How do you write a great blog post? Do you wish you had a blog template to guide you in this writing process? One that gets your blog clicks, is shared on social media, and grows your online audience with readers who will not only benefit from the content you're sharing, but also keep coming back to learn more?
There are thousands of marketing tips and formatting tricks you can use to grow your blog and get more readers, but the reality is that unless you're writing great content, no one is going to want to read your blog, no matter how many creative ways you market it.
Here's the hard truth: the single best way to accomplish your writing goals with a blog is to write better blog posts.
So how do you write better blog posts? In this guide, we're going to talk about what it really takes to write a great piece of content. I'll share the three best blog post templates, templates that we have personally tested here on The Write Practice to generate millions of reads. (Yes! Millions!)
Then, we'll give you a step-by-step process for writing blog posts so that you can start improving your blog and helping your target readers today. You may even find that the templates give you new types of blog post ideas to keep you writing.
Table of Contents
Do These Blog Post Templates Work for SEO
Free Blog Post Template Worksheet
Template #1: “Problem Soved”
Template #2: Encyclopedic
Template #3: Conversation Starter
Practice
How I Discovered These Blog Post Templates
As a creative writer, it took me about seven years to find my own style of blogging. I tried everything, including:
- Deeply introspective journal-style posts
- Travel blog posts about the trips I took around the world
- Listicles (All kinds of List posts)
- How-to posts
- Thought leader interviews
- Resource expert roundup posts
- Infographics
- And more
I've written blog posts to sell products via content marketing, to teach, as a creative writer to share my art—but most of all, I've written blogs to connect with people all over the world.
Even better, in experimenting with all of these different styles, I've found my own style. It's worked. As of the end of 2020, my writing has been read by about 30 million people, received over 100,000 comments, and been shared on social media hundreds of thousands of times.
Now, every time I start writing a new blog post, I already have a template and structure in mind. One I know will accomplish my blogging goals before writing it.
This allows me to work much faster and avoid writer's block.
More importantly, it also helps me make sure I'm writing something that will connect with my readers, because the biggest mistake I made when I started writing—the biggest mistake I see most writers making—was that I cared more about connecting with myself than my reader.
The opposite of my blogging intent!
Great Blog Posts Begin With the Reader, Not the Writer
Blogging is not about you, Writer.
The first thing I do when I'm editing a blog post is look for the word “you” in the intro. If it's not there, and if the word “I” is there instead, I know there's a problem. I'm going to have to rewrite it.
Why? Because good blog content is not about you.
Blogging is about your reader.
If you want to explore your thoughts and feelings, that's great. Write a journal. You can even publish your journal online. That's totally fine. Just don't expect anyone to want to read it.
If you want to grow a blog, you have to start with the reader and what they want, the problems they're experiencing.
It's not about you. It's about your reader. And if it's not written for them, they're going to notice this immediately.
So if you're ever out of post ideas, just ask yourself, why are my readers struggling? Or better, go straight to your readers, write a new blog post, and ask them, “Hey, what problems are holding your goals up right now? How can I help you solve those problems over the next few months?”
Not sure what this questioning would look like? Here's an example of a post I recently wrote doing this. I got dozens of new topic ideas, just from this one step.
It's a step you absolutely can't skip.
What About SEO? Is This Important to Know When Using a Blog Post Template?
All but one of these blog post templates are designed with search engine optimization in mind, and in my own writing, they have generated millions of searches.
As an example, one of my most popular articles of all time is about how to write a story. It perfectly follows the “Problem Solved” template, which I'll share below. Since it was first published in 2013, it has been read over 1.8 million times.
Here's a screenshot that shows its growth in readers over time.
All that's to say, these templates work, both from a connection standpoint and an SEO perspective.
At the same time, one thing the writers I coach often ask me is, “Should you really change how you write based on what Google thinks?” My answer is probably yes. Here's why:
That means that SEO can be an amazing resource to better understand our readers.
Should you pander to SEO? Keyword stuffing will help you hit every possible search term—but it might ruin your writing along the way by making it incoherent to readers. Should you stuff in keywords anyway?
Of course not!
But you can take cues from keyword research and organize your content in a way that both readers and search engines will understand. Which is great for the reader and you!
Thus, as I talk about each of these templates, I'll share how I think about them from an SEO perspective, and how they can work in your overall SEO strategy, if you have one.
Download the Free Blog Post Template Worksheet
Make the most out of these blog post templates with a free blog post template worksheet that will help you create a blog post outline for each of these templates.
The “Problem Solved” Blog Post Template
I developed this blog post template out of the three-act story structure:
- In the first act, present a problem for your character.
- In the second act, make that problem worse.
- In the third act, solve the problem.
In the same way, great nonfiction blog posts present a problem that your reader is experiencing, empathizes with that problem, and then solves the problem.
The difference between a blog post and a fictional story is that when you write a blog post, your character is your reader, and the story you're telling is how they can solve their own, unique problems.
The key to this template is making sure you lead with the problem. Most people want to start with the solution, but until you show your reader that you understand their problem, they won't give you their attention.
Have you ever had a friend who tried to solve your problem before listening to you and empathizing for your situation by showing they personally understand it? Because of this, did you immediately feel like they didn't fully grasp your problem despite their determined problem-solving-suggesstions?
It's disappointing—if not frustrating—isn't it?
Starting off a blog with the solution instead of an understanding of the problem fits the same concept.
From an SEO perspective, the downloadable template is extremely effective because so many people are searching for solutions to their problems. They type questions like, “How do I deal with my family?” and “How do I lose my holiday weight?” and hope they can find the perfect answer.
If you can show that you understand searchers' problems and have the best solution to that problem, then Google and other search engines will be much more likely to deliver your content to searchers because your content will have a far more thorough grasp of their situation.
Which means your blog will actually help readers when they read it.
Which also means that time they spent reading your blog was worth their time and attention!
The ideal length of this blog post template is 2,000 to 2,500 words. You want to write the definitive guide on this topic, and that means you must be thorough. You want your blog to be the ultimate gathering of research that is specific to solving that reader's focused problem.
How does this template work? Let's begin with the post title and then talk about the five elements. All of these are important for your blog's success.
Post Title: Focus on the Problem
In this template, post titles should always reflect the problem you're solving. Sometimes you may be able to allude to the solution as well, but this is a problem first approach.
Titles for this template might include terms like “How to,” “10 Steps,” “3 Secrets,” “5 Tips,” or “The Ultimate Guide to ____.”
Whatever your title, make sure the problem is stated.
1. Identify the Problem
The first step to write a better blog post is to write your lead. Also known as lede for journalism geeks, this term describes the first paragraph, the hook of your story where your job is to grab the attention of the reader,
How do you hook your reader? Identify a problem that your reader desperately wants solved.
Is your blog about helping people condense all their waste into a single mason jar each year? Is their problem related to finding ways to reduce their waste? Talk about this.
Cover all the scenarios that are probably holding them back. (Another way to describe a lead is your premise.)
Length: one to three paragraphs.
2. Make the Problem Personal
Remember what “act two” was above (make the problem worse)? The next step is to make the problem personal, either by making the problem seem even worse or by telling your unique story in relation to the problem.
Making the problem personal is the key.
When you've personally experienced the same problem your readers are currently suffering, you have a unique experience and perspective about the problem itself and therefore have undergone your own trials and successes when attempting (and eventually accomplishing ways) to overcome it.
Have you ever heard the old saying that you can tell the same story but differently?
This is what you're doing by making your blog-problem-solving personal.
Telling the same problem that others have experienced and maybe even blogged about before—but making it different. You're bringing your fresh take on how to solve it because, yes, you've been there, too.
How do you fit into this problem? What is your personal connection to this problem?
As Robert Frost said:
“No tears in the writer, no tears in the reader. No surprise for the writer, no surprise for the reader.”
Don’t just give us information, but summon the emotion to tell your story in a way that makes your audience care, connect, and want to take action.
This will help you create a sense of trust and identify with the reader, talking about what makes their problem so annoying.
The blog becomes genuine because you are sincere about their problem. Because you've suffered in a similar way, it's clear that you personally want them to overcome it.
You become a concerned and considerate friend.
Length: two or five paragraphs.
3. Tell a Solution Story
Now that you’ve talked about the problem and made the problem personal, talk about how the solution to that problem was discovered.
Note: You're not giving the solution to your problem yet, just talking about how one person, maybe you, discovered the solution.
This is a great place to use case studies, customer testimonials, or your own story about how you discovered the solution to the problem.
Length: three to five paragraphs.
4. Solve the Problem in a Step-By-Step Guide
At last! This is where you finally explain the solution to your reader's problem.
Most people start their post here, with the solution. However, that's a huge mistake.
Skipping to the solution before you've fully explained the problem is like skipping to the climax in a novel without all the plot points that came before it. If you do, you might find that your article comes out flat.
So make sure that you don't get into the solution, the core points of your post, until you're halfway through the article.
Length: as long as you want, but minimum of three paragraphs, depending on your post length. (Remember that the ideal length of a blog is 2,000 to 2,500 words.)
5. Call to Action (CTA) — Preferably Placed in Your Conclusion
It's not enough to tell people how to solve their problem. You have to tell them to go do it, showing them each of their next steps.
Teach them how to put their problem solving into action now. Today.
Encourage them to seize the present.
Give them the practical steps that they can undertake after reading your blog's content.
This might also be where you tell them to purchase your product, to become an email subscriber, or download a free resource.
Another word for this final piece of the template is a “conclusion,” and it always surprises me how many people skip it.
However, it's the single best place to connect the dots and show how your solution actually solves your readers' problem.
Assimilating your call to action with your conclusion is a smart way to tie up your blog with purposes.
Length: one to three paragraphs.
But You're Not Quite Done
What makes blogging different than print newspapers or magazines? Blogging is interactive.
That's why a blog post is never finished until you've added a question to stimulate discussion. Scan to the end of a few blog posts from top bloggers and you'll find that they always include a question to their readers.
Give it a try!
Think of one insightful question that will move readers to reflection, and also hopefully engagement in a communal reflection with other readers in the comments.
Length: one or two sentences.
A Note About Subheadings
No one likes to read a giant block of text, so each of these sections should be separated by subheadings to break up the article and make it easier to read.
Not sure how to use headings and subheadings? Check out our formatting tips for writers here.
Examples of the “Problem Solved” Blog Post Template
All of these posts follow the template above, connect with the reader, and rank well in search engines.
- How to Title a Book: Making Titles that Sell from Kindlepreneur
- Most Common Writing Mistakes: Misused Speaker Tags and Action Beats by K.M. Weiland
- How to Find (and Keep) a Mentor from Jeff Goins
- Six Ways to Create Romantic Tension by DIY MFA
- How to Self-Publish an Audiobook on Audible by Tim Grahl
The Encyclopedic Blog Post Template
Wikipedia is the thirteenth largest website in the world, in major part, because it gets so much traffic from the top site in the world, Google.
And by writing encyclopedic blog content in your field of expertise, you can build your authority in a topic, gain readers, and help thousands of people.
It makes sense, right? When you don't know the definition of a concept or what happened in an obscure civil war battle that someone is talking about, what do you do? You google it! And then, you likely click on the Wikipedia page hovering at the top of the page, just like millions of others.
And by thoroughly defining these topics within your expertise, you can capture some of that readership.
From an SEO perspective, writing encyclopedic content, especially in a deep niche that Wikipedia hasn't covered yet, is one of the best ways to gain search traffic.
For example, in early 2020, I published a deeply researched article on Freytag's Pyramid, delving into the origin of plot diagram, how it has been taught, and how it has been misunderstood.
I read over a dozen articles and a full book to research the concept, and it took me two full weeks to write, but when it was finally published, it was a huge success. It was read 89,237 times in its first year.
Now it's the second post (behind Wikipedia) if you google “Freytag's Pyramid.” Check out the screenshot of how it grew in search traffic. Not bad, right?
This post follows this type of blog post template.
The key to this template is information pacing. You want to get to the definition of the topic quickly, but not so quickly that the reader will quickly click away when they get their answer, and then draw the reader deeper into the content (and your calls to action) through the rest of the post.
How do you do that? Let's dive into the template.
Post Title: Focus on the Key Topic
Post titles using this template highlight the topic, usually at the very beginning, often followed by a colon and then a short description of the contents of the article.
Example titles might look like, “The Battle of Gettysburg: 4 Reasons the Union Won the War,” with the topic at the beginning.
Sometimes writers will even use this template to compare and contrast two related topics, like our post “Pantsers and Plotters: Pros and Cons of Story Structure.”
Whatever your topic, make sure it's stated clearly in the title, usually right at the beginning.
1. Introduce the Topic Through the Reader's Intent
As we mentioned, the key to this template is pacing. Personally, I try not to give the definition away right away, but instead lead into it, and into the readers motivations for reading the post, first.
Because even as you're trying to be encylopedic, your blog is not an encyclopedia. You still want to connect with the reader and show your unique voice. Or else what differentiates you from Wikipedia.
Start by leading into the topic through the reader's own intent. Ask yourself, why would someone look for information on this topic, what problem are they trying to solve, what is their unique context.
Then, just write out those questions, problems, and contexts, and in the last paragraph of this section, talk about how you will answer those questions, solve those problems, and provide that context in your article.
Length: one to three paragraphs.
2. Define the Topic
Now that you've introduced the topic, you're ready to define it.
As concisely and definitively as you can, share the definition for that topic.
Here's an example from my Freytag's Pyramid post:
What is Freytag’s Pyramid?
Freytag’s Pyramid is a dramatic structural framework developed by Gustav Freytag, a German author of the mid-19th century. He theorized that effective stories could be broken into two halves, the play and counterplay, with the climax in the middle.
These two halves create a pyramid or triangle shape containing five dramatic elements: introduction, rising movement, climax, falling movement, and denouement or catastrophe.
The goal is to define your topic well enough that Google can pull it as a featured snippet in the first spot for that Google search. This means your definition must be both short and extremely clear.
Length: one to two paragraphs (no more!).
3. Provide Context on That Topic
Now that you've defined the topic, provide more context. After all, a short definition isn't enough to understand that topic.
So now you have the chance to show off your knowledge, drawing the reader deeper into everything you've learned about that topic.
You might explore:
- The history of the topic
- Where the topic fits within a broader field
- How readers might use that term in their own work or life
- Reviews of the effectiveness of the topic or specific approaches/products within the topics field (for example, does Freytag's Pyramid actually work?)
As long as you use subheadings (and, perhaps, table of contexts) appropriately, you can go into as much detail as you want. The ideal length for encyclopedic posts is approximately 2,400 words, and this is where you can give the most detail.
Length: five or more paragraphs.
4. Provide Specific Examples for That Topic
Once you've fully defined and explored the context of the topic, give one or two case studies or examples.
Most people don't learn well through abstract ideas. They learn best through examples and stories.
Do you have a memorable story about pitching your historical fiction novel at a writer's conference, and now you're writing an encyclopedic post about how to pitch your novel to agents?
Perfect. Share a bit about that experience here.
Take your concept and apply it to one or more examples, studying how the topic can be applied to your particular example. Even better, use visuals like charts, screenshots, handouts, or infographics.
For my Five Act Structure article, I realized that to truly get a sense of how the five act structure worked in Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, I needed to create an annotated copy of the entire play.
So I did, marking up the tragedy in a Google Doc to show the beginning and end of each act and giving notes on how Shakespeare used them.
You don't need to create a 25,000-word document as a case study, but this is a great place to provide value to your reader.
The visual representation helps readers retain the written information, which makes the blog more than an entertaining read for a handful of minutes. It becomes memorable and motivates action.
Length: five or more paragraphs.
5. Give Step-by-Step Advice on How to Use That Topic Well (optional)
If it makes sense for your topic, a final way to go deeper is to borrow from the “problem solved” template and give a step-by-step solution to the problem that your reader is facing as it relates to the topic.
Alternatively, you can share more resources from your blog or other websites to better understand the topic.
If you have them, internal links are encouraged!
Length: five or more paragraphs.
6. Conclude by Restating the Reader's Intent
Writing a conclusion is one of the biggest missed opportunities. This is your chance to cement what you've covered with your reader and end on a high note.
Restate the reader's intent for reading your article, and talk about how you answered those questions, solved those problems, and gave context.
This is also your chance to give a final call to action, where you tell them to purchase your product, to become an email subscriber, or download a free resource.
Length: two to five paragraphs.
7. End With a Question
As we talked about in the “problem solved” template, blogging is a conversational medium.
Add a final question to invite discussion on the topic in the comments.
Length: one to three sentences.
The Conversation Starter Blog Post Template
There are many reasons to write blog posts: to grow your audience, get more customers, and test ideas. But one of the best reasons is to lead a conversation.
Our third template is designed to start a conversation that leads to a large number of comments.
From an SEO perspective this isn't very useful, but from an engagement perspective, this is great, and it's one of the best ways to connect emotionally with your audience.
The key to this template is to keep the focus on the conversation topic while also sharing your own perspective. But if you push too hard on your own perspective, you'll drown out the other voices.
Instead, be vulnerable, sharing your perspective from a place of openness, and then invite others into the conversation.
Last, keep blog posts like these short, no more than 500 words, ideally around 300 words.
Here's how the template works:
Post Title: Focus on the Conversation Topic
Of all the templates, the title is least important in this one.
It can be short, like the subject of an email you might send to a friend, or long, like a deep question you might ask someone over coffee.
The key is to make sure people know what we're going to be talking about so they can join the conversation after reading the blog.
1. Introduce the Conversation
The flow of this template is like a conversation you might have with a friend.
You might lead with a question, like, “What do you think about the state of the battle against climate change?”
This can be done in just a sentence or two.
2. Share Your Perspective, Ideally With a Story
Then you might share your point of view, such as, “I think we're doing okay, but not nearly as good as we could be, and here are a few reasons why.”
Even better, you might tell a story about an experience you had related to that topic.
3. End With a Follow-Up Question
But you don't want to go on and on, so you ask a follow-up question. “What do you think?”
That's it.
Keep it simple. The real magic will happen in the comments.
This blog template is created to spark lengthy discussions—even if the longevity for such engagement might be temporary.
It's about consistently connecting with your community, which is equally important as providing substantial, informative “how to” or encyclopedic content.
Still need help? Try a blog writing AI tool
Hubspot has a new AI Blog writing tool to help you see how to structure and produce great content in no time flat. You'll still want to make sure you're telling your story in your unique voice, but an AI tool can help you get the words down to connect with your audience fast. Check out Hubspot's AI Blog Writer for yourself today.
How Do You Learn to Write Great Blog Posts?
I've found that these three blog post templates explored in this post work best in most situations, but that doesn't mean you should abandon exploring your own.
It took me a long time to discover templates that worked for me. Along the way I experimented with several different templates, some of which worked and which I still use (like my writing prompt template), and others that I've abandoned.
You need to find your perfect templates, too, and the only way you can do that is through practice (we're fond of that around here).
So don't take my word for it. Go try out these templates and others and figure out what works best for you. (And don't forget to have fun while you do it!)
Download the Free Blog Post Templates
Ready to write? Download the free blog post templates and use them to craft your own brilliant blog posts.
A good writing process starts with readers. What is a problem your readers are experiencing right now? How could you help them solve it? Let me know in the comments.
PRACTICE
Write a blog post using these five steps. First, pick a problem that you know how to solve, and then write a blog post sharing the solution. We'd love to see your post in the Pro Practice Workshop too, and have you give input on some other writers' posts as well.
And as always, don't forget to have fun! Happy writing!
Ahh, but the question is, should every post be about problems? Perhaps just as books can be plot driven or character driven, blogs can be problem driven or not.
Well said, Mirel. I would argue character driven stories are still about solving it’s characters’ problems, but there are certainly plenty of stories where problems aren’t the central focus. Whether those stories/blog posts have much of a readership is open to debate, though.
I agree with the analysis of character driven stories, that is that they’re about solving the characters’ problems. One of the people in my critique group keeps on grumbling looking for the action in my submissions, till another person pointed out that unlike his action novel, mine is character driven. There is action, obviously, but no major wars or battles 🙂 The others in the group seem to be fine with the amount of action there is. But the point is, that there is more than one way of doing something. My blog doesn’t really deal with problems, and while I have not reached the big time, the number of hits is on the rise and the site is growing. The most popular post on my blog is entitled “A tribute to my mother-in-law,” and though like most people, my mother-in-law has had problems in her life, the post is certainly not about how to solve a problem…
“Stories are about solving the protagonist’s problems, whether their love
life is floundering or aliens are trying to kill them or their fighting
cancer.”
Good blog post about perfect blog posts, but to make yours closer to perfect, it’s “they’re fighting cancer.”
Okay I attempted your template.
http://writeitonmywall.wordpress.com/2014/08/13/how-to-keep-the-writing-magic-alive-in-your-wip/
This sounds really interesting! I’ll give it a shot with a current non-fiction issue here.
Lead:
Guess what? Back at the end of April a skunk burrowed under our mobile home.
Aggravators:
–She then had her babies under there.
–A stray cat would like to become part of our family and has discovered a way into the trailer–through the hole the skunk made.
–The skunk gets really aggravated when that cats pokes its nose into HER
hole, near her babies, as it tries to enter our family via a gap in the
bathroom plumbing area.
Core points:
–Skunks can raise a stink, especially when aggravated. You never want a skunk living in your basement or under your floor.
–Mother skunks are determined. All attempts to shut her out and separate her from her offspring have met with stiff resistance.
–Badgers hunt skunks and may enter a skunk’s den to try and kill them. Believe
me, this battle is not pleasant for occupants living above. Talk about chemical warfare! (See my post: The Sound of Murder at Midnight.)
Connectors:
–Our son-in law offered us their skunk trap. But this skunk evidently understands what a trap is all about. Hence our efforts to trap the critter have been in vain.
–We have made various efforts, but have been outfoxed time and again.
–We must find a way to get the skunk out from under the trailer before winter — and another litter of kits next spring.
Question to leave with readers: How would YOU handle this ticklish situation?
Does this sound like a good foundation for a blog post that could hold interest?
This was extremely helpful and encouraging to know that I was basically using this structure. What I was missing was the interactive component and that makes all the difference!!!
Great post.
It’s given me several ‘ahah!’ moments.
Thanks.
Dawn
Grief the Unspoken is petitioning President Obama to have
August 30, 2014 declared as National Grief Awareness Day. For those who have not experienced the death
of a loved one it may appear that grief awareness is unneeded. You may have
family, friends, or coworkers who had a loved one die recently. To your eyes
they look as if they are coping well with their grief. They could be coping well. More than likely
though they are grieving in silence and alone.
For many new grievers it comes as a shock that grieving has
a stigma associated with it. Some family and friends may come right out and say
it is time to get over it. When the deceased’s name is spoken it will not be
acknowledged in conversation. Invitations to family events and outings decline
until they stop all together. Sleepless
nights begin immediately. In the quiet of the house the weeping is smothered to
avoid waking other sleepers. Expectations of completing housework, performing
well at work, and maintaining relationships with others is the mask that is
worn every day. Feelings of loneliness, not being understood, and feeling less
than become constant companions. Mystery
illnesses plague the body. Aches, pain, fatigue bring the ability to cope with
the grief even lower. Loss of employment, loss of significant relationships
become a reality.
This is the reality of grief. Grief is not about denial,
anger, bargaining, depression and anxiety. These stages of grief have become
the accepted concept about the grief process despite the fact that Elizabeth
Kubler-Ross’s stages were developed when she worked with people who were dying
not grieving. Grief is the breakdown of
the emotional, physical, and psychological systems in response to the death of
a loved one.
This is why Grief Awareness is important. It is important to
educate society on the reality of grief. For doctors to understand grief
reactions include physical symptoms. For therapists to understand grief is not
time limited, and to allow healthy grieving reactions. For families and friends
to understand grief reactions interfere with relationships. If society would
become more compassionate towards people who are grieving there would be less
sleepless nights, more support, and healthier grieving.
I write blog posts for examiner.com on relationships, and grieving. Their expectation of a blog post is 400-600 words.
Thanks, Joe. This blog post couldn’t come at the right time. I’m working on creating a blog post template and I needed a structure that would make researching and writing blog posts for my blog time efficient. My current template includes blog objectives and benefits only. But this post just gave me some more ideas.
In my first journalism internship, my boss once told me: “When you’re looking for an effective conclusion, that means you’ve actually concluded”. I recall in mind this statement when I start writing an article for magazines, where interaction isn’t always required… or it should be? 🙂
I think it’s really hard to conclude each post with a question: in a blog like The Write Practice is essential, because comments and community practice nourish it and allow its growth. But what about… for example… the review of a novel? How conclude it with a question, or with something that inspire the reader to start a dialogue with me about the novel, or about its author, or about any kind of stuff which could be connected to my review?
Nice tips for blog posting thanks for sharing.
Wow Amazing Work Joe, It really helps me also have a look on mine strategies for best and attractive articles for your blog that may get more followers or fans http://techfumes.com/how-to-write-a-blog/
This post is rock solid! I never really looked at the sequence or true elements of a compelling blog post but…looks like you nailed it! Thanks for sharing.
The interesting thing is that I do most of this in many of my blog posts without knowing that I’m doing it. I shall have to print out your blog post and keep it handy for writing tomorrow’s blog post.
The one important thing I’m trying to do more often is to end with one or two questions for the blog readers. I think it really does lead to more blog comments. I’m also doing that for my Facebook posts and even some Tweets. Just to let people know I want their opinion.
Awesome insight Joe!
I am continuously looking for ways to improve my writing, and this just did wonders for me.
What, please, are the “three ‘acts’ mentioned above”?
I’ve only just found you, and am not sure where they are explained. Thank you
Many thanks for sharing this valuable material with us.I’m a beginner in blogging and this will help me a lot .
I am a first year law school student and I have been following the careers of some of the most influential attorneys in the United States in order to help guide me on my career path. Joel Hyatt is one of the most successful lawyers in the United States. I have learned a lot by following his career. Here is a comprehensive blog post that gives some background information about Mr. Hyatt. https://disruptivelegal.wordpress.com/2014/01/21/who-is-joel-hyatt-the-little-known-pioneer-of-innovation-in-the-legal-services-industry/
Did anyone see what “three acts above” he’s referring to in the first section?
Right….not quite sure how this would work for a book review. But good to know for other types of blog posts.
It’s great with a book review. Check out the Wall Street Journal’s review section on Saturday’s or the New Yorker’s book review’s. They often follow a similar pattern: 1) the problem the book presents, 2) the solution the book presents for that problem (often they introduce the book here for the first time), 3) how effectively they solve that problem.
Thank you. That is interesting. I certainly never considered it from that view point before.
Great! I’m gong to try ti with my very next blog post.
I also read this week that increasing the length of your blog posts to at least 600 words helps build trust with your readers because a longer post is perceived as more valuable. 2,00 words is apparently even better.
I’m not totally sure about that because I am put off by long, wordy posts. I like an intro, then the guidance I’m looking for, and then a wrap up. I also prefer short snappy paragraphs with plenty of white space.
-Sef
I hear you, Sef. It’s interesting though, longer posts almost always do better. Check out the amazing chart under “Longer Is Usually Better”: https://www.quicksprout.com/2014/03/31/how-long-should-each-blog-post-be-a-data-driven-answer/
Mindblowing!
I hadn’t seriously considered blogging before reading this, feeling that it might only swallow time that would be better spent on my current writing project. Yet, in doing this exercise, I found the diversion helpful in clearing some thoughts I’ve been having about social media. – those thoughts are recorded below.
Are you as tired of politics as I am? It seems social media has become a political warfare platform rather than a wonderful way to keep up with friends and family. Yet, when I start thinking this way, I immediately think and feel that I have some responsibility for keeping up with political news in times that feel dangerous for the future of humanity. But, does reading all of this or signing a petition really do any good? Does any of this reading help me understand what is happening in our world? Deeper still is the question of how to have an impact on any of it.
When I read something that I agree with it feels as if I do deepen my understanding, but when I read something from a friend or relative that I admire that is the polar opposite of what I believe, I’m left feeling as if I don’t understand anything. How could seemingly intelligent, thinking individuals come to such wild conclusions? Do they think the same of my conclusions? I’m using conclusions here to include all of the re-posting of others’ opinions. I do appreciate being directed to thoughtful articles, but they, too, leave me feeling helpless. If I were just confused, it might be easier, but I know part of the polarization of opinions when I can’t find my way toward understanding the “other side.” Let me be more concrete. I do not understand how a man like Donald Trump was elected president. This makes me vulnerable to speculation about some political machine engineering this for other purposes, such as the article I recently read saying that this background manipulation was intended to get Trump into office so that he could blow the whole thing and be impeached. This would result in Pence becoming President, which was indicated to be the end goal of this behind the scenes group manipulating things.
Now, we may be getting somewhere. Reading that article made me question whether Pence would be good for our country. Prior to that Trump being impeached sounded like good news – now I’m not so sure. Perhaps the writer of that article intended to create such uneasiness. The answer, for me, is to learn more about Mike Pence. While I may not agree with him politically, he might be less dangerous than Trump. If I cannot simply ignore the politics and all of the dialog surrounding the current situation, I can investigate reliable and varied sources of information. Even while that is challenging, it is worth the effort. I cannot become well informed by relying on social media. I’m looking forward to the day when I open Facebook and only ready about who is baking cookies that day or going to the beach to relax.
Good start! One suggestion: how can you move from “I” to “you,” from talking about your experience and thoughts to talking about what the reader can learn/should know.
Thank you for your comments, Joe. I do have a question about your recommendation for substituting “you” for “I.” When I do that it feels a bit preachy – like I’m suggesting what someone else should be doing or thinking, whereas my intent was to convey my own reactions. So, when is it appropriate to use “I” when blogging?
I like this template, but as a travel blogger this doesn’t often apply to my topics–does it? Okay, last week I wrote about potential harm to Jerusalem if the US Embassy is moved there from Tel Aviv. But I don’t want to be alarmist or political that much, so I’m not sure if this template applies to travel???!
You’d be surprised! Think about problems travelers are dealing with. A few that come to mind: where to go, how to pack, what to do when they get there, where to eat, which hotels to stay at, which shops to shop at. And on and on!
Let me start with a confession. I signed up for you daily emails over a year ago and this is the first one I have read in full and I absolutely loved it. Two years ago I started blogging accidently. My original plan was writing fiction and in the last two years I have written a total number of zero fiction pieces, or words if I am to continue with my confession. Your words today have given me a lot to consider about how I approach my blogging. Thank you. My site is https://howilivewithms.wordpress.com/
So glad you read it, Glenn! It sounds like you have an important subject to write about and a lot of people to help. I hope this template helps!
Great post, Joe! One of my major writing goals for this year is to learn how to write for blogs, so this was a great help. I love how you explained it through storytelling. Since I am a storyteller, it helped me see blog writing in a much more familiar way. Thank you very much!
I already have a few blog post ideas. I think I will apply that template to one of them and see how it goes for me. =)
The best bloggers tell great stories. Often the stories they’re telling are about the reader.
When you publish your first post, send me a note! Can’t wait to see it!
I am so glad you shared this post today. I am trying to find my genre and running in and out of thoughts, Today, however, brought an oft thought of blog possibility. While driving home from a Bible Study this morning I was trying to think of how to phrase my response to the question, “What did you think of the study today?” As there were some parts I liked, some parts I had a mediocre response to and one part that absolutely left me hurting for some groups of people; I didn’t know how to respond without being offensive to the hosts. I am still defining my blog idea and I certainly am not ready to present a solution,but does anyone out there think a blog devoted to expressing in between viewpoints on divisive issues might be of value ?
Of course! But the question is: what’s the problem? What problem are real people struggling with that you’re solving? Start there and see where it leads.
Hi Joe,
As usual your step by step guidance for writing a good Blog Post is remarkably to the point and easy to emulate – of course provided the Blogger is committed to the cause of good writing.
Oh my…I feel like I’m seeing clearly for the first time in my life. Great, great, advice for us bloggers out there. Thanks!
That’s so great to hear, Jason! Thanks for reading!
Thanks Joe. Great post! Actually I have been waiting for a post like this.
I am a fiction writer. I am working on my first novel. What I want to know is, is blogging necessary to build a platform or an audience before I try to publish my novel? If it is, then I actually have no idea what I should be writing in the blog to build potential readers for my upcoming novel.
No it’s not necessary, but it can help. I would focus on building an email list, not a blog. Follow Tim Grahl (timgrahl.com) for the best advice on this for fiction writers. Good luck!
I’ve had so much trouble with my blog that I don’t understand any of it. I used to write daily and the traffic was just random. The readers don’t come to read but they come to gain traffic for their blog. I blogged for three years and then I changed the format of the blog and got absolutely no results. I’m so frustrated with my blog that I almost quit writing altogether. I get like 10-12 views a day even after writing daily. Got anything for me to work on?
I’m so sorry to hear that, Adwitiya. Believe it or not, I’ve been there, and spent many years blogging in obscurity. For me, what worked was starting over and organizing around a popular topic, e.g. writing. What I would think about doing is choosing a topic you’re either an expert in or want to learn more about and hone in. Good luck!
Thank you. I’m not sure if I’m ready to write one. But, good to know…
Great tips, Joe.
I don’t have a blog and I’m scared of starting one because I dont know how to begin, nor how much time I must dedicate to this new venture. I gather a blogger should be constant in posting daily? weekly? or?
Meanwhile I’ll read posts by Jeff Goins and Michael Hyatt, who are both expert writers.
Do some bloggers share their blogs?
Thank you! This is so helpful! 🙂