Being a new blogger can be terrifying. Am I making any spelling mistakes? Are people interested in what I’m blogging about and am I structuring my blog correctly? Without guidance, blogging can be stressful and can create a great deal of anxiety which is why it’s important to understand how to blog properly. In my post today, I will be reflecting on 3 essential aspects that make up an effective blog.
Before I begin, I’d like to mention that I am not an expert. Honestly, I am a newcomer to the blogging world. I attend Advertising and Marketing Communications at St Lawrence College and was given this assignment by my Writing for Marketing Communications teacher. Luckily, I’ve been taught from the best and have been given the knowledge to share my thoughts on the subject of effective blogging. So now that we’ve gotten that out of the way, let’s begin.
Use a concise, relevant lead paragraph that summarizes your post
Starting a blog can be very difficult. In many cases, I have found that the introduction can be the hardest part of blogging because it’s the paragraph that contains the most elements. It doesn’t matter if you’ve written an amazing blog post, if your opening paragraph isn’t done correctly, you will lose the reader’s attention and he/she will not continue to read. That’s why the opening paragraph is important and should include:
- The hook to draw the reader in
- A transition sentence relating the hook to your thesis
- A thesis (summary of what the blog will be about)
Without these 3 elements, your introductory paragraph will fail to draw in the reader and lack proper information.
Keep Posts Short (300 to 500 words)
Have you ever been assigned a reading so long that it seemed to never end? Yeah… there is nothing worse than that, right? To make sure you don’t lose your reader half way through your blog post, ensure that your posts are short and concise. Try to range your posts from around 300 to 500 words, that way it will not be too short nor will it be overbearingly long.
Make body paragraphs scannable with headings and bulleted lists
Structuring your blogs format is a key element to an effective blog post. Without structure, your post will be a big ball of confusion. Block format should always be used as it keeps the post looking clean and organized. If you have multiple points you’d like to get across to the reader, it is important to use headings as it makes it easier to find certain information. Another tip to keep your blog looking organized and structured is to create bullet lists for information with 3 or more points.
Blogging can be a difficult task but if done properly, a blog can be the best way to distribute information. It’s important to structure your writing, keep your posts short and start with a bang. If you follow these simple instructions, you’ll be sure to have yourself a properly structured blog that’ll knock the socks off any reader!
For more information on how to blog properly, check out this awesome website on the importance of structure when blogging!
The Road to a Happy Heart 