How To Write A Great Blog Post | 5 Key Elements
How To Write A Great Blog Post
Image courtesy of Stuart Miles at FreeDigitalPhotos.net
If you’re like me you will understand how difficult it is to come up with great content for your blog. In fact sometimes it seems impossible but with a little persistence and know how it doesn’t have to be that way.
In this blog post I would like to share some information I came across while I was watching a tutorial for software I use in my video marketing. Finding information about blog content while studying video marketing may sound strange but even with video marketing you still need an article to explain what’s in your video. The content also needs to be optimized for the search engines. We as marketers cannot get away from the fact that we need great written content.
I’m always looking for really good information on how to improve my blog and create better blog posts so this was an exciting find.
You might also like to read this recent post entitled: “The Perfect Blog Post” .
Here are the 5 Key Elements for how to write a great blog post and it’s easy to remember.
The H-PITA Formula.
H stands for Headline
How to write a great blog post always begins when you create a compelling headline.
Your goal is to make it compelling enough so that people will click it.
Even if you’re on the first page of Google ,if your headline doesn’t entice readers then no one’s going to click to read your great content.
I once heard that there really are no new headline and that the best writers are the best thieves. I’m not calling anyone here a thief and I’m also not saying to blatantly steal simply to watch what’s working and take note! Every headline has already been used. Most headlines were in use 50 years ago and we still use the format today. The best we can do is to follow them and personalize the headline to make it our own.
I use a notebook where I gather healine how tos and I’ve collected all kinds of headlines. I go to this notebook for inspiration and direction.
Here are some of the headline categories I use: I also included some of the examples from recent blog posts.
Threat Headlines: How Safe Is Your Twinkie
How To Headlines: How To Drive Traffic To Your Website/ Using Key Word Research
List Headlines: MLM Forums 5 Things To Know Before Joining
Mistake Headlines: 7 ( Blank) Mistakes That Make Everyone Look Stupid ( don’t have one of these yet…note to self)
P stands for Problem
You can build rapport with your reader by stating the problem. When someone goes to Google or one of the other search engines and types in a key word , they are usually looking for specific information and or a solution to a problem. When they find your content it lets the person know that you understand their struggle and it builds rapport. They have found you and your great content is a solution to their problem.
I stands for Irritate:
Use examples and illustrations to bring the problem to life. Tell a story about how you struggled with the problem and how it affected you or your business.
Just like in this blog post I told you a story about how I struggle with this problem of how to write a great blog post and I also shared that I think I found some great information to help solve this problem.
T stands for Take Away
At this point you want to give value but you don’t want to give away the whole enchilada.
Give your reader some helpful tips and some insider information but don’t give away all your knowledge on the subject. Your reader should get useful value from your content but they should also have a reason to come back for more.
A stands for Call to Action:
Ask for the sale. The number one reason people don’t get the sell is they don’t ask for it. If you are interested in selling your reader some helpful product or maybe you just want them to follow you on Twitter or Face Book you can’t assume that they will know what to do next. You must be clear and ask them to click the link! Many bloggers forget to do this and they really miss out on building their list or making the sale.
I hope this blog post was helpful for you today and I would really like to know about your process for coming up with ideas for blog posts and especially if you have a format or system you use to create your content. Please share your comments below and if you’re not on my Facebook Fan Page click the link below. ( :
Tonya Stephens
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Tagged with: article marketing • headlines • take away • write a great blog post
Filed under: Article Marketing
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Hi Tonya – this is a great checklist, excellent advice. I usually spend quite a while trying to get my headline right and write this first – I use it as the focus of the article.
I get my ideas from all over the place – sometimes I’ll read another post and see just one element of it that could be expanded to make an article, or maybe something will happen in my ‘real’ world that inspires me. My latest post was inspired by watching a nature program on TV.
I often use a mindmap to map out my articles – I find that helps to brainstorm ideas and get the structure right.
Sue
Hi sue,
You are truly talented in your writing skills. You think like a writer. I appreciate your great comments on my blog post on the H-PITA Formula.
Another key element is the key word research…this is the first place to start even before the headline.
Remember to find those keywords in your niche that people are looking for. The balance is just enough searches with low competition. This will go a long way in getting ranked on Google so people can enjoy your beautiful blog posts.
Thanks Sue again for your great comments!
Tonya
Ah, thank you for those kind words, Tonya – and you do right to remind me about the importance of keyword research. I know it’s not my strongest point – something I need to be working on – thank you!
Sue
Hi Tonya,
Great post!
These are some of the very nice tips. Really it all starts with the headline which has to be interesting to make it clickable.
What if it doesn’t end with call to action. The attempt from enticing to making him read the content, all that will gone in vain.
I’ll remember your HPITA formula, you know this is how I use to learn the complex of the complex definitions in my Masters degree, by using acronyms.
Thanks for this lovely share Tonya.
Sapna
Hi Sapna,
You are so very welcome. This is the easy to remember way to create great converting content for your blog.
That being said, your headline is a creation of the keyword search, this is how you will get ranked on Google. High enough searches with low competition.
So Keyword research plus H-PITA = great converting content.
Thanks for the great commenting.
Tonya
Hey Tonya,
Great article, I live the acronym you use to control the post excellent!
I personally think the headline says a lot especially when you tweet it or email to your readers. An interesting headline gets way more opens!
Great article Tonya.
Dan Sumner
Hi Dan,
Thanks so much for stopping by my blog. It’s really all about the headline but as you know it all starts with a good key word to use in the headline.
Cheers!
Tonya
Interestingly enough, I sometimes create the headline AFTER the rest has been written. It works better for me that way.
Hi Bonnie,
I do that as well. I find a key word or key word phrase to write my blog post with then I start thinking about the headline….after I’ve written my article using the key word of course in the title. Thanks so much for your great comments!
Tonya
Hi Tonya,
Great Post and a great checklist!
I search for the keywords that are commonly searched for, by using the free tool “Keyword Research Tool”, and which are in relation to the topic of my post. Then I make sure to include it in the title and throughout the body of the post but I try to make it stand out in the headline to make it enticing and clickable.
I like the 5 key elements of the H-PITA formula especially your tip for the “T” = Take Away to give our readers some tips but not all the information so that they get the value and come back for more. That’s a great tip Tonya.
Thanks Tonya for sharing these great information!
Be Blessed,
Neamat
Hi Neamat,
Sounds like you have a great system going for your blog posts.
I have a question about your key word research. How do you evaluate the competition? I have learned that if you don’t know what your comptetion is you might not have a great key word. The higher the searches for the keyword ususally means strong competition and even sometimes with a low search keyword there is strong competition. Are you using software for that?
Thanks for you great comments.
Tonya
Hi Tonya,
Very useful tips. I always love the anagrams because they help you remember the tips. I agree that the headline needs to be something inticing to get that click, so I appreciate the comments from your visitors to add to the info. Thanks for everything.
HI BG,
Great seeing you here! Yes those anagrams do help you remember. I don’t know about you but I need all the help I can get!
Come back and visit me here often..love seeing you!
Tonya
Hi Tonya,
Very useful tips. I always love the anagrams because they help you remember the tips. I agree that the headline needs to be something inticing to get that click, so I appreciate the comments from your visitors, also to add to the info. Thanks for everything.
Excellent advice, thank you Tonya. love the anagram as well! I tend to blog on topics that are relevant for my target market. I usually find my topics in the discussions on LinkedIn with my groups:)
Hi Debra,
Thanks so much for your great comments. Great idea about how you find your topics on LinkedIn! I like that very much.
Have a great day,
Tonya
This is great. I think what people often forget is that a headline should offer or imply some benefit to the reader – entice them into thinking ‘what’s in it for me?’. There are quite a few headlines that seem to be about the writer more than the reader, so this is good advice!
Hi Ginny Carter,
Yep the headline is the key to getting those clicks and with the competition we have on the internet now it is crucial to write a really good one.
Thank you for visiting my blog and for your great comments!
Tonya
Great tips, Tonya. Headlines are my weak points – and I do have a mountain of ones I collect too. I think it still feels odd “borrowing” them, even though many have been around far longer than the web!
Hi Jan,
I found a definitive e book on how to write awesome headlines 52 Healine Hacks A “Cheat Sheet” by Jon Morrow for writing blog posts that go viral. That is my main source for the outlines I use for different headlines. It’s been a life saving resource for me to learn about the different types of headlines.
In this e book Jon explains that most of the headlines we use today have been around for at least the last 50 years. It serves as a great guide.
Thanks for your great comments, hope to see you again soon.
Tonya
Well that spelled it out nicely Tonya.
I remember reading posts that outlined how to write the perfect article and what you should say that will get people’s attention. It really took me some time to get that all down and I think I did a pretty decent job back when I was writing a lot of articles.
Now blog posts are a different story. I’m more of a how to kind of gal as you know and I hate to put pain points in there but I know it’s crucial too. I mean that’s why people read our content because they’re looking for a solution to whatever problem, issue or thing they want to learn how to do.
You really outlined this beautifully and I’m glad you ran across this information while checking out that software you’ve been using. Bravo girl!
Thanks Tonya and have a fabulous day.
~Adrienne
Hi Adreinne,
Thanks so much for your great comments and also for the awesome tweet!
You are a great resource and show us the how tos but you do it in a very real way that’s also extremely entertaining so I would’nt just call it “How To”
I actually found it as part of a tutorial for the software and the seo guy said that this formula was very highly converting. The use it for their clients blogs and websites. So I thought wow, if its that great I need it and I’m sure others will as well. I’m surprised no one has said oh I’ve seen that before!
Have a great day!
Tonya
Thanks Tonya
That’s a helpful method and easy to remember.
I tend to keep ideas in a spreadsheet, then when it’s time to make a post I write the post first, THEN try and come up with a headline (sometimes the post takes itself on a different direction…) using keyword research and looking at the competition.
Joy
Hi Joy,
You are so welcome. It is an easy method and I love it because you can’t forget it!
Ohhh you are a spreadsheet girl! I’m still learning how to use those. That’s a great way to stay organized. Good for you!
Glad you mentioned key word research. I’m surprised at how many bloggers don’t do key word research, it’s so important for ranking with Google.
Thanks for you great comments.
Tonya
Hi Tonya, not only do I get relevant topics, I then post my blog in the group and start a discussion. I have ranked as the top influencer of the week as well including this week:). I really like LinkedIn to engage my market.
Very nice Debra. I do think LinkedIn is probably underutilized by many of us. This could be a great place to go for traffic and networking as you are having really good results.
Have you written about this in your blog posts?
I’d like to learn more about it.
Thanks,
Tonya
Hello Tonya,
I loved your post because it was well researched. Before i write any of my post, i spend a lot of time on it because i know content is not hard once you get the title. Title is among the reasons we get traffic and should not take easy… Thanks
Hi Babanature,
Welcome to my blog.
Thank you for your great comments…looking forward to visiting your blog.
So you do the title first? The comments to the H-PITA Formula have been interesting because most have stated their preference about the Headline. Some create it first but it seems many more create it after they write the blog posts.
My next blog post will be just about the headline.Stay tuned.
Tonya
Hi Tonya,
You have done a wonderful job showing what we need to do when writing a great blog post!
For me, it comes second nature. The biggest problem I have is choosing a Title! I write down so many of them, then try to choose the most enticing relevant one. But that is so important to get people to click on to your blog.
I like leaving a call to action at the end of my blog to encourage readers to feel comfortable commenting. They usually do leave great comments. I guess I’m doing well with that one!
I will share this post around because it is not only good for the beginner blogger, but for the seasoned ones as well.
Donna
Hi Donna,
I like the idea of writing many of your title choices down and then selecting the one that seems the most enticing…great tip!
Next to the title your CTA…call to action is the next most important element and it’s funny that a lot of people simply over look it.
Thanks so much for sharing this blog post! I am grateful for that! thanks!
Tonya
Hi Tonya,
This is a wonderful post! I think the point on the headline is great. If you miss the headline, it’s like you close the door to your article. No one comes in when the door is closed.
Hi Enstine,
Welcome and thank you so much for your great comments. Right on we all want a very open door that says welcome I have a gift for you!
Thanks again,
Tonya
HI Tonya, This is really true and very succinct. I think our headline is so important. I have a swipe file for headlines for blog posts and email subject lines. Oh, and the call to action is really key too. I blogged for two years – just good content – with no knowledge of putting a call to action in there. Now I know better. LOL. Blessings, Amy
Hi Amy,
I like the idea of the swipe file you’re using. Is that something you’ve collected yourself over time?
Oh yes the CTA…it’s crucial…did you get many op ins with out it?
We do learn don’t we, sometimes the hard way.
Thank you Amy for your great comments.
Tonya