As a business owner, you know that blogging is an essential part of your online marketing strategy. But what if your blog posts aren’t getting the shares and engagement you want?
Don’t worry—you’re not alone.
Many businesses struggle with this. By implementing the tips below, you’ll be able to write blog posts that people actually want to share. You’ll learn to create compelling content that resonates with your readers, encouraging them to spread the word about your content, products, and services.
1. Write catchy headlines
The first rule of writing shareable content is to create a killer headline. Statistics show that eight out of 10 people read ONLY the headline. Only 20% read further than that first impression.
What makes a click-worthy headline? It has to immediately grab the reader’s attention and entice them to learn more without giving too much away.
A successful headline should be concise, interesting, and relevant to the article it is accompanying. It should also deliver on its promises. Audiences dislike clickbait—exaggerated or misleading headlines that don’t live up to their promises.
Crafting the perfect headline is often easier said than done. The most effective way to approach headline writing is to first clearly understand the article’s content direction. Once you know what the article is about, you can start brainstorming potential headlines that will accurately reflect its main points.
Here are a few tips for writing magnetic headlines:
- Use numbers to turn your article into a listicle (like this one!)
- Ask a question
- Make it provocative or controversial
2. Write using a conversational tone
As a professional writer, it’s your responsibility to choose the right tone of voice for your audience. In most cases, a conversational tone is the most effective way to engage your reader and ensure that your message comes across clearly.
When you write in a conversational tone, imagine that you’re speaking directly to the reader. This means using simple language and avoiding jargon. It also means keeping your sentences short and to the point.
A conversational tone will make your writing more relatable and approachable. And that’s always a good thing.
3. Use strong adjectives and active verbs
Two of the simplest ways to make your writing more interesting is to use strong adjectives and active verbs. By using vivid language, you can help your reader to better visualize the scene or event that you are describing. Also, active verbs convey a sense of action and movement, making your writing more dynamic.
When used effectively, strong adjectives and active verbs can add pizzazz to even the most mundane topics. The key is to balance providing enough detail to engage the reader without slowing down the pace of the article.
With a bit of practice, you will be able to add interest and excitement to your writing with ease.
4. Create an organized and well-structured post
Effective writing should have structure and flow—it is essential for keeping readers on your site when so many other blogs are vying for their attention. To create a well-structured post, you should:
- Begin with a clear and concise introduction. Get to the point quickly, and let the reader know what they can expect from the rest of the article.
- Use headings, subheadings, and bullet points to break up the text and make it easier to scan.
- End with a conclusion that summarizes your ideas, encourages deeper thought on the subject, or invites dialogue.
5. Share personal stories or examples to help illustrate your points
When you’re sharing your expertise, it’s helpful to use personal stories or examples to illustrate your points. Not only does this make your writing more relatable, but it also helps to reinforce your arguments.
When readers can see how your experiences have shaped your thinking, they’re more likely to be convinced by your point of view. And if you’re offering advice, real-life examples can help to show readers how your suggestions might work in practice.
The next time you’re crafting a blog post, don’t be afraid to share a few personal stories along the way. It could make all the difference in how effectively you’re able to communicate your ideas.
6. Use images and videos to break up the text and add visual interest
In today’s highly visual world, it’s helpful to remember that people are scanning rather than reading online. That’s why it’s essential to break up your text with images and videos.
By adding visual interest to your posts, you hold your readers’ attention and ensure that they actually absorb the information you’re trying to communicate.
Furthermore, research shows that 65% of the population are visual learners, meaning they’re more likely to remember information if you present it in both a visual and textual format.
So, if you want your blog posts to be impactful, include plenty of imagery.
7. Use interesting facts and statistics
When you position yourself as an authority in a particular niche, you must work to gain the readers’ trust. One way to build trust is to use facts and statistics (backed up with their sources) throughout your posts. This will not only make your advice or argument more convincing, but it will show that you’ve done your research and are knowledgeable about the topic.
Be careful of including too many statistics, though, as this can become tedious for the reader. Use them judiciously, when warranted, to back up your claims.
8. Keep paragraphs short and easy to read
Writing for an online audience differs from the academic writing you learned in school. Teachers taught students to create paragraphs 5-8 sentences long, centered on one main idea.
That doesn’t work online. Most people read from their mobile devices, and giant walls of text are unappealing on small screens.
Keep paragraphs short and easy to read by limiting them to 2-4 sentences. Throw in an occasional one-sentence paragraph to increase white space and improve your writing rhythm.
It works.
9. Include a strong call to action at the end
A call to action (CTA) is an essential element of any worthwhile blog post. By including a CTA, you give your readers a specific task to perform, such as signing up for your newsletter, sharing on social media, or downloading a white paper.
A well-crafted CTA can be the difference between a successful blog post and one that falls flat.
When writing your call to action, be sure to keep it short and to the point. Include a sense of urgency and make it easy for your readers to take action.
Most importantly, don’t be afraid to experiment with different CTAs to see what works best for your audience.
10. Proofread your blog post for grammar mistakes and typos
Finally, proofread your blog post to ensure that your content is error-free and easy to read.
This is critical for several reasons. First, proper grammar and punctuation make your writing clearer and easier to understand. Second, errors can give readers the wrong impression of your level of expertise and knowledge. And finally, typos and other mistakes can distract and frustrate your readers, which could cause them to leave your site altogether.
By taking the time to proofread your blog post before hitting publish, you can avoid all these potential problems and give your readers the best possible experience.
People are more likely to share your blog post if it is well-written, informative, and relevant to their interests. By following these 10 tips for writing blog posts people want to share, you can create content that engages your readers and encourages them to spread the word.
Short on time and can’t keep up with your blog’s content needs? If you need help creating professional blog posts for your business or website, contact me today. I’m here for you!