After two (or more) grueling hours… it’s finally finished! You’ve written your blog post. Go ahead and wipe the sweat from your brow and pat yourself on the back for a job well done.
But then you check on that same blog post after about a week…
…and it’s garnered a grand total of zero likes and shares.
Oof.
Yep, nothing hurts more than putting a lot of effort into something and having no results to show for it. But hey, cheer up! Because if you’re reading this, then you’re about to learn a thing or two. And maybe next time, your blog will be a massive hit.
Why? Because from here on out, every blog that you write will be compelling and shareable—as long as you follow these simple tips. And yes, this is the highly-anticipated follow-up to our previous entry on why you should start a blog for your business. So without further ado, let’s get started!
Tip #1: Create a Magnetic Headline
Your headline isn’t just a slightly bigger and bolder line of text—it should capture your audience’s attention and set the tone for your article.
You may not know it, but your headline could be the reason why your blogs are going unnoticed. On average, only 20% of people who read your headline will click through to read the rest of your blog.
If you’re unsure about your headline’s effectiveness, check if it satisfies these three conditions:
Grabs Attention
Generates Curiosity
Promises a Benefit
And here’s a bonus tip—come up with several options so you can choose the best one!
Tip #2: Know Who You’re Writing For
Before you start writing, ask yourself… “Who am I writing this blog for?”
If you can’t answer that question, chances are you’ll just write something that you think anyone can relate to. And without a clear target audience, you’ll be screaming into the void, wasting your efforts while creating zero engagement.
So, how can you discover what makes your audience tick? Do your research. Ideally, these are some of the things that your research should yield:
Personality types
Attitudes
Values
Interest/Hobbies
Lifestyles
This information will enable you to craft a voice and a message that your audience can resonate with. Speak their language and say something they want—or better yet, need—to hear, and it’s only a matter of time until your audience is eating out of your hand.
Tip #3: Switch Up Your Sentence Length
Here’s a five-word sentence. And here is another one. Five-word sentences are okay. But overdoing it is bad. That’s how you bore people. So stop writing like this!
Now, look. If you vary the length, you can keep your readers engaged. You can use short sentences. And you can use slightly longer ones. And when your readers are well-rested, you can hit them with a really long sentence that not only wakes them up but delivers your point in an emphatic and memorable fashion!
The last thing you want to do is lull your readers to sleep. So switch up your sentence length! That’s how you’ll keep them awake, energized, and engaged.
Tip #4: Include Real, Functional Value
Do you know what makes certain movies and TV shows compelling? They contain food for thought—moral lessons or insights that can be applied in real life.
The same rules apply to blogs! When writing an article, make sure it contains valuable information. This can come in the form of actionable tips that explain how to do a specific task or a hard question that invites discussion from multiple perspectives.
One way to add easy value to an article is by writing about something you already have a good grasp of—this shows your knowledge and expertise in that field or discipline. Try putting your readers in hypothetical situations that force them to think and come up with a resolution. Then, guide them by explaining the ideal approach. If you came up with this approach yourself, that’s even better.
All of this value means your readers can learn a lot from your blog. Keep it up and they’ll keep coming back for more.
Tip #5: Use Memes (or .gifs)
An entertained audience is an engaged audience. So why not use one of the most popular sources of entertainment in today’s era—memes!
Memes connect people through humor, and one of the quickest ways to hook someone is to make them laugh (or at least chuckle).
When using memes, always consider your audience. It’s not about what’s hot or trendy—although if that’s what your audience wants, then go for it—it’s about what your audience enjoys. Humor is, after all, subjective.
Bonus Tip: Don’t Forget to Have Fun
Isn’t blogging fun? Well, it can be. Look, when you enjoy what you’re doing, it just comes naturally—the words will flow out of you like water from a stream. One simple thing that most people often overlook is that blogging can be fun. Easy, right?
Again, it can be. Try writing about something you’re passionate about and knowledgeable in, and watch the words spill onto the page.
"BUT what if I HATE WRITING? What if it’s just not fun for me?"
That’s fine, too. Let TopVA take care of it. We have a team of expert copywriters who can churn out professional-grade content. Get in touch with us and we’ll take care of the rest.
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