3 Blog Writing Tips for People Who Aren’t Copywriters

At this point, almost every company under the sun has some sort of blog. And for good reason! Blogs allow businesses to introduce new products and services, to educate their audience, and to boost their online presence. However, not every company has the budget to hire a copywriter (or multiple copywriters) to handle their blog-writing efforts in-house. As such, sometimes inexperienced writers may find themselves in the position where they need to write a blog. If this situation sounds familiar, then this post is for you. Here are three tips you can use to write an effective blog no matter your experience level or writing ability. Check it out:

Keep it Simple

There’s a tendency among inexperienced writers to “overcook” content. Yet, writing a long, sprawling introduction will likely do more harm than good. The same can be said for using arcane vocabulary terms. Rather than trying to dazzle your readers, keep things simple. Focus on one or two points you want to make in the blog. Create an outline to help you stay on topic. Then wrap things up by repeating your core points. One final note: avoid using long sentences if you can. Sticking to short, declarative sentences is almost always the best way forward for a blog.

Proofread & Edit Carefully

Don’t try to edit your writing as you write. Trying to correct your mistakes when writing can cause you to lose your train of thought and disrupt the flow of your work. While editing and proofreading are important, they’re best done well after you’re done writing. Also, take time to read your work out loud. This will help you spot any glaring errors or omissions. Lastly, have another coworker proofread your work before you post it. Just having a second pair of eyes on your content will be massively beneficial.

Think of Your Audience

A good blog isn’t for your boss. Or your coworkers. Or even for you. No, a good blog is for your ideal customer. It’s for an online consumer who has a question about your company, industry, or services. Never forget this fact. It’s vital to create a blog that resonates with your audience. So how do you do that? By addressing a problem they encounter. Of course, your blog’s focus will vary depending on the nature of your company. For instance, this blog from the Northwest Surgery Center addresses an FAQ about bunions. In contrast, this Hubspot blog is all about link building. No matter the subject of your blog, the content should serve to educate, inform, and provide value for your readers. If it doesn’t do that, then you need to go back to the drawing board.

Conclusion

Writing a blog for the first time can be very stressful, but, thankfully, practicing every day will help you improve your communication skills over time. The more you work at it, the better you’ll become!