Writing for the web is extremely different than any other type of writing that you will encounter. More and more, visitors don’t stick around on websites long enough to read more than 250 words. That’s only a couple of paragraphs. And that’s only if you’re lucky enough for them to get past the first sentence.
Every post is going to take on its own unique structure but the following is what we recommend (in general) to make a great post that your readers will want to read all the way to the end.
The title is priority #1
The title should speak to what the post is going to be about, sure, but it should also be interesting and exciting.
Whatever your topic – whether it’s the discovery of a new species of fish (“Breaking News! New, Rare Fish Species Discovered Off the Coast of Australia!”) or tips for new sewers (“5 Sewing Tips Guaranteed To Make You a Pro in No Time”) or how to get accepted into college (“How to Get Accepted to the College of Your Dreams”) – pose the title in the most interesting way possible so that it is a must read.
Format, format, format
Formatting is one of the biggest differences between writing for the web and other types of writing. Here are some important pointers:
- Break up your post with lots of paragraphs and headers for major sections.
- Use bullets and numbered lists where they make sense.
- Use bold and italicized words and phrases to call attention to important points.
- End with a call to action: do you want people to comment? Do you want them to learn more about your products/services on your website? Do you want them to contact you? Make it easy and tell them what you want them to do.
Don’t forget the visual
Typically, a post with a photo or video is going to get clicked on or read more often than the same post without a visual aid. Why? We’re visual creatures.
Think about it: an image is going to immediately make an impact on your reader, so make sure that you choose a powerful one!
Keep on point
Since you don’t have long to make your point, you’ll find your blogposts are best when they’re extremely specific and to the point. If you find there’s too much fluff, get rid of it. Your readers will get bored and move on.
Watch your length
A blogpost doesn’t need to be more than about 500 words, but should be at least 250 words (for the benefit of the search engines).
Want to learn more about the power of blogging? Contact us today to see how we can help!
