You probably already know how important content marketing is for your business; especially blogging, which can help increase search engine rankings and generate more leads. But blogging is more than just giving your customers information. Here are 9 essential ingredients to help you take your business blog from so-so to share-worthy and successful.
Attention-Grabbing Headline
Before anyone will actually read your blog, you have to make them want to read your blog. Make your title short, engaging and informational. You could try alliteration or a play on words, but make sure you are using relevant keywords for search engine optimization.
Even More Attention-Grabbing Opener
Have you ever opened an article, read the first paragraph, and closed it because you realized you weren’t interested? The opening paragraph is where you really need to grab your reader and make them want to keep going. Offer a thought-provoking question, interesting anecdote or eye-opening statistic. Then let them know what they’re about to read and why they should care.
Information
I know, sounds obvious. But if you’re not giving your readers quality information on a topic they care about, they won’t read it. Make yourself an authority figure on the topic, and offer content that is interesting and relevant to your audience.
KISS
“Keep it simple, stupid.” Don’t inundate your audience with jargon, and remember that using big words doesn’t necessarily make you sound smarter. Explain your point in simple terms that your readers will understand and appreciate.
KISS, Again
This one is made up but it still applies: “Keep it short and sweet.” According to Medium, the ideal blog post length is 7 minutes, or about 1600 words (maybe less if you include images and graphics).
There’s really no magic formula, but the right length for your blog post is this: just long enough. Eliminate the fluff, and say what you have to say in a concise post. Also, keep your sentences and paragraphs short to make them more readable. We don’t recommend the Michael Scott method.
Include Images
Images can serve to visually break up your post, add some color, help further prove your point or just make your reader smile. No one wants to stare at a screen full of words.
Subheads and Bullets
Hate to be the bearer of bad news here, but no one is going to sit and read your paragraphs-long blog post no matter how good the information is. Did you know that humans now have an attention span of only eight seconds? (That’s less than the goldfish’s nine seconds.) Add subheads and bullet points that allow your readers to scan for the information they want.
Add Links
Adding links to your blog post helps to show that you actually do know what you’re talking about. Give credit where credit is due and show your readers where they can go to learn more. You can also add links to your own past blog posts or other landing pages on your website to help support your message and drive more traffic.
Correct Spelling and Grammar
Before you publish, proofread and then proofread again. Ever seen a comments section where people criticize the writer for a misspelled word or misplaced comma instead of talking about the actual content? Don’t let that be you.
