Ten Ways to Write Great Blog Posts That Get Attention

Millions of blogs fight for readership online (over 75year will lose your reader's interest faster than you
million by some counts), with thousands more beingcan say "Enron."
created every day. Making yours stand above the rest5. Be bold. Timidity is an easy path to anonymity. Do
may seem like a daunting task, but here are tennot be afraid to create and state your opinions. Of
suggestions for making your blog posts stand out fromcourse, there are some situations in which objectivity
the crowd.rules-but you have to give people a reason to read
1. Write each post title so it grabs the reader'sthis blog by you and not by the person next door.
attention. It is the first thing someone reads, and it6. Be accurate. If you make a statement, be prepared
should get your reader's attention right away. Your titleto back it up. Know what your sources are and quote
should both pique the reader's interest and bethem accurately. Misinformation spreads like wildfire
informative. Do not write "Business Writing Advice";online; do not be the spark that sets it off or the wind
instead, say "The Best-Kept Secret to Reducing Yourthat fans it.
Business Writing Worries." Longer titles have the7. Contribute to the conversation. Links are great-but
advantage of describing in detail what your post isthen what? Do not just post links to the same tired
about; 8-12 words are a good range.sites, offer your reader something new. Contribute to
2. Keep sentences short and clear. A little goes a longthe conversation. Your goal is to be the site to which
way. Readers are busy people and they will not spendeveryone else is linking-so you had better have
hours detangling complex syntax or sifting throughsomething worth writing about.
blocks of text. Also, use strong language. Start a new8. Stay focused. Once you have defined the theme of
paragraph every few sentences, and limit each post toyour blog, stick to it. A blog about piggy banks has no
250 words, if possible. If you cannot write it in underbusiness posting about the latest innovation in
250 words, split it into two entries.alternative energy. Such a deviance will only confuse
3. Break up the text. Use numbered lists, bullet points,your reader and chip away at your virtual authority.
and subheadings to make your posts easy to scan.9. Use key words liberally. Keywords are, well, key.
Lots of white space on the page is a good thing-itHarness your blog's search engine potential by dousing
allows your reader to take mental breaks and let theyour title and post with effective keywords that will
knowledge soak in. In addition, with the inevitable clutterhelp interested parties find your page in the vast,
of banner ads and side text, this technique puts somemuddled blogosphere. This is one of the most
distance between your writing and all thoseimportant elements of getting your blog read-go at it
distractions.with gusto.
4. Keep current. No one wants to read old news. Your10. Be consistent. Keep a schedule and stick to it. Post
job is to stay up-to-date so your readers do not havefrequently-at least several times per week if you want
to themselves. Read newspapers. Scour the web forto increase your potential of attracting new readers.
references. For example, if you write a blog aboutLet your blog languish for weeks without updates and
business communication, subscribe to Google Newsyour audience will move on to fresher ground.
Alerts using keywords related to the field, such asMaintaining an informative blog that people want to
blogs, podcasting, instant messaging, business letters,read takes hard work and good writing skills. Find what
memos, and business reports, so you will always bemakes your writing unique-and flaunt it for all it is worth.
well informed. Posting items from last month or last