How To Write A First Blog Post – 13 point Checklist Included
Posted by Ashlie February 16, 2024
Did you know that 70 million new blog posts are published on WordPress every month? Yes its true, This shows that thousands of people are getting started to join the blogging industry and writing new stuff all the time.
And now, you’re one of them who is planning is to write your very first blog post.
Blog posting can be exciting and a bit confusing at the same time. But don’t worry, you’re in the right place.In this article, we’ll guide you on how to write your first blog post. So, let’s dive in and get your blogging journey started!
What is a Blog Post?
A blog is like a friendly chat on the internet. It’s a piece of writing, called a blog post, where people share thoughts, stories, or useful information.
Here’s the secret: Think of it as a page on the web that can be found easily, especially if it’s made with SEO magic, which helps it show up when you search for something online. So, a blog post is like a little online story that’s easy to find and enjoy!
Importance of a Successful Blog Post
Blog writing is a great way to slowly increase your audience and prove your expertise when it comes to your specific industry and story line.
It builds your online presence, grabs readers, and serves as the framework for future blogging experiences.
In simple terms, it’s your way of saying, “Hey world, I’m here, and I’ve got something amazing to offer!”
Five Elements Of A Successful Blog Post
Writing a good blog post requires some essential ingredients:
Engaging Introduction: Grab your audience’s attention right away with an interesting introduction. As you prepare for your “first blog post,” introduce yourself in your own style.
Interactive content: A comment section, a quiz, or a poll are examples of elements that increase reader engagement and improve value of your blog content.
Helpful tips for First Blog Post: Add an element of insightful advice and “first blog post tips.” Talk about your blog post ideas and knowledge to help other new bloggers.
Eye-Catching Visuals: Make your post a creative feast. Include captivating photos, info graphics, or videos to improve the user experience and increase the accessibility and memorability of your blog content
Call to Action (CTA): A CTA is the perfect garnish for a strong finish. It encourages readers to explore related blog posts, subscribe, or leave a comment to continue the conversation and create a sense of connection. So adding a call to action CTA can increase your value of blog in terms of search engines.
Key Considerations Before You Start Blogging
The key to blogging efficiently is to understand your “Target Audience.”
Considering your target audience to be your blog’s vitality. Determine whom you are writing for before you type a single word and identify their goals, obstacles, and areas of interest?
When your blog content address to their needs and desires directly, it becomes a powerful magnet that your audience cannot resist .
Implement interactive content techniques consistently to keep the conversation going.
Add polls, surveys, and other interactive elements to your blog.
E.g.
Create online forums, social media network, and use comments to provide an environment for your target audience” to express their opinions.
How To Write A Good Blog Post?
Now, let’s strategically plan how to write blog post, emphasizing the art of writing a blog post and use of strategic links, how to include keywords, writing compelling meta descriptions
Introduce yourself and highlight the benefits and difficulties of starting a blog in your first post.
Talk about the importance of strategic links and how to effectively use them to connect your content in this vast digital world.
Talk about your own experiences of starting a blog, and use appropriate links to promote reader interaction by asking them to comment and explore
Identifying your target audience means understanding who you’re creating a blog for. Imagine your blog titles as invitations that meet their interests, and structure your content to create a welcoming space for them. It’s about crafting a professional and inviting environment where your audience feels a connection.
84% of bloggers say AI and automation have impacted their SEO strategy for 2023 (HubSpot, 2023).
Step 2: Analyze Competitor Content
First, you need to Identify similar blogs that you are going to write about, assess their writing style,their topics, their added CTA’s,
And then evaluate the blog engagement through comments and shares of what people like or dislike about their content.
Examine their SEO strategy, including keywords and backlinks, and study their social media online presence for audience interaction.
Identify content and writing gaps and learn from both successes and mistakes.
Step 3: Research Trending and Evergreen Topics
To stay up-to-date with your audience, keep an eye on trending subjects within your niche or industry. Tools like Google Trends or insights from social media platforms can help you identify what topics are currently making their impression in digital market.
Keyword research is the basis of all high-quality content marketing.
For short-tail searches (high search volume terms with one or two keywords), the top-ranking results have shifted from transactional to informational (Conductor, 2023).
Step 4: Do Keyword Research
When you’re doing keyword research for your blog, here’s what you need to know:
Think of it like searching for the best words that people use when looking for things online.
These are the same words you’d use when talking with friends. Keep it simple and easy to understand.
Pick words that aren’t too general or too specific. Find the middle ground to connect with more people.
Choosing the right words helps your blog show up when people search online. It’s like a map for search engines to find your content.
Posts that contain target keywords or similar terms in the URL have a 45% higher click-through rate compared to those that don’t (Backlinko, 2023).
Step 5: Ensure Personal Interest in Your Chosen Topic
Choose a topic you really like; it makes writing more fun.
Pick something that keeps you interested and wanting to learn more.
When you write about what you genuinely like, it comes across as more real.
Imagine you’re chatting with a friend. If it’s interesting to you, it’ll be interesting to them too
Step 6: Craft An Attention-grabbing Headline.
A headline is like a quick introduction, so keep it short and clear.
Make it Interesting: Your headline should raise questions or promise something cool. Make people curious to read more.
Think of it as a Movie Preview: Like a preview tells you what a movie is about, your headline should give a hint about your blog post. It’s all about getting people interested from the start.
“The most important sentence in any article is the first one. If it doesn’t induce the reader to proceed to the second sentence, your article is dead.” – William Zinsser
Step 7: Structure Content with Subheadings
Make your content more digestible by breaking it into small, readable chunks using simple subheadings.
Just like highlights in a book, subheadings draw attention to key points, making your content clearer and more enjoyable.
Navigate Easily! Think of subheadings as signposts.
Use subheadings to guide readers through your content effortlessly, like road signs on a journey.
Step 8: Optimize for SEO by Incorporating Relevant Keywords
Increase your content’s visibility by optimizing for SEO through the strategic inclusion of relevant keywords.
Turn your content into a symphony of keywords!
“SEO is not something you do anymore; it’s what happens
when you do everything else right.” – Chad Pollitt
SEO remains one of the top trend marketers are leveraging in 2023 (HubSpot, 2023).
Imagine keywords as the language search engines.
Step 9: Use Internal and External Links Strategically
Put internal and external links in smart places to make your content a map that’s easy for readers to follow.
It’s an easy way for readers to find related topics and stay interested in your content.
So, let’s make your blog a friendly and easy-to-explore place!
Pages with the highest number of total backlinks usually rank best in Google (Backlinko, 2020)
Approximately 94% of all blog posts in existence have zero external links (Backlinko, 2019).
Step 10: Add Images, Videos, And Graphics
Visual elements are like storytellers to your blog posts, adding an engaging layer that captivates readers of all backgrounds.
In 2022, people watched an average of 17 hours of online video content per week (Wyzowl, 2023).
Over 80% of marketers agree that video content has become “more important” than ever (Vidyard, 2022).
This thoughtful addition not only maintains a professional touch but also ensures that your content is accessible to a broader audience.
Step 11: Add Facts and Studies
Incorporating facts and studies into your blog posts adds credibility and reliability to your content.
Think of facts and studies as the supporting pillars of your blog. They provide evidence and make your points stronger.
Facts and studies are like interesting stories. They capture your readers’ attention and make your blog more engaging.
As the below one:
So, add credibility and enrich your content with valuable insights with us.Just like I am Adding in my blog,
“Around 46% of marketers and business owners agree that SEO leads to success in content marketing; 47% said the same about audience research (Semrush, 2023).”
Bring authority to your narrative, turning your blog into a reliable source of information while keeping the tone formal and engaging.
Step 12: Add High-Volume Faqs
Have you thought about the impact FAQs can have on your blog?
Then explore with us how these concise answers not only keep your readers engaged but also elevate your content creation.
Answer questions and comments show you are listening and just as engaged as your readers are with you.
Make your writing journey smoother through adding FAQs.
Step 13: Proofread, Proofread, And Proofread
Do you think of proofreading as the polishing stage for your blog posts?
Turn your content into a polished gem that reflects your professionalism through proofreading.
“Proofreading is the silent guardian of a well-crafted blog, ensuring every word sparkles with clarity and precision.”
Make sure that your blog stands strong, free from grammatical glitches and typos.
FAQs
Your first blog post should reflect your passion or expertise. Share a personal story, provide valuable insights, and introduce yourself to reader.
An ideal blog post lengths vary, but usually it should be between 600-1,500 words.
Craft a blog post outline by planning an engaging introduction, outlining key points, organizing content logically, and concluding with a compelling summary or call-to-action.
For SEO, blog posts word length should be between 1,000-2,000 words to provide valuable content and improve search engine visibility.
