Blogs are a dime a dozen as everyone from writing enthusiasts to businesses and journalists start a blog. There is so much writing and a limited number of eyeballs for each blog post, so you may wonder how your business can be the one that draws attention away from your competitors. This will require content that goes above and beyond what everyone else is creating. Starting a new blog on your website is invaluable.
1. Be Original, Unique And Interesting
Great content must be original. At the very least, the content should be unique so that it does not appear as duplicate content from the perspective of Google. Even if you wrote the content originally, it must not appear on a separate page or it will be treated as duplicate content.
But original content is more than simply unique. Your blog should generate ideas that are unique and approach old ideas with a fresh twist.
2. Be Readable And Scannable
Write blog posts based on how they will be read. Internet users, especially mobile users, prefer blog posts that are short and scannable. But in these short posts, you must pack a punch by delivering as much valuable information as possible per word.
This requires that you cut out the filler and only include essential information. Also, to make your content easier to read, use subheadings, include bullet lists and find other ways to make the content scannable.
3. Avoid One-Hit Wonders
Use your analytics to find out which posts are the most popular. While you should create unique posts, this doesn’t mean that you can’t create new posts that are based on successful old posts.
For example, if you wrote a post titled: “5 Mistakes You’re Making With XYZ” and it was a huge hit, consider writing a post titled: 5 More Mistakes You’re Making With XYZ.” Continue working with successful ideas until your analytics show that it is no longer profitable.
4. Be Actionable
Find ways to make your content actionable. Readers love content that they can put into practice. How-to blog posts naturally lend themselves to this goal, but any post can be made actionable.
For instance, if you write a news post about a security flaw that was discovered in a system, you could wrap up your blog post by instructing customers on how they can avoid being victimized by this security flaw. Since blogs are often niche and since the readers are sometimes highly knowledgeable, make sure to respect the intelligence of your readers and only provide instructions that will likely be new and surprising to them.
5. Use Visuals
Use visuals. Not only are the inclusion of images make your content more enticing, but search engines prefer content that comes with visuals. The images should be very specific to the content and should ideally provide additional information. For example, an instructional blog would include images that show exactly how to perform a specific task. Also, use infographics frequently.
When your blog consistently creates great content, it will be more sharable, which will lead to more traffic. Your business will appear more professional. You will also develop a following of readers who will be much more likely to convert into sales.
Jessica is a professional blogger who writes for Faxage, a leading company that provide Internet fax service services for individuals and businesses.