Writing blog posts for your website is essential for higher traffic and engagement, but are your blog posts even good? While you may be posting periodically, having articles that are hard to read or aren’t optimized may do more harm than good. That’s why understanding what makes a successful blog post is so important.
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5 Elements of a Successful Blog Post
The difference between a good and bad blog post is readability. If users can’t easily read your blog post, they’re inevitably going to leave your website and go find something else. Next time you sit down to write a blog post, be sure to include the following five elements. We guarantee you’ll start seeing success in no time.
- Eye-Catching Heading
- Captivating Lead
- Informative Subpoints
- Powerful Call-to-Action
- Google Search Optimized
1) Eye-Catching Headings
Having good headings and subheadings is becoming more and more influential when it comes to readers’ attention. More often than not, readers scan blogs quickly to find the information they need. If your headings are vague or don’t properly describe the paragraph content, users will stop reading your post and end up going somewhere else.
2) Captivating Lead
If you have an engaging title that baits a reader to your blog, the introduction is the hook. Your leading paragraph should grab the reader’s attention and have them scrolling for more. Whether it’s using a question, statistic, or metaphor, make sure your lead entices them to follow along.
3) Informative Subpoints
The bulk of your body paragraphs can’t just be filler content. If you’ve successfully grabbed a reader’s attention, the rest of your blog needs to have valuable information. Use statistics or linked sources to show your readers that you have experience.
We also think it’s a good idea to use bullet points and user-friendly steps. Whether it’s a newcomer to your business or a returning customer, having easy-to-read information that provides value will undoubtedly make for a great blog post.
4) Power Call-To-Action
Every good blog post has a strong call to action toward the end of the article. If you’re spending the time to write a blog related to your business, it’s pertinent to give your readers a way to respond. Instead of being vague, be upfront and direct with what you’re wanting them to do. Powerful call-to-actions include:
- Request a quote
- Buy product
- Schedule an appointment
- Follow on social media
- Sign up for a service
- Subscribe to a newsletter
- Take a virtual tour
- Submit a contact form
5) Google Search Optimized
If you haven’t been optimizing your blog content for search engines, you’re unknowingly spending a lot of time without any promise of return. By using search engine optimization strategies in your blog writing, you can be certain that your posts are visible to online browsers. To fully optimize your blog, there are a number of key elements to keep in mind. We recommend starting with the following:
- Target keyword for your blog content
- Customized SEO title with a target keyword
- A customized meta description that is inviting and contains your target keyword
- Headings using that keyword 1-2 times
- Using the keyword within the first 100 words of your article
- At least 1-2 internal links
- One featured photo that accurately represents your topic
Start Writing Successful Blog Posts for Your Audience
Ultimately, the success of a blog post depends on the audience you’re writing for. While these elements are considered best practices, you know your field best. Get to know your readers and start writing topics and content that they’ll find interesting. We guarantee you’ll find the type of success you need to grow your business.
As one of Houston’s leading web design and digital marketing agencies, we know how important a successful blog post is to your website’s performance. We help businesses of all sizes understand their audience and write blog posts that will earn traffic and turn readers into customers. Learn more about our content marketing services to take advantage of our blog writing expertise.
Ashlee Visser is the Content Manager at ITVibes, Inc. She holds a B.A. in Humanities from Thomas Edison State University. With a strong focus on organization, she excels in content management and website writing. Ashlee’s passion for writing is evident in every project she undertakes. When she’s not busy managing content, she enjoys spending time with her husband and their growing family.
