The nice thing about blogs is that it’s like you’re having a nice little chat with someone. Granted, it’s a bit one sided but hopefully works to solve a pressing need or problem.
With over 400 million blogs out there how does one capture the attention of their target audience?
Not only capture it, but hold it?
If your reader is scanning your material (and you betcha, they are), it’s got to be easy to read and able to able to hold a short attention span.
Readability should be your objective. It took me a while to get this as my ‘readability’ plug in keeps reminding me:/
Your audience has to be able to find what they’re looking for and quick!
Of course you gain points if you can also be captivating, controversial, thought provoking, meaningful, engaging and hilarious!
Write Superior Content Faster? Heck Yes!
If you want to gain people’s attention you need to master certain skills.
These are:
- Define the purpose of your content
- Build trust and credibility in your relationship
- Learn how to inspire others (Jon Morrow of Smart Blogger is a Master of this)
- Define your intentions
- Become a mind reader – get into people’s heads and solve their problems
- Be controversial and/or amuse your audience
Make sure your content is delivering the message right by using these 10 tips to write superior content.
1. Talk to Your Readers as If They Were Your Best Friend
You care about your best friend and what’s going on in their world. Ask your reader questions. Get to know them. Inquire about their lives and what struggles they’re having.
Use words your friend is familiar with. Remember the Billy Joel song “Just The Way You Are”…
‘I don’t want clever conversation, I never want to work that hard’
Well, neither does your audience. They want a simple, straight forward message that isn’t hard to decipher.
Sure, you need to hold attention but that doesn’t mean you need to be crude, necessarily. I love Mark Manson but too many F words can be sometimes be distracting.
He’s an effing awesome writer without them;)
2. Transitions should be smooth and logical
Arrange your content in an order which is logical.
This helps with flow and speed. Otherwise everything has a chopped kitchen salad feeling.
3. Emulate the Best Writers
Develop a reading habit that soaks up the best writers in the field you are wanting to write about.
i.e. Copyblogger, Smart Blogger, Ryan Biddulph, Matthew Woodward
Learn their language to build your own way of writing in a way that is natural for your audience.
4. The Most Thought Should Be Given To Your Title
Headlines are the most critical hurdle. If no one clicks on your headline say “buh bye!”
How many crappy articles have you clicked on that had such an intriguing headline that you just had to click on out of insatiable curiosity?
Headlines are the reader’s first impression of your content.
Use a tool (i.e. Smart Blogger Headline Hacks) for some kick ass strategies.
How to Write Magnetic Headlines That Sell Anything
5. Subheadings Keep You Organized
Subheadings can give you a great guide to get started with ideas.
You won’t necessarily follow the exact path but they can give you a range of ideas to reference.
6. Write Eye-Catching Quotes, Images & Giphs
Video killed the radio star. Most viral content these days is video. Get on board with it and you’ll get more engagement.
Should you be on You Tube? In a word. Yes.
7. Write Shorter Paragraphs & Sentences
This will improve readability scores.
Long blocks of text will make your audience drift off…zzzz
“Brevity is the soul of wit”. – Hamlet
Blog Writing Services to Boost Your Business
8. Pick up Your Phone to Record Ideas
Along with reminding yourself to pick up those keto cauliflower rolls for dinner, talk into it to record your ideas before distraction occurs.
No more excuses that you forgot that idea or lost that scrappy note.
9. Write First, Then Edit
If you find yourself blessed to be in the writer’s zone take advantage of those opportune moments. Who cares about how it looks, you can always edit later.
10. Use Tools to Edit the Content
Grammarly and Hemingway are by far the best editing tools for professional writers.
Perfect Your Skills Over Time
Keep honing your skills. Writing is an art and takes as much practice as playing Rachmaninoff.
Don’t sweat over every word.
Read everything out loud. If it sounds forced or fake change it. Writing should have a natural flow to it.
Don’t be afraid to add your personality into the mix. Unless you’re writing technical manuals for submarine parts you don’t want your writing to be as dry as my flaky elbows.
In the end it should all come together like a neat little puzzle and make sense as well as be somewhat ticklish to your reader.
Contact me to add blog posts to your site for 3.5x more business – Resource Contentmarketinginstitute.com
More Awesome Resources:
- Blog Posts That Will Always Make Money
- 10 Secrets to Becoming a Successful Full Time Freelancer
- How to Create an Epic Social Media Strategy
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