Being a great blog writer isn’t about writing clean, concise copy. It’s about writing content that engages, spurs action, and makes people want more of your writing.
But what does it take to be a good blog writer? Practice is an obvious tip, but there are other things you can do to take your blog writing to the next level.
Whether your focus in content creation is on improving your SERP ranking or adding content to become a thought leader in your industry, it all starts with learning to be a better blog writer.
Let’s look at 20 tips to do just that.
1. A Great Blog Writer Reads
The best blog writer is the one who reads a lot. Effective writing tells a story, and brand storytelling is only growing in popularity. If you don’t read a lot, it’s hard to find that inspiration for telling your own stories.
You also learn how to be engaging from reading. Other writers’ work lets you see what’s effective – and what isn’t – to capture the attention of potential customers.
Lastly, reading is important because it helps you stay up-to-date on blog writing best practices. The requirements to satisfy search engines are always changing. As a blog writer, you need to change with them.
2. Jot Down your Ideas
Sometimes, inspiration comes from unlikely places. If you’re at the store or out walking the dog, you can have an idea for the next best story.
The problem is remembering those ideas. We think we can remember them until we get home and in front of our computers. Often, though, that’s wishful thinking on our part.
Instead, carry a notebook with you. Write down any and all ideas as you go about your day. Writing things down helps you remember them better than doing so in a document on your computer.
3. Start some Habits
It’s not enough to want to be a better blog writer. You have to work hard at it. That means creating good habits than can lead to success.
Whether it’s for ten minutes or an hour each day, you need to set aside a regular time to write. A regular writing schedule gets you “in the groove” and helps you tell better stories.
If you’re consistent with when you write, you’ll be able to produce more content as well. In an age of on-demand media, that’s a good thing to have.
4. Learn to Self-Edit
Self-editing is important due to the volume of content being produced. If you can learn to revise your own work, you’ll spend less time emailing back-and-forth with editors, and more time writing.
Self-editing isn’t always easy or fun. It’s a necessary tool, though, for any aspiring blog writer. While the exact number of revisions a piece of content needs will vary, a good rule of thumb to operate by is doing at least four revisions.
That many revisions gives you a lot of chances to catch grammar errors, fix sentence structure, and clear up your writing. Four edits is a lot, but it’s worth it.
5. Have an Original Opinion
So much of what we read online is similar to what everyone else is writing. If you can talk about a topic in an original way, you’ll generate a ton of new traffic.
That’s easier said than done, obviously. But it’s a great way to think about your upcoming assignments. How can you make an original, valuable statement that grabs attention?
This type of writing should be your goal.
6. Don’t Forget the Medium
If you were a painter, you wouldn’t prep a canvas for oil paints if all you had were watercolors.
It’s the same idea on the internet. You’re not writing a literary novel. You’re not winning a Pulitzer. You’re advertising. Selling yourself, your product, and your writing, to complete strangers.
And the internet has its own “style” of writing. Mainly, writing that’s done to satisfy search engines. It might not be interesting to you, but staying in-the-know about SEO and how it needs to shape your content makes you a more valuable blog writer.
Everyone likes job security, right?
7. If You Can use Fewer words, do it
If content is king, then concise content is emperor. If you can get to your same point in 500 words instead of 1,000, don’t write 1,000.
We’re already seeing how much of an impact concise writing has on digital marketing, too. Google’s answer boxes pull short snippets of information that are direct answers to your question.
You need to be able to write content that fits in that type of format. It has to be valuable, too, which isn’t easy. But that’s why a good blog writer makes the big bucks, right?
8. Get Rid of Distractions
It’s not easy to do any job well if you’re constantly distracted. Writing makes that even more apparent.
It’s a good idea to turn off social media, silence your phone, and crank up your favorite playlist before writing. That way you’re not distracted by a tweet or finding a song you like.
Eliminating distractions also helps you keep your train of thought. You won’t have a great idea, get interrupted, and not be able to remember it. Instead, you can write it down as it happens.
9. Use an Outline
A good blog writer sees the value in using an outline. Some writers can sit down and write a polished piece in one draft. Unfortunately, we’re not all that way.
Having an outline before you write helps you do that, though. The outline gives you a firm destination to write towards. It also fills in the gaps along the way. Outlines are one of the most effective ways to get rid of writer’s block.
Even for shorter pieces in the 500-word range, an outline is a good idea. It helps you be clear, concise, and hit all the goals your piece of writing needs to.
10. Try Something New
Sometimes your writing life needs a pick-me-up. Changing up how you write, or how you approach a topic, can lead to more creativity.
New writing techniques are always popping up, and it shouldn’t be hard to find some that work with the content you’re creating.
Whether it’s starting in the middle of a piece, or at the end, trying a new writing technique is a good way to break out of a writing rut.
Getting out that rut gives your writing a fresh feeling. Users will notice this as they read, and respond by engaging with your brand or product.
11. Write Powerfully
Avoid passive voice. Write to inspire. Don’t settle for second-rate writing.
These are mantras great blog writers live by, and you should do the same. Make a conscious effort to inject power into your writing, and you’ll see a big jump in engagement.
Powerful writing also stands out. That means you’ll be able to position yourself and your brand ahead of others. Sometimes it’s as simple as eliminating passive voice. Other times, you’ll have to get creative
But that’s all part of the fun of writing, isn’t it?
12. Let Someone Else Read it
Do you not like letting someone else read your work?
You’re not alone. A lot of new blog writers have a fear of rejection. To be a good blog writer, though, you have to eliminate that fear. Rejection is a part of the writing process.
Let someone else read your work, and ask them for feedback. This helps you both get used to throwing some ideas away, and learning from others. After all, you’re writing for someone else. As much as you need to like your writing, you need other people to like it too.
Otherwise, your writing won’t catch attention and engage readers.
13. Controversy isn’t a Bad Thing
Some writers avoid controversy for fear of offending people. While you don’t want to write with the intent to offend or insult, that doesn’t mean you should completely avoid controversy.
An opinion that’s divisive and creates discussion is exactly what you want to see from a piece of writing. If people are talking about your article or blog post, it’s because they read it.
That’s a good thing in the writing world. The more people you have reading your work, the more job security you have.
14. Don’t Forget the Basics
If you write a lot, it’s easy to forget some of the basic rules of the trade. Brushing up on the elements of writing is a good idea.
What’s even better is if you can find a book or online course for writing in your particular niche. It’ll feel like being back in kindergarten at times, but you’ll come out of it with a firmer grasp on how to write well.
This ties back into self-editing, too. If you understand the building blocks of good writing, you’ll spend less time fixing your writing than you will copy-editing.
15. Remember it’s a Job
A lot of writers start writing because it’s something they love. Chances are that’s why you became a blog writer, too.
But the truth is that being a blog writer is a job. On top of setting aside a chunk of time each day to write, you need to treat your blog writing like the job it is.
A lot of people think a blog writer works in their bed, relaxing all day long. While some can do that, most of us can’t. Getting up, dressed, and ready for the day before sitting down to write is a good idea.
This routine gets your mind ready to work, as opposed to laying in bed all day.
16. Understand your Favorite Writing
Do you have a few blogs you just love to read? We all do.
But do you know why you like to read it?
If you take the time to tear your favorite writing apart, you’ll be able to see what it is that makes you like it. How your favorite authors create a piece can inspire how you write.
Then you can take what you learn and apply it to your own writing. You won’t be copying your favorite authors. You’ll simply be learning from them.
17. Throw out the First Draft
Another thing that a lot of new blog writers struggle with is realizing that their first drafts are usually just not good writing.
Most of the time, you’ll need to simply throw away most of the first draft. You’ll keep the general ideas and themes, but the actual writing won’t stick around.
You can mitigate this a bit by using an outline. Even then, you need to be willing to let that first draft go. Your writing will be much better for it.
18. Avoid Big Words
If you can use a five-dollar word instead of a ten-dollar one, do it. Why would you bog down your writing with big words readers won’t know? That’s a surefire way to attract fewer readers.
This helps your writing stay clear and concise, too.
19. Research is Your Friend
A lot of writers don’t like to research as much as they should. Research is an important part of good writing.
When you have verified opinions from others to validate the one you’re writing about, your opinion becomes much more valid.
20. There’s no One Perfect way to Write
The biggest misconception that a new blog writer encounters is that there’s a right and wrong way to write. The truth is that as long as you’re able to craft writing that you like, that meets your goals, and engages readers, you’re doing it right.
Content is the backbone of any good business in today’s world. It’s the key player in getting your website to rank in Google. If you need more help optimizing your content, or want to get your content to show up higher, then get in touch with us today.
