How to Write a Blog Post In 2022 [The Ultimate Guide]
Do you want to write a blog post that cuts the noise?
In this ultimate guide, you’ll discover how to write a blog post that people want to read, comment on, and share.
Without any blah-blah, let’s dive in.
Section 1: Pick a Topic
The process of writing a high-quality blog post starts with finding a proven topic. You shouldn't write about anything.
Pick a topic that is helpful (and relevant) to your readers and helps attract traffic to your blog.
“Pawan, how do I find these topics?” - I hear you ask.
I’ll show you some proven strategies here:
Evergreen Score by BuzzSumo
BuzzSumo is my favorite tool to find content ideas.
How does it work?
Type a keyword in the BuzzSumo search box and hit enter.
And it will show you the best performing content for this keyword (with social engagement).
GREAT!
But the problem is:
You can’t tell if the content is still relevant.
And that’s where BuzzSumo’s new COOL feature comes into play:
“Evergreen Score.”
It will help you to create evergreen content.
Udemy Is a Great Place to Find Fresh Topics
What’s the UNIQUE thing about Udemy?
It shows you the content that people pay for.
Experts create courses here, and the titles of each course uncover hidden content topics.
Wondering how?
Let’s go through step by step…
Let’s say you run a lifestyle blog. Head over to the category and select “Lifestyle” from the menu:
And scroll down to the trending courses…
And within a few seconds, you’ll get content ideas:
Aquaponic Gardening
Science-based dog training
Secrets of drawing
Bingo!
Quora Is a GOLDMINE
I love Quora. It’s one of the effective mediums to find exciting content ideas.
The BEST PART?
Real people ask the questions there, and these questions can help you find a relevant topic.
How?
First, enter your keyword into the search box and select a topic that has a HUGE following.
Here you’ll see some questions, just go through the questions, and you’ll get many topic ideas in 5 seconds.
Meetups and Conferences Agendas
This is something that can be your favorite way to find a topic for your blog post.
Just search for the latest conferences in your industry. For example, SEMrush Marketing conference is going to happen, so I went to their site and clicked on “Agenda”
And you’ll see the topics that people are paying for.
Section 2: Blog Post Formats
Got the blog post topic idea? GREAT!
Now it’s time to choose what type of post you’re going to write.
I’m going to share some of my favorite blog post formats and templates.
Actionable List Post
According to ClearVoice, List posts are the most shared types of content on social media.
Break down your post into pieces and give in-depth details about each item in your list.
Your list post must answer all the questions so readers can digest the content easily.
The best thing?
I gave people detailed steps for each and every tip.
Case Study
A case study shows how you solved a problem that your target audience/readers struggle with.
The case study post establishes you as an EXPERT in your niche.
Just show the people how you did it.
The Ultimate Guide/How to Guide
A guide is a COMPLETE resource that shows you everything about a topic step-by-step.
Just like the blog post you're reading right now!
Readers don’t need to go anywhere for the information.
I compiled everything in this guide and showed every step (with a lot of screenshots).
Run a Survey and Show the Results in a Post (With Graphics)
What Is It?
Run your own survey and compile the results into a blog post.
Use the graphics/Infographic.
Send the report to participants.
Tools Post
Have you ever used any tools or resources that helped you?
Just share your favorite tools and resources with your readers that can help them.
Finding the RIGHT tool or resource can be tough.
Help your readers by compiling all the resources/tools in one place.
It was a list of tools and resources that help freelancers in their journey.
Section 3: Create a Killer Headline
What’s the one thing that can make or break your blog post?
Headline.
A headline inspires a reader to read your complete blog post or not.
I’ll show you some hacks to write a killer blog post headline in this section.
“How-to” Headlines
Most Evergreen headline and you know WHY?
Because it says to readers, ”Click me, and I’ll teach you something useful.”
Here are some formats of “How to” headlines:
[How To] + Benefit
[How To] + Solution and Pain Point
[How To] + [Do Something] In 5 Minutes
Start With These Top Three Phrases
BuzzSumo analyzed 100 million headlines, and they found that the headlines that start with these phrases get the most engagement.
Here’s an Example:
The Ultimate Guide to [Something]
No one can resist reading this one.
It promises to tell you EVERYTHING.
If you’re a blogger who can compile a resource-rich article for your readers, this headline can be a blockbuster.
Your readers will bookmark it, tell their friends about it, and share it.
Does it need a lot of work?
Yes!
But It’s worth it.
For example, this recent post started off with this phrase:
Add Bracket at The End of Headline
You can notice a lot of brackets in my headlines.
Outbrain found that a blog post received a 33% increase in average post views when using a bracket in the headline.
Section 4: Blog Post Intro
Your headline got the readers.
Next?
An Introduction.
A blog post intro makes your readers feel welcome and sets an expectation.
Here, I’ll show you how to craft an engaging intro.
Start With a Question
Asking questions is a great way to connect with your readers on a personal level.
It creates a bridge from the headline (in which you’re offering a promise) to the main post body (which delivers the promise).
Keep The Intro Short (5-8 Lines)
Readers don’t like big blog post introductions.
Do you?
Keep your intro short (5-8 Lines Max.) and let your readers read the content.
Set Expectation
Tell your readers exactly what to expect from the blog post.
Let them know the things they’re going to learn.
Use Transition Phrases at The End of Intro
Transition phrases and sentences inspire people to read the next section.
I use these phrases at the end of the post intro.
Here’s a real-world example of a blog post intro.
Section 5: Write the Blog Post
Topic? Check.
Headline? Check.
Intro? Check.
Post Format? Check.
Now it’s time to create an INTERESTING blog post. Here, I’ll show you some strategies to make your content super engaging.
Create an Outline
I REALLY find this strategy effective.
Creating an outline can make your writing easy and effective.
Short Sentences and Paragraphs
Short sentences and paragraphs make the content digestible and readable.
Avoid the BIG paragraphs.
Go for the 2-3 sentence long paragraphs.
See the example:
Break The Content Into Subheadings
Why are subheaders important?
Because these make your content easy to read.
I use a lot of subheadings in my articles. For example, if my content is LONG, I break it into 8-9 subheadings.
Use Simple Language and Active Voice
If you ask me, “What’s your ONE writing tip?”
Use simple words and an active voice.
Fancy words and complex passive sentences can slow your readers down.
Read your article out loud. Sounds complex?
There’s a delete button for a reason.
Use Visuals
Visuals make your content powerful.
Infographics, images, charts, and screenshots.
Like this guide, you can see a lot of visuals. Right?
Section 6: Conclusion
Most bloggers and writers underestimate the conclusion part.
But Conclusion is IMPORTANT.
Repeat after me: Conclusion is important.
Put a CTA and ask your readers to take some action.
But ask a very specific question.
For example:
Bonus Section: On-Page SEO Strategies
Short URL
MarketingSherpa found that people prefer to click the short URLs.
Google also suggests using short and descriptive URLs.
Put Keyword In Title
Put your primary keyword into the title.
In my recent post: “How To Start A Blog In 2019 (Without Writing A Single Code).”
Keyword In Meta Description
Meta description is the best way to tell people about your post.
Put your primary keyword into the meta description. Use actionable words like “Read Now,” “Learn,” and “Discover.”
Place Keyword In Intro Part
Put your primary keyword into the introduction of your blog post.
It’s also good for SEO purposes.
Internal Linking
Link to your relevant old blog posts when you publish a new blog post.
Now It’s Your Turn!
Your words and blog posts have the power to transform your readers’ lives.
I believe this guide will help you learn how to write a blog post and become a pro.
So are you going to start with any tips? If yes, which tip?
Or do you have any questions? Please share your amazing thoughts in the comment section.
I hope you enjoyed reading the story as much I did writing it. If you like my work, please do subscribe.