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The internet contains over 4.7 billion indexed websites, and approximately 7.5 million articles are published across those websites daily. Experience tells me that less than ten percent, maybe even less than five percent, of those articles are not worth the disc and server space they take up. Anyone with a basic grasp of their native language can write and publish an article on a website. Still, only a select few people know how to write compelling content that stands out, connects with their audience, and leaves a lasting impression. You will be one of those people when you finish reading this guide.
Understand Your Audience
Understanding your audience is the foundation of any successful blog article. You could be a seasoned wordsmith whose writing is Pulitzer Prize-worthy, but that counts for nothing if you are not writing with your audience in mind. Take time to research your target demographic, including their interest and preferences. You can tailor your content to meet those needs and interests, making it more relevant and engaging.
For example, you may be passionate about American football and want to write content about the National Football League (NFL). Research everything you could possibly need to know about a typical NFL fan. Find out how old they are and what issues they face as a football fan. Do they struggle to find accommodation when following their team? Write an article about how to find budget rooms in each state. Do they like to have a wager on their favorite team? Craft some content for them explaining the best Texas apps available. Know your audience and write for them; those readers will reward you with engagement and loyalty.
Choose the Right Topic
Leveraging tools like Google Trends or social media analytics can provide valuable insights into trending topics and popular questions within your niche. Here’s how you can use them effective. People want to know about the latest sporting events, bonuses, and special offers will look for sport website. Similarly, visitors to a website specializing in movie reviews want to read an opinion of the latest releases. Topics like the inner workings of a sportsbook or the technical aspects of Hollywood movie cameras might appeal to a niche audience, but may not attract a broad readership.
Hook Your Audience Before Providing Value to Them
You only get one chance to grab a potential reader’s attention and make them want to read your article. Therefore, your titles and introduction are arguably the most important sections of your content. Titles should let the reader know precisely what your article is about and what it will provide. Take this article’s title as an example. You instantly know the article is providing you with a guide about how to craft compelling content.
Introductions are equally important as titles; think of them as shaking a person’s hand when first meeting them. Your introduction sets the tone, so make it captivating. Do this by starting with a startling statistic, a compelling anecdote, or a thought-provoking question or statement. Such strategies draw in readers to the rest of your content.
Once you have your audience hooked, providing them with some value is crucial. Value comes in various guises, from giving information or insights that benefit your readers to sharing personal experiences. Consider offering solutions to a common problem or provide some advice you have expert-level knowledge of. Whatever value you aim to provide, ensure you are constantly educating, entertaining, or inspiring your audience.
Keep Your Writing Clear and Concise; Don’t Confuse Your Readers
Avoid jargon and technical language wherever possible to keep your writing clear, concise, and easy to understand. You risk alienating readers by using such language. If your readers are having to break away from reading your article to search for what a word, term, or phrase means, there is a chance they will not return to your content.
Furthermore, if technical terms and jargon confuse your readers, they may feel that your content is not for them, resulting in them leaving and probably never returning.
Remember that humans are naturally drawn to stories, so storytelling techniques like sharing case studies, real-life examples, or personal anecdotes make your blog article more engaging.
It also helps to keep your sentences and paragraphs short to improve readability. Large text sections are offputting to readers, especially if they read your content from a mobile device; more than half of internet traffic stems from smartphones and tablets!
Break up these “walls of text” with relevant headings, bullet point lists, and images so readers can quickly scan through your blog article and find information that interests and is important to them.
Don’t Forget Visuals
Visual content can help enhance your blog article by making it more visually appealing. High-quality images, infographics, and videos that complement your content help convey your message effectively. Such visuals also do a stellar job of making your article look more inviting to readers.
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Only use images and videos that are free to use in the public domain; otherwise, you may violate copyright laws. Dozens of websites, including Unsplash, Pexels, and Pixabay, offer free-to-use images and videos.
Proofread and Edit Your Work
Take the time to proofread and edit your article before publishing it online. Check for spelling and grammatical errors and ensure your writing flows smoothly. Using tools such as Grammarly is worthwhile because it spots many mistakes, but nothing beats a pair of human eyes reviewing your work.
Proofread and edit your article as soon as you finish writing it so everything is fresh in your mind. Return to your article a short while later because you can sometimes miss glaring errors if your mind is still in writing mode. Read your article aloud and have a friend or family member read it before making it available to the public.
Few things are worse than an article strewn with errors. Readers will pick up on these mistakes and often be put off reading the full article or returning for more if they believe your writing is careless.
