough to catch a reader without “spilling all the beans” of your entire post.

A captivating headline is also relevant. It needs to be pertinent to the needs of readers. What do the readers want to learn ? What do they want to be able to do? These are questions you will want to target when crafting a headline and blog post.

Be clear and concise. This is not the place for ambiguous wording. Use strong, actionable words that sell your idea. Readers what to know that their time will be well spent reading your blog and a headline that is specific, clear and actionable can help them decide if your blog is worth reading or not.

“You have to learn the rules of the game. and then you have to play better than anyone else.” – Albert Einstein

2. Write an Attention-Grabbing Lead

The beginning of your blog or your lead cashes in on the promise made in your headline. But don’t make the reader work too hard to find your point. Again, as with the headline, the wording needs to be clear and concise. One of the best ways to lead into your blog post article is to evoke emotion or convey empathy for your reader. You can ask them a short question to establish a connection and begin a dialogue in their mind. You could lead with an emotionally-loaded quote or statistic. Alternatively, you might want to make a bold statement to catch your reader’s attention. Finally, the most important is to keep it short and simple.

3. Write to Your audience

A blog post should not be about you. it is a conversation you have with your readership. Write in the same way as you would speak if you were having an actual conversation. Be human and convey emotion. Remember the blog post is not about you. No one wants to hear about your day or your life. They just don’t.  People are looking for solutions, for inspiration, for help, and for hope. as a blogger, you are there to provide something of value that will improve their lives in some way. Be there for the reader, not to blow your own horn.

4. Write A Post that Is Easy to Read

Keep your paragraphs short to around 5 or 6 sentences in length. Readers do not read as much as they scan a post first to see if they actually want to read it. It is good to intersperse your writing with catchy single sentences to add punch to your writing. Your paragraph should deliver on the heading that precedes it. It needs to provide something of value. It can be entertaining, insightful, engaging and enjoyable. Ultimately, your paragraph needs to leave the reader with something to think about or something to do. Finally, It needs to be easy to read. This is not the place for Shakespearean prose.

“Opportunities don’t happen, you create them.” – Chris Grosser

5. End with A Call to Action

A call to action is an invitation to get readers involved in the conversation. It tells the readers what they need to be thinking about or what they need to do next – what is the next step?  Readers want to know what they need to do next and it is our job as bloggers to help them do that. A blog is not just about spewing out our own opinions; it is a conversation.

Call to actions should be written in strong, clear and concise language. The reader needs to know precisely what the next step is,  For example, you could ask a question, ask for them to share their view. You could request comments in the comment section. You could also post questions for your readers to think about. Alternatively, you could give specific actionable  directions linking the reader to a similar post on your site:

Check out this blog post on how to write a blog right from the beginning for newbies

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