– COLLABORATIVE CONTENT –
Ready to get your blog on? Whether you’re a solopreneur looking to add a little interest to your site or thinking about getting into the blogging business full time, writing a blog is a great way to express your creative skills. And while it is accessible to almost everybody, that doesn’t mean everybody is going to get it right. Long, boring blogs are going to get you precisely nowhere. Writing for your audience is a skill but thankfully one that you can learn. In this guide to getting started in the blogosphere, we take some time to explore how you can get your blog off the ground and start bringing in your readers. Follow our guide for blogs that sizzle and don’t get left behind, disappearing into the ether of forgotten blogs on the internet.
Find Your Niche
You probably have your favourite bloggers and websites that offer you everything from travel advice to information on your niche hobbies and interests. It is precisely this kind of niche that you are looking to fill. Naturally, you’ll find someone writing something about what you’re into but the trick is to find an area with fewer competitors, rather than none at all. If you see yourself as a lifestyle blogger be aware that you face competition from a saturated market so you’ll need to find your USP (Unique Selling Point) in order to carve out your own space on the internet. It might be that you already know what topic you’re going to write on because the blog will serve as a function on your business website. If this is the case, then half the battle is done for you and you just need to start thinking creatively about which topics you’re planning on covering. If at this point you’re wondering why so many businesses do have blogs, the answer comes in two parts.
Firstly, a blog just provides customers with a bit of human interaction with a company, a chance to read about what goes on behind the scenes and some of the thoughts and opinions of a real human. Secondly, a blog is an opportunity for a website to become more searchable for Google. This is done with keywords and Search Engine Optimisation, SEO, but more on that later.
Content
One thing to remember when writing blogs is that content is king. It’s easy to get sidetracked worrying about SEO tactics, but if your blog is anything less than a well-written, informative or entertaining piece then you’ll be missing your mark. You want your readers to be drawn to your site and to respond to your call to check out this article on how to create, change and delete Apple ID because you are the voice of authority and because every blog you write is worth reading. How then are you creating content that kills? A great way to start any blog is to set up a question that needs answering, a problem that needs addressing. Creating an element of need will draw your reader in with the promise of a solution and an answer. This is helpful again for giving you a sense of authority and setting you up as a blogger with helpful ideas and solutions.
Even if you’re not answering a specific issue, your blog needs to have a very clear reason for being, which is why so many blogs feature listicles and the like. In terms of length, think anywhere between 500 and 1,500 words. It used to be the case that the longer the article the more chance it had of being picked up and recognised by Google, but the smart algorithms also now recognise that frequency of blog has a part to play. So feel free to vary the length of your blog depending on the topic you’re writing on, but make sure you’re updating weekly, if not daily. In terms of style, you’re going to want to make sure that you use clear headings and subheadings. Not only does this break up a wall of text for a reader but also helps Google see that your blog is real and not a vehicle to stuff keywords into.
In the same way use pictures to illustrate your points and provide some visual clues to your topics. You’ll find high quality, free to use images on sites such as Pexels so sign up to access thousands of images.
A Word on SEO
As mentioned above you should focus on creating great style and great content but if you can make your post SEO-friendly, then it will help in getting you found online. Think about the searchable words that would get you found on Google, specific to your business or topic. If you’re not sure how to go about this, you might want to think about having someone do the search for you and create you a list of keywords and phrases. Use these liberally in your blog but make sure they are placed entirely naturally. Clunky, forced phrases will turn your reader off and count against you. Google likes great readability so avoid too many long sentences and make the majority of them somewhere between 20 and 25. Using words that connect ideas and concepts, linking words, will also count in your favour and demonstrate that your blog can logically flow from one concept to another.
Your blog is the perfect outlet for your ideas and the perfect way to get your voice heard. Find an area of the internet that you can call your own and get writing. Establishing your blog may take a little time but the key is for consistent updates and regular contributions. Make sure your writing demonstrates a purpose, give yourself the opportunity to show your knowledge to your audience and let them into your creativity and engaging writing skills.
There’s room for everyone in the blogosphere but make sure yours stands head and shoulders above the rest. Find your niche, find your style and find your audience for a great blogging experience. Are you a blogger? Let me know in the comments below.
