Have you ever struggled to write so badly that you have wondered if you were cut out for the job at all?
Have you ever spent three hours at the beginning of your work day, just staring at a blank screen, because your writer’s block was so terrible?
Have you ever experienced burnout that was so real, that you wondered if you would ever get your mojo back?
Sadly, the above scenarios are all-too-common, especially in the blogging field.
You’re on a roll, for several weeks at a time, but then you finally sit down to write, and your mind can’t overcome the block.
Or, you’ve been blogging for a while, but you’re starting to feel the pressures of maintaining quality content on a regular basis.
If any of the above sounds familiar, then this post is definitely for you!
By working on following these steps, even you can produce high-quality content on a regular basis, without feeling burned out or struggling with writer’s block.
Choose a Topic That You’re Passionate About
The first step to writing a great blog post is to choose a topic that you’re passionate about.
If you’re not passionate about the topic, then it will be very difficult to keep up that writing momentum.
You might be able to squeak out a couple of posts, but eventually, your well will run dry.
When you’re passionate about the topic, it’s much easier to maintain that writing momentum, because you’ll never run out of things to say.
Not only that, but people will be able to tell when you’re passionate about something, and they’ll be more likely to read your content and come back for more.
First, what are your likes and dislikes?
You might not be passionate about every single topic that you like, but it’s a good place to start.
From there, you can narrow it down to a few topics that you’re really passionate about, and then choose the one that you think would make the best blog post.
Also, you could use a few keyword research tools to see exactly how popular (or not popular) your ideas are.
This will help you develop a solid idea of what you can (or cannot) write about.
Do Your Research Into the Topic
Once you’ve chosen a topic that you’re passionate about, it’s time to do your research.
This is one of the most important steps in the process, because you want to make sure that you have all of the information that you need before you start writing.
If you don’t do your research, then you run the risk of including inaccurate information in your post, which can damage your credibility as a writer.
Take the time to do a thorough job on this step, and it will pay off in the end.
If you use a tool like AHREFS or Semrush, you can research your topics in-depth and find out exactly what people are writing about.
Additionally, by simply using Google, you can easily see what popular web pages are talking about, and how their posts are formatted.
Doing this basic legwork will help you identify your target market and their pain points, and you can write an article that will address all of them.
What are pain points, exactly? Audience pain points include anything that’s a problem that your current and future customers may be attempting to solve in their daily lives.
This, in turn, will help you establish yourself as an expert on that topic in your niche.
Create a Rough Outline of Your Post
The next step is to create an outline for your blog post.
This will help you to organize your thoughts and information, so that you can write more efficiently.
If you try to just sit down and start writing without an outline, you’ll likely find yourself going off on tangents and including information that isn’t relevant to the topic.
An outline will help you to stay on track, and it will make the writing process much smoother and more efficient.
Write Catchy and Interesting Headlines
Once you have your outline created, it’s time to write a headline for your blog post.
This is important for a couple of reasons.
First, your headline is what will draw people in and make them want to read your blog post.
If your headline isn’t catchy or interesting, then you’ll lose readers before they even start.
Second, your headline is important for SEO (search engine optimization).
You want your headline to include relevant keywords as well. But, it’s important to not overstuff your headlines (and text) with keywords. Because then it will start to sound unnatural.
Spend some time crafting a headline that will both capture your readers’ attention and help your blog post perform in the search engines.
Write an Engaging Opening Paragraph
Once you have a headline, it’s time to write the opening paragraph of your blog post.
This is your opportunity to really hook the reader and make them want to keep reading.
Start with a bang, and make sure that your opening paragraph is interesting, engaging, and informative.
If you can do this, then you’ll keep the reader’s attention long enough to get them to the meat of your blog post.
Write Compelling Body Paragraphs
The next step is to write the body paragraphs of your blog post.
This is where you’ll get into the crux of the information that you want to share with your readers.
Make sure that each body paragraph flows nicely into the next, and include all of the relevant information that you gathered during your research.
If you can keep the reader’s attention throughout the body paragraphs, then you’re well on your way to writing a successful blog post.
Write a Powerful Conclusion
Once you’ve written the body paragraphs, it’s time to write the conclusion.
This is your opportunity to really drive home the point of your blog post, and to leave the reader with a strong impression.
Restate the main points of your article, and try to include a call to action or some other type of powerful conclusion.
Don’t just write “conclusion” as the headline of the conclusion. This is lazy writing. Instead, make your conclusion eye-catching, engaging, and something that will leave your reader with a bit more than just “conclusion.”
If it’s one thing that one of my college English teachers absolutely hated was using the word “conclusion” at the end of an article. It was drilled into us from the very beginning never to do that.
Blog posts, while they are not essays, should be driven by using the same premise: do not ever use just “conclusion” to finish your post.
If you can end your blog post on a strong note, then you’ll leave the reader with a lasting impression and eager to come back for more.
Don’t Forget to Edit and Proofread Your Work
The next step is to edit and proofread your blog post.
This is important, because you want to make sure that there are no errors in your article.
Read through your blog post carefully, and fix any typos or grammatical errors that you find.
You may also want to have someone else read through your blog post to catch any errors that you missed.
It’s always better to proofread your work before you publish it, so that you can be sure that your writing is clear and you’re putting your best foot forward.
Now, You Can Publish Your Blog Post
The final step is to publish your blog post.
Hit the “publish” button (or whatever it may be on your blogging platform), and your blog post will be live for the world to see.
Once it’s published, be sure to promote your blog post through social media and other channels.
The more people who see your blog post, the better.
Writing a Blog Post is Seldom Easy, But Well Worth it In The End
By following these nine steps, you can be sure that your blog post will be well-written, engaging, and informative.
If you take the time to edit and proofread your work, you can be more confident that your readers will have a smoother experience.
And by promoting your blog post through social media and other channels, you can reach a wider audience.
As you build your blog, keep these nine steps in mind, and you’ll be well on your way to writing successful blog posts.
Furthermore, as you continue writing your blog, and as you create more posts, you will simultaneously be building your authority in your chosen niche as the expert.
You will also be creating a media asset that will help you build your business and reach your goals. So, keep writing those blog posts!
Remember: action creates results!