In today’s topic, we are going to cover the qualities of a great blog post. I’m not talking about grammar, punctuation, and that kind of stuff, but the traits of a great blog post. When we first start writing our post, we think it’s pretty easy, just sit down and write. But it doesn’t take very long before we realize that it isn’t as easy as we thought.
After you finish this post, you won’t have to guess how to write a great blog post, you’ll know how!!
Here are 10 things you may be doing wrong on your blog.
#1 It fills a need.
Pick your niche and stick with it. Determine what your reader’s pain points are. Sit down and ask yourself, “What are my reader’s top 25 problems.” Then write a blog post that resolves one of those pain points. The nice thing is that when you finally get those 25 paint points, that’s almost a full half-year of posts!!
Five Qualities of a Great Blog Post #1 Your blog post fills a need. Click To Tweet#2 You are consistent in your topic.
We write either for ourselves or for our reader. If we are only writing for ourselves, fulfilling our need to write, then please choose whatever subject that interests you. But if we are writing for our reader them we need to niche down and select one topic.
When your reader first came to your blog post, it was because of a particular post that interests them. If you keep switching niche topics/subjects, then you are going to have to accept that you may lose readers and that’s a bad thing.
#3 Your personality shines through.
When you write, even if our topic is pretty dull, like how to blog… Keep things lively by adding some of your personality into the posts. If you are a regular reader, then you know that I like to crack a joke here and there in my posts. It’s a way for me to connect with my reader. Because without the personal connection there is no way my reader (or any reader) will become a part of a tribe.
Five Qualities of a Great Blog Post #3 Your personality shines through. Click To Tweet#4 You are not trying to sell something.
This is a big one!! Don’t keep trying to sell stuff. We don’t care. It’s annoying. Period.
Here is THE RULE about selling stuff online. Your potential customer will only purchase from you AFTER they get to Know, Like, and Trust you. Selling too soon will only turn them away.
To get your readers to Know, Like, and Trust you, you have to help them first. Resolve their problems. Help them. You have to give before you can receive. Or better yet… You sell, by not selling.
The Five Qualities of a Great Blog Post. You sell by not selling. Think about it... Click To Tweet#5 In each and every post, you strive to be the “Best in Class”
In every post, you strive to put out the highest quality content that you can!! If you ever feel that your post is not up to your writing standards and that you have to publish the post because it was Sunday. Don’t do it.
Always strive to put out excellent content every time. In the end, your reader will thank you (and you’ll feel better about yourself).
Five Qualities of a Great Blog Post #5 In each and every post, you strive to be the Best in Class. Click To Tweet
Content Inc. is by far one of my favorite books.
The author, Joe Pulizzi left a six-figure job to start his own business. He had no product or service to sell, so he focused his attention on building his audience. How? By figuring out what his sweet spot was and developing AWESOME content around his passion. Today, his revenue is expected to be in the 10’s of millions.
This book is full of great inspiration and motivation, and I highly recommended it. But don’t take my word for it, check out the ratings on Amazon. That says it all!
Please leave a comment below. Your comments really help and I read and respond to each one. If you are a little shy, email me at dan@danswords.com. Just like the comments, I respond to every email.
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To your success.
Dan
This is a great checklist for a newish blogger like myself. I love the book you suggested – I’m currently building up a following without actually selling anything and I was feeling panicky like I NEED to be SELLING. But I feel encouraged now I’m doing exactly what I need to at this time. Thanks so much!
Margi
I’m glad you are finding my posts useful. And thanks for leaving a comment.
Selling too quick usually leads to disappointment, which leads to abandoning your blog. Concentrate on writing killer content. You’ll know when its the right time to sell.
Dan
Dan: I have been blogging since 2002, but I still learn new things everyday. Talking about learning, have you read the book, Never Stop Learning by Bradley Staats? I have to check out Content Inc. I have heard about and I have consumed plenty of Joe Pulizzi’s online content.
All the Best,
Martin
Hey Martin
I have never heard of Never Stop Learning, I’ll have to check out.
Yeah, Joe P Content, Inc. is my go-to (audio) book. I have an hour drive each way to work so I have plenty of time to listen to get books.
Dan
Hi Dan,
I’ve new to your videos and I quite enjoy them, especially how you always sign off at the end with your catchy, unique tagline. (Is it still called a tagline when you put it at the end?)
Nice to see you in a different place, it must be great fun hanging out with your grandson. Who was that at the end of the video?
I’ve written your five pointers down and pinned them at my desk along with the other important bits to remember when I’m writing my articles. The first one – fills a need – is remarkably easy to stray away from! I hope it’s just me but my thoughts often travel much faster than I can put them down I really need to be discipline to stick to the point. And you’re right of course our content should fill a need otherwise you should be returning folks their 5 minutes of their life spent on your article! Thanks for reminding us of that.
The other point you made about letting our personalities shine through is really important too. Unlike corporate entities it’s much easier for us to portray our unique personalities into our work. The people who can do this successfully do great. My millenial colleague told me today about “NigaHiga” and his USP was incorporating his ADD into creating his content. It was just so original viewers were hooked. Speaking of hooked, you should really consider a career in singing. 🙂
Until next time. OMG we have the same (grand)kids – haha my tagline!
Connie
Connie
Thank you for watching my video and leaving a comment!! I’m really glad you liked the video and found it helpful. That’s just the kind of encouragement that keeps me going.
Who was that at the end of the video? That was my daughter Danielle goofing around. She helped me set it all up.
Dan
Good post, Dan. Succinct and to the point. What is Pulizzi’s passion?
His passion? Helping businesses build great websites by developing awesome content first.
His book Content Inc. is one of my top recommendations for bloggers and entrepreneurs.
Dan
Thanks, Dan. It sounds interesting.