Anyone can write a blog.
But not everyone can write with all of the essential elements in a blog.
It does seem as though anyone can place a block of text online and call it blogging. And we love reading blogs of all kinds as they can come in handy.
Recipes, how-tos… you name it! But there are some pretty critical elements a blog needs for it to offer any true benefits to your website. That’s right. There’s personal blog writing and then there’s blog writing to improve your business.
Don’t get us wrong! Blog writing for businesses by no means has to be defined as boring. A blog should still have flair and personality. But it should also take the time to hit all of the right notes and provide quality content to the reader.
In addition to connecting with your audience, you can get some pretty incredible boosts through Google and other popular search engines as well. Continue reading for more information on the 6 essential elements in a blog.
Include These 6 Essential Elements In A Blog
It’s possible to put together a captivating blog with your voice, even if you aren’t a professional copywriter or content writer. Here are 6 ways you can create all of the essential elements in a blog that flows with ease while including the information you want, all in one place.
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1. Attention-Grabbing Headline
Make it snappy. Seriously, there’s no need to over (or under) explain yourself. If your headline says everything it needs to in only a few words, don’t feel pressured to make it longer. On the other hand, you don’t want it to be too short and unable to stand out among a variety of other blog topics.
List-Making
When making lists, it’s always nice to keep it to the few most important points and say it all within the header. For example, when looking at “Different Ways To Bake A Cake” versus “5 Ways To Bake The Perfect Birthday Cake”, which one would you rather read?
The point is, you could very well have all of the essential elements in a blog. But if the title doesn’t grab the attention of the reader, they’ll never know because they won’t read it at all.
How-Tos
It’s okay to spell out headlines with words like “How To” if that’s what your blog is about. In fact, if someone is looking up “how to change my oil”, they may be more inclined to click the one that says, “How To Change Your Oil In 7 Easy Steps”.
A headline that includes its intention is way more helpful than one that is too vague or unclear such as, “Changing The Oil Of A Car”. There is no excitement or defined direction of where this type of blog will go.
Technical Writing
When you’re writing more technical pieces, this is where you’ll want to be a bit more information-heavy. These types of headlines should be straight to the point and descriptive. This means your headline should be descriptive enough for it to grab the attention of someone within the industry who’s also familiar with the material.
2. Captivating Introduction
Pull your audience in. Tell a short story, hit them with a fun (or shocking) fact, and make them want to learn more. You can do yourself and your readers a lot of good by starting with a lighthearted anecdote before diving into the details.
A solid introduction should be under 300 words, long enough to fill out the beginning but short enough to prevent any rambling. And of course, end with a call to action (CTA) in case your reader makes a quick decision based on your brilliant writing.
3. Balance of H2, H3, and H4 Headers
What would you rather read… one block of text of over 1,000 words? OR 1,000 words broken up into helpful tidbits along the way?
Even with all of the other essential elements in a blog, long blocks of text are unsightly and boring. In addition, they can be confusing for someone who is trying to read quickly and stay on track. Break them up with smaller headlines and, on occasion, bullets to make it flow better.
These types of headers combined with keywords can also give your SEO ranking the push it needs to reach your reader’s top search pages when they’re looking for expert advice.
4. Featuring Image (With Alt Text)
Also known as alt tags or alt descriptions, images with alt text help increase your SEO ranking. It also helps those who are visually impaired know what an image is without being able to fully see it. Alt text on your images can also assist readers if your image glitches or appears broken. There won’t simply be an empty space there; text will let readers know something is there.
5. Featured Keyword or Keyphrase
Having a keyword or keyphrase within your blog is critical to its relevance and ranking. If you use a keyword or phrase correctly, you can increase your views and bump up your website’s ranking.
But be careful! For example, if you own an auto shop and write a blog on the most common causes of a check engine light, the phrase “check engine light” may be your go-to keyword phrase. But if you use it too much and too often, your blog can be flagged for “keyword stuffing”. However, there’s an easy fix. Go ahead and use the key phrase 5-6 times (based on a 1,000-1,500 word blog). Then, use phrases such as “check engine signal”, “check engine alert”, or “check engine warning” to add some variety and get the SEO police off your back.
6. Links
Similar to using keywords and phrases, adding links throughout your blog can advance your website’s ranking. However, links also give your readers more resources and information as they read along. This is especially great if you’re using your blog to inform your audience and sell them on something you know can help.
Links can also be a great way to cite sources, take your audience straight to your list of services, and assist them in exploring outside of your blog.
7. Actionable Call To Action
Sprinkle in a few CTAs throughout your blog that apply to your topic or offer a service related to its subject.
For instance, you may be writing a blog about blog writing for businesses (wink wink). Take the time to save your audience from doing their own deep-dive and present them with comprehensive copywriting services tailored to their needs within the same line or paragraph.
This is a sleek and simple way to guide your audience where you want them to go without shoving a loud ad in their face as they read.
Crunched For Time With No Room For Writing?
Call the one-stop-shop copywriting team. Because we completely understand when you’re pressed for time but need your marketing and other writing assets on par with your business. Elements such as website writing, blogs, email marketing, and so many other assets shouldn’t go neglected. We’ll take the time you don’t have to come up with creative solutions for your writing needs.
Interested in learning more? Contact us today and we’ll find a way to work together.
