Blogging has become a key way for businesses and individuals to communicate in today’s online world. Blogs can cover a range of subject matter, from business to fashion, and are an excellent tool to give your brand a voice as well as keep people updated on events or important changes.
In order to harness the communications power of blogging, you’ll first need to draft content. This can be a dilemma for many people – blogging requires a succinct and colloquial style of writing with which many people are not comfortable or familiar.
If you’re having trouble crafting posts for your own (or your company’s) blog, Mark Schaefer and Stanford Smith, co-authors of the book “Born to Blog,” recently offered insights into writing effective blog posts that you might find beneficial. I’ve compiled the tips I find most helpful for getting a blog post started below, but I encourage you to read through the entire post here for additional insight.
Start writing
The easiest way to get a blog post underway is just that: Get started. Even if you aren’t sure of the structure you’re going for, start to put words on paper (or screen). Don’t be intimidated if you’ve never blogged before. Like any skill, blog writing is something that you can improve on with time and practice. Also, don’t let the task at hand become daunting – even if you’re not happy with your first draft, getting something down on paper gives you a lot more to work with than staring at a blank page will. Furthermore, the more you write, the easier it will become to find your voice and develop a style of writing that suits you.
Request others’ opinions
Once you’ve started to write, don’t be afraid to solicit the opinions of others about your subject matter or main point. Hearing other points of view and the simple practice of discussing your blog post can help you determine how to effectively get your point across. It never hurts to run a post by a co-worker and adapt his or her insight. This process can also help get your creative juices flowing – a quick brainstorm can do wonders.
Read out loud
Blog posts should flow as easily as a conversation would. Once you have something drafted, the easiest way to check your blog post’s flow is to read it aloud. Through a simple read-through, you will be able to detect awkward phrases or wording that you may not have noticed in the writing process. Reading aloud also may help you think of additional ideas or points you’d like to make within your post, or of subject matter for a future blog.
Remember: There’s no strict structure
From a young age, we are taught to write with a specific structure: introduction, body, conclusion. While you certainly want your blog to contain clarity of thought, blogs are often read quickly, and people do not always have the patience to read a lengthy introduction. To this end, the most important part of your blog post will be communicating your point clearly – don’t get too caught up in or frustrated by trying to maintain a perfectly structured essay format.
If you’re daunted by the task of creating a blog post, try applying the above tips. Hopefully you will find the process easier, and will be more satisfied with your post and with the writing process in the long run. Good luck!
For more on blogging visit the CPR blog:
- Digital’s Role on Public Relations
- Corporate Blogging Best Practices from PRNewswire
- The Power of Blogs