Are you thinking about starting a blog or do you already have one? Do you find it easy to write your blog? What writing tips do you use? For some writers, blogging is as easy as riding a bike but for others, it is more difficult. Some bloggers find writing fun and enjoyable while others are intimidated. They are unsure where to start, if their writing is good enough, if people will laugh at their writing or if they will be embarrassed by a typo.
Sometimes the hardest part of blogging is deciding what you want to blog about. Blogs are interesting because they can be used in many ways depending on your goal.
Personal Blog
Some of the oldest blogs on the Internet are personal blogs where you use your blog as a personal online journal. For example, writers often keep a personal blog in support of their books.
Business Blog
Businesses create blogs that are focused on their areas of specialization in order to attract clients or customers.
Affiliate Blogs
Affiliate Bloggers create blog posts that promote the products and services of others. They get paid an affiliate commission for these sales.
Niche Blogs
Niche Bloggers write about a narrow segment of a larger topic. For example, they could write about cooking for two instead of writing about cooking in general.
Related reading: Creative Writing Doesn’t have to be Hard
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6 Simple Writing Tips
Blogging doesn’t have to be difficult or painful. It can be an enjoyable experience. If you have ever thought about blogging but you don’t know where to start, here are six easy steps to get you started.
1. Research Ideas
If you choose to use your blog as a personal online journal, you might not need much planning. You will simply want to begin writing and see where it takes you. You might want to sketch out a bunch of ideas or topics that interest you. Or, you can choose to use your blog as a place to post your views and opinions.
If you are writing a business or affiliate blog then you already have a list of topics that you need to write about to support your products.
If you choose to write a niche blog create a list of topic ideas. It should be something that you have expertise in, that people need help with and that you have an interest with. Then sort through them to determine what your topic will be.
After choosing a topic, make a quick outline of main points you want to include. This step may seem tedious, but it will make the other steps go much more quickly, so be sure not to skip it.
2. Settle on a Tone
After choosing your topic and creating an outline, the next step is to choose your tone. Types of tones include: formal, casual, informative, funny, inspirational and thought-provoking.
Most blogs are written in a casual conversational tone. Most bloggers write as if they are speaking to a friend or loved one. Your tone should be friendly and helpful.
3. Writing the Blog
When you sit to write your blog post, keep in mind your topic, outline and tone. Write exactly like you would speak. Microsoft Word, Google Docs, and Scrivener are popular programs that bloggers write in.
Most blogs run between 300 to 5000 words. According to Hubspot, if you want your blogs to rank for SEO (search engine optimization) they should run between 2100 to 2400 words. This may sound like a lot, but once you start writing, you will see that it will not take a lot of time to get to this point.
Your main point (keyword) should be within the first sentence or two of the post. Write in a casual tone and avoid large words that some people may stumble over. Don’t ramble on just to create a larger word count. Create interesting, yet simple posts for your readers to enjoy.
4. Editing the Blog
After you have written your blog you need to edit your work. Some people don’t like editing, but it is much better than having someone point out a typo after you have published. If you want to be a serious blogger then you should always look over your work.
Look for misspelled words or other common mistakes. Most programs like Microsoft Word or Google Docs underline spelling mistakes and grammar errors.
Reading your work out loud is a fantastic way to catch your extra words or have Microsoft Word read your article back to you. Think about getting a free grammar and spelling check like Grammarly to help catch those typos. You could also run your work through a program like ProWriting Aid or Hemingway Editor to find passive writing or improperly structured sentences. When you are certain your text is mistake-free, you can move on to the next step.
5. Create a Signature Ending
A signature ending is a great way for regular readers to know that your post is concluding. It can make your blog seem more personal, like signing a letter to a friend or loved one.
You could end your post with a quote or phrase. You could add a special signature or graphic, or heading. It really does not matter how you choose to end your post just pick an ending that is unique to you and your personality.
6. Post Your Blog
The final step to creating a blog post is to post your blog on your website. Most bloggers use Word Press, Weebly or Wix for their blogs but you can blog on LinkedIn, Medium, Blogger or Tumblr.
Add a featured image and break up the post with different heading levels, subheadings, quotes and images. People do not like looking at a wall of solid text. Once you have your post looking the way you like it then push the publish button. Then don’t forget to share it on your social media platform
Related Reading: How to Easily Write a Novel Organically
Last Words on Writing Tips for Bloggers
We’ve talked about the types of blogs and the simple steps needed to get one started. Of course, there is more to blogging, but the important thing is to get started, you can always perfect it later.
Take Care
Linda
Feature image from Ivory Mix.
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