How To Create A Home Run Post
written by Jane May on June 10th, 2007
There are many bloggers out there that are blogging as a hobby or to make money online. Regardless of your cause, every blogger wants to write a successful post. Writing a blog post is different than the writing you used to do in school. Obviously, there are things that you have to do so your post makes sense (introduction, message, conclusion); but instead of worrying about the details, take a look at the following items that you want to make sure you cover in your post in order for it to be a home run:
- Have a must-read title. Every title must be descriptive of your post’s content. However, make the title something that cannot be passed up. For example, if you are giving SEO tips, a title might be “6 Untapped SEO Secrets.” That’s a lot more captivating than “6 SEO Tips.”
- Talk with your readers. You want your post to be interactive and not a set of demands you are ordering everyone to do. Blogging is a two way street and you want to create a conversation through your text and comments. You want to imagine that you are talking to a friend when you blog. You can use simple vocabulary that everyone can understand.
- Get to the point. A post doesn’t have to be an essay to be a successful post. No one wants to read a book when it’s meant to be a post. There is no minimum length requirement with blog posts so feel free to get to the point. One way to do this is by incorporating lists into your posts. People like skimming for interesting items. It’s possible to cover these valuable points in just a few words.
- Stay on track. Make sure every sentence relates back to the central idea. You don’t want to see a pretty bird and go off on a tangent.
- What’s in it for me? I personally don’t like reading something that I thought was going to be about one topic and ends up being about another. It just doesn’t bring any value to me. Make what you write a benefit to your readers. If you write what everyone else writes about in the same exact way, how will that bring more value to your readers than the next blog? You want to answer the questions your readers will ask when thinking about writing your post.
- Capture your audience. You want to write so people will read your posts. Again, use catchy headlines and ask your readers questions. This will promote interaction in the comments and you can get more material to write about from those comments. What ever you write, make sure you have your own personal voice behind it. Be sure to include your opinion or observations. It allows readers to relate to you on a more personal level.
This post was guest blogged by Jane May. She teaches readers how to create and monetize blogs on Daily Web Ideas.
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Excellent tips Jane. It only takes one post to make a site great. Think about the success John has had based on his “Google whores” post.
Reply to this commentWell, the term Google Whores doesn’t really comply to rule #5 above. Some people actually expect such an article to be about a new Google section that searches for certain ’services’
Reply to this commentBut if you are John Chow, you can get away with murder
Reply to this commentGood point Kumiko - I found John’s blog through one of his posts, found it interesting and subscribed. I’ve been reading ever since!
Reply to this commentIt takes more than one to make a site great, but one can bring a lot of attention. The Google Whores posts is indeed the one that brought me here.
Reply to this commentGood points Jane..and good mention Kumiko…that’s how I found the site!
Reply to this commentGreat tips, and it looks like you have a nice blog
Reply to this commentThanks!
Reply to this commentMr. John Chow this post was an eye opener
i am very soon going to open my own blog monetizing blog can u tell me three important things:
1. How can i get good pr quick?
2. Assuming an initial load of 200-300 which web hosting should i prefer
3. Do you think my blog can make a killing with 200-300 visits a day
digging this post of urs as a thank you in advance
Reply to this commentNitesh - you should check out John’s ebook. It has a lot of the info you’re looking for:
http://www.johnchow.com/make-money-online-with-john-chow-dot-com-e-book/
Reply to this commentNitesh - just my thoughts - shouldn’t you gain some more experience blogging before creating a “blog monetizing blog”?
Reply to this commentthanks, interesting stuff i now know
Reply to this commentMost of the points I read in some point or another somewhere else or by John Chow himself.
However, it’s always nice to see someone reminding you what you should know.
Reply to this commentEspecially since many new readers don’t read through the archives here…the messages may stay lost…oh wait, there’s an ebook
Reply to this commentGreat post and nice blog
Reply to this commentThanks Jane.These are very good tips and indeed a must read for newbies like me.
Reply to this commentBlogging certainly isn’t as easy as it first seems.
There’s an art to capturing your audience and writing in a style that is both informative but assertive, and without the whole ego trip that many bloggers find they have (Whether they intend it or not, it happens).
There are many bloggers who have quality content to write, but if it’s not written in the perfect manner it becomes an almost worthless post.
Good points, Jane. My own posts are by no means perfect, so hopefully reading and acting on your points will product some better quality posts from me in future.
Thanks!
Reply to this commentYou’re right, blogging is an art but it’s also business at the same time.
Reply to this commentI can’t agree more. I’ve quit on blogging many times and have now just started to blog consistently.
Reply to this commentHope you stick with it this time Mason
Reply to this commentYou never run out of smart things to say, do you Jane May? See, you even made me rhyme! Great tips for both beginners and those who’ve been at it for a while but can’t seem to get their blog off the ground.
Reply to this commentThe way to find what works for a person is by trying different things. It’s only then that someone finds what works best for them and their specific situation.
Reply to this commentCollect and select, try until you succeed — I hear you.
Reply to this commentGreat Tips Jane.This is a must read for newbies like me.
Reply to this commentJane excellent post, these tips are very useful for all bloggers. I will be using these tips in my future posts.
Reply to this commentGreat! You’ll be hitting home runs in no time
Reply to this commentI’ve read your ebook today and i find it fantastic tips for blogging. I’ve also subscribe your feed now. Thanks
Reply to this commentI’m assuming you mean John since my ebook isn’t out yet
Reply to this commentA few bloggers (like me ;-)) ought to re-read this post several times, thnaks.
Always take into account the internationality of language, too. English is my only language, so you would think that would make it easy for me to write for those who also have English as a first lanaguage. Think again.
“Tangent” is a very good example. To many English speakers “going on a tangent” means to see “a pretty bird” and deviate from a direct path to their conclusion. But one of the book definitions of “tangent”, as well as a very common useage in engineering, world-wide, is “a straight line, the shortest distance between two points”. Hmmm.
So with rambling writers we wish they would not go off on a tangent … or do we?
Reply to this commentIt helps to ask yourself when you reread your post as to whether or not some sentences are even required. If you can get your points across and keep the value of your content up then cut out the crap and trim the fat!
Another rhyme!
Reply to this commentWell said!
Reply to this commentit really is a great post for bloggers,
Reply to this commentsimple but hit the main point.
anyway,the title is everything - make a attractive keywords title to feed your readers and Google!
yea I think that’s what my blog is lacking as well(among other things). My titles are so boring.
Reply to this commentAlso to put those high paying keywords in your post titles so you can drive traffic and make money!
Reply to this commentI will be back tracking this post wow great work.
Reply to this commentThanks Victor!
Reply to this commentYou know what I like about this post? I can just read the bold and know exactly what this post is about.
Reply to this commentThe Art Of Blogging.
Reply to this commentVery helpful post. Was much more interested to read it than if it was called “Tips to Writing a Good Blog Post”
Reply to this commentGreat post. It’s always a good idea to brush up on the basics
Reply to this commentInteresting stuff. I like it! For a beginning blogger like myself, I think these are great tips that I’m going to try to incorporate from now on.
Reply to this commentI definitely need to get better at titles.
Reply to this commentDo you try to cook up a title before writing the rest of your post or do you do it the other way around? I’ve tried both — sometimes it just comes to me without even trying, other times I can’t think of a catchy one for the love of me.
Reply to this commentAs normal, a great post from you Jane! Most bloggers I know don’t know the importance of making good titles on their posts. I always tell them to go to the airport and head over to the magazines stand. “See how interesting they make their topics”..
Reply to this commentAh, the age old magazine stand! For those having trouble, that can be an effective approach to writing captivating titles.
Reply to this commentGreat post John. I appreciate your advice!
Reply to this commentSome good thoughts there Jane May.
About the originality of the topic thing, I would like to add there is no harm in writing about something which is being written by dozens of other people too, but you have to make sure that you un-cover some stuff that others don’t. This type of thing usually makes people loyal visitors to your blog.
Reply to this commentand that’s exactly where the being original thing comes in.
Reply to this commentHi Jane!
Great tips, I should be using them
Thanks,
Reply to this commentRoseate
Internet Business Promotion And Opportunities
When can I be a Google Whore?
Reply to this commentHi Jane,
You have good ideas. Thank you for sharing!
Kelly
Reply to this comment