It is the desire of every blogger to write a blog post that engages their readers in the best way possible.
We always want to write the best content there is. To do so, we need to understand the best ingredients of great content.
We naturally possess this unexplained desire to see our readers immediately connect with our posts.
We want them to have a feeling that, ‘these folks behind the screens' are real people having a deeply immersing one-on-one conversation with them over a coffee table, on the matter at hand.
But do you have to be a literary genius to engage your readers in your posts? Not really. Just connect. How?
Arm yourself with these ten ingredients of great content (and a bonus point) and you would be on the right track to earning your readers' trust and loyalty.
1. Great Content! Junk Begets Junk…
Poorly written blog posts will never generate leads, earn traffic, sell or earn loyalty.
The internet is saturated with tonnes of useless posts already. To fish from the internet sphere, you need to spice things up with content that is hard to come by. Great Posts is one of the ingredients of great content which should never miss in your recipe
Readers will always pick and enjoy a great post that serves their needs. Whether to get informed, ridiculed, entertained or inspired.. They want to be involved with every post that they lay their hands on. Therefore, by understanding and empathizing with your readers, you’ll inevitably develop a following for your blog.
If you provide very useful information like folks at The CopyBlogger, then your readers will stay on your site longer, as well as visit often. Great contents often trigger your visitors to click those “Share This Buttons.” This way, your rankings will go up.
2. Great headlines and subheadings.
There is something magical with brief, catchy and well-thought-out magnetic titles.
Use appealing headlines in all your blog posts. Include power words as well as figures in your titles.
Instead of “Ways to Improve Your Website Ranking” think of, “Eleven Powerful and Proven Ways to Improve Your Website Rankings.”
The latter tends to get more clicks because of its weight or what I like referring to it as, ‘magnetic power'
Once you have captured a lazy reader’s attention, don’t let them scroll their eyes and stop reading. Instead, bring in subtitles.
Subtitles bring out structured and purposeful outlines, making it easy to scan through the content.
3. Write a Blog Post With a Clear Purpose
We write to communicate a particular point (s).
When your article has a point, it gives readers something memorable to latch onto. They are more compelled to share it, comment on it, and engage with it.
Learn to write a blog post that accomplishes a particular objective and mission. Are you seeking to inform, entertain, educate, or inspire?
The ‘Purpose' is the subject matter of your blog posts. If a reader reads through your entire article and fails to figure out what it was all about, then you would have failed as a messenger.
Keep it simple. You don’t want to scare your readers with big vocabularies and figures. Be sensitive, responsive, respectful, non-judgmental and fun. Do not over think.
Stick to brevity and simplicity. It always pays.
4. Originality is the Key Secret to Great Contents
Originality is arguably one of the most important ingredients of great content any expert blogger will advise you to sort of ‘acquire.'
Think outside the box when writing a blog post. You have to ‘capture' your readers' minds with something unique, crafted with lots of creativity.
Carry out a thorough research on a particular niche and publish the results. That work is new, it’s yours and is totally original. Researched work is killer content which gets more links and shares. The work is more credible and detailed.
You might also like: Simple Tips to Write an eBook That Achieves its Purpose
If you are doing your research online, and not using surveys, then the key secret to avoid plagiarism is to use multiple sources, pick the main points and then write in your words from the scratch. Both Google and your users are madly in love with great and unique content. Offer them!
Never plagiarize someone's else work. In fact, do not even duplicate your own work. This is what a friend of mine terms it as ‘Self-plagiarism.' Google and other search engines are getting clever every day, and you need to cope up with the pace. Search engines detests duplicate contents, you should too.
5. Find Your Personal Voice and Use it.
Blogging is a personal adventure. Don't do things the way everyone else is doing.
In writing, use your voice. Shakespeare wrote a sensational story about falling deeply in love with someone on ‘the other side of the tracks.’ He used his voice to engage the audience. Detached perspective when writing a blog post will disconnect your readers from your story.
While you will learn a lot from the expert bloggers like The Blog Tyrant, and Problogger, do not imitate their styles of writing. Stick to your own voice as what your readers value the most is your sincerity.
Your voice adds on to your business brand. So don't ruin it by doing it someone else's way.
6. Emotional triggers.
Let your readers feel it. Let them share in the joys and sorrows of your great content. They will be enthusiastic to read more from you, and they will always remember the detailed descriptions that caught their eyes.
A Great content or Perfect Content is typically one which is relevant, unique and informative.
Think of a relevant story, whether funny or sad that matches your content. Using analogies to introduce a topic dear to your readers will keep them glued to their screens.
7. Stick to the truth.
No matter how good you are at telling lies that blind, the truth matters. Want to tell a story to color your content? Fine. Tell a true story.
Want to illustrate a point? Great. Share research that can be traced and substantiated. Want to state your opinion? All good. Just make sure you state that’s what it is. While writing a blog post, the truth gives credibility.
The fun bit about blogging is that you do not have to know everything. So long as you don't stop learning, you will always have something to say or a genuine way to respond to readers feedback.
8. Don’t let your attention wander.
Blabbing on and on while writing a blog post will make you lose transition and flow. Do not write a blog post with a million ideas in it, your readers will definitely get lost.
Also, don’t be too monotonous, play with words here and there. Stay focused and hold your reader's gaze.
9. Share-ability: Ingredients of Great Content
People are prone to share. It's almost like, “Write a great blog post, and someone will share it.”
Well, that's not always the case, but you hope that someone will.
Having your content shared might even be the ultimate indication of its greatness. Several people are likely to stumble upon a shared post, read it, find out that it is actually worth sharing, and they go right ahead to share.
So, make it simple for your readers to share.
Display share bars that are easy to find and use. Feed readers’ suggestions and shortcuts for sharing your content.
There are several plug-ins that can help you do this:
- Social Warfare
- SumoMe Share
- Image Sharer
- Easy Social Share Buttons for Wordpress
- WP Social Sharing
- Shareaholic
10. Optimization of Your Content for Search Engines
Having been in the content creation for a while, I can confidentially say that SEO is one of the key ingredients of great content when it comes to digital marketing that yields results
While you may have a decent mailing list and an active approach to sharing your content via social media, the best way to find new readers over the long haul is to earn a spot on SERPs (Search Engines Results Pages.)
Learn to Optimize your blog posts for search engines. You have to understand Search Engine Optimization, apply on-page optimization tactics and most important ranking factors.
Mastering SEO (search engines optimization) takes time. You don't need to wreck yourself when you are not getting it though. Besides, there are lots of free information packaged as eBooks, blog posts from reputable sources that can really be of ultimate help.
To start with, ensure that you have some reputable SEO plug-ins such as Word Press SEO by Yoast installed on your website
This is a must have plug-in for all bloggers. It's pretty simple to use. While writing a post, you can always check your SEO status after setting your focus keyword. You do not need to have everything right, but a Yoast rating of “Good” is worth working for.
In fact, if you have some bucks to spend, I recommend you purchase SEO for Wordpress eBook by Yoast.
Important Bonus Point:
11. Go for Long Content.
I can't emphasize this enough. Long content is continuously becoming very important in engaging your readers and even having them coming back for more.
With great long content, you are able to provide valuable information to your readers. All-in-one posts.
Simply structure your posts into sections and place a good table of contents at the beginning of the post. If you are a new blogger, aim for at least 1000 words.
Writing long contents triggers some sweat, and some folks are not willing. Seize the chance! If you grab this opportunity, then you are more likely to stand out.
Most people are looking for the strategy, tactic or strategy but there isn't one. Go for the painful path, as it is the only one that is truly rewarding.
Conclusion:
Writing great content is something within your reach. If you want to write a blog post that will attract a huge traffic, you have to start using the above ingredients. They will prove worthwhile in the long run.
Which ingredients of great content that you personally use?
I am interested! Let me know in the comments section. #Cheers!
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76 Responses
awesome Mysson… optimization for search engines is tricky
To some extent I agree, thought it doesn’t have to be.
Thanks Martha for visiting my blog and leaving a nice comment.
Thanks for sharing
Hey Adina, you most welcomed.
Thanks for reading too
Yes and Yes. This is a great article and I plan on filing it for reference for personal helps with writing articles! Everything you said it spot on~
Hey Angie, thanks for visiting my blog and leaving a nice comment. I am glad this post was helpful to you. The very best
#cheere 🙂
Great tips. Most of them have to do with using yourself as the platform, i.e., using emotions, using your voice, etc. I think when we do that it makes the post even more powerful. Thank you for sharing!
That’s very true. You most welcomed, and the very best in your blogging journey.
Thanks for reading through this post.
Writing longer content is something I need to work on. I tend to like shorter blog posts as a reader and don’t want to feel like I’m rambling or repeating. Great tips!
Really great tips here, Victor! So much to keep in mind as we write blog posts, but this really helps simplify
I agree Bruce, so much to keep in mind. I am glad this post helped break it down.
Thanks for visiting my blog and dropping a comment.
Hi Victor,
I appreciate this post so much! It was very helpful. I’m definitely going to start typing longer content. Very smart of you!
XO,
Victoria
Hey Victoria,
You most welcomed. I am glad it was helpful. Long content will reward you in the long run, trust me 🙂
Thanks for visiting my blog and leaving such a nice comment.
Much blessings sings
Interesting post
All bloggers should read this .Thank u
Hey Geek. Thanks so much for reading. this post, and leaving a nice comment.
This is great! I’m going to try to incorporate subheadings into my posts. It is good for the eye. I’m also working on how many words so your target of 1000 helps a lot. Thanks!
Hey Kristin, thanks for visiting my website and signing off with a kind words. Subheadings are great and long contents are superb. The very best, and let me know it goes.
Thanks again
Great pointers! I will definitely have to implements some of them. Thanks for sharing your point of view.
Hey Sheryl… Thanks too for reading through this post.
Happy blogging 🙂
Using these tips for my posts!
Thanks for the readership Noorain, and hey
Happy blogging 🙂
hey Victor thanks for that helpfull article ..good work ..
Thanks too Ramiz…
Great advice. Thank you.
Thanks Nicol
Happy blogging 🙂
These are some great tips… always on the lookout for ways to increase engagement and improve..
Thanks Sabeeka for visiting my blog and leaving a nice comment. Engaged readers are lovely, believe me. I am glad these tips were helpful
As a new blogger this post was very informational. There was things in this post that I didn’t even realize. So with the information that I just learned I’m going to apply it to my blog.
Hey Donnie, welcome to the blogging world and the very best.
I am glad that this post was very helpful to you. Thanks so much for reading and leaving behind these kind words, 5hey surely mean slot 🙂
thanks for sharing this information! Very useful to those who are new to blogging.
Awesome Ideas! As a growing blogger, I will definitely make sure to use them!
Thanks so much Swati. Apply them and let me know how it goes
These are some great tips! Thanks for sharing!
Hey Mariah,
Thanks for reading through this post. I am glad you loved the tips.
Happy blogging
Great tips here. Thanks for the insight.
Hey Dorine, much thanks
Thanks for the great info, heading into my sixth month of blogging and trying to soak up and learn as much as I can.
Hey Cecil, am glad you read this. As a blogger, there is really a lot to take in, but believe me, it’s worth the process.
Happy blogging
I agree with all of these tips you suggested. Blogging can be quite a hobby but it’s also challenging, you need to be a good content creator.
Claire, that’s very true. Thanks so much for reading through and leaving a comment.
Thanks so much! I will use these tips for my blog 🙂
You most welcomed Farah, and the very best in your journey.
May the internet be with you 🙂
I run a community full of bloggers on discord and think I’ll make some of these ingredients the topic for our next meeting on Saturday… thanks!
Hey, that’s so interesting. Thanks so much.
Great tips that are very practical and informative! Thanks!
Thanks Sarah. Happy blogging!
Hi Victor! Thanks for sharing this great post. Definitely a useful tool for both new and veteran bloggers. I look forward to reading what you write next!
-Meg
Hey Meg,
That’s really so kind of you. I am glad this post was of some help.
See you here soon. 🙂
Hi Victor! Thanks for sharing this great post. Definitely a useful tool for both new and veteran bloggers. I look forward to reading what you write next!
-Meg
I so needed this kind of inspiration right now.
For some time, I have been doing more of reading than publishing a post.
And coming across this equips me for my next post.
Thanks Victor.
Hey Hildah, nice to see you here. Thanks for reading this and dropping a nice comment. I am glad it did inspire you. Let me know when you hit, ‘publish’ your next post. Happy blogging
Hello Victor,
Please let me first of all recommend you for the insights you’ve shared with us(your readers). The question I kept asking myself was this: Which ingredient(s) am I lacking? And of course I now know where I am lacking now.
Hi Victor,
Great tips on writing a great blog post. I totally agree with out about not trying to be anyone else. I’ve taken that stance from the very start of my blog post.
It’s taken me a while to find my voice. I think that every time I create a new blog post, I am continually improving my writing and my voice.
It definitely takes some time to get comfortable with putting yourself out there. Bloggers who follow this advice will have a better chance of succeeding.
Thanks for sharing these tips with us, have a great day 🙂
Susan
Thanks so much Susan for quite an insightful comment.
Great guidelines Victor. Thanks a lot for sharing. This will help me a great deal as I prepare to publish my first post. Cheers!
You welcome Edward, Congratulations and the very best in your blogging journey
Such a helpful article! Thank you so much for sharing this with me!! 🙂
You are most welcome Maddy
Wow this is too awesome mysson… Great work you are doing here.
Thanks Lynncy
I am glad you liking the platform
Keep doing what you are doing…..
Thanks Lynncy. Sure, I will. I hope to read you soon as well
Great content. I really learned a lot from this blog post
Thanks so much Evans.
The very best
Very helpful, this is a very useful recipe for cooking a successful site
Thanks so much Phanis. Happy Holidays
Thanks, Victor.
Useful tips as always. I am working on improving headlines and subheadings. One thing that I struggle with is originality. Not in the sense of non-plagiarised work, but in the sense of writing a post that is unique. There are so many articles out there on the topics that come naturally to me, so I try to write something that people will read without thinking, “Not another one”!
Thanks so much Marilyn. I agree that headlines and subheadlines are very critical, yet sometimes a bit complicated. In fact, most of these giant companies have the same problem. Forbes and even Entrepreneur actually split test several titles for a blog post to determine which one people are likely to click on the most.
Uniqueness is also the issue. I recommend that you outsource all of your critical points before delving into a research.
Thanks again. Always great to see you here 🙂
A great read. A long piece that articulates everything well
Thanks so much Parmenas. I am glad you found it useful
I love every bit of this post. Thank you for sharing.
Welcome Chima. Thanks for your comment
I have just browsed through the above post,I must say it is quite concise and actionable for one who wants to activate their writing juices in the right manner in the world wide web. Poignant may be an understatement.
Thanks Andrews for reading and leaving a comment
The article was very informative and right on point thanks for sharing it was worth reading.
Thanks Nancy. I am glad that you found it quite helpful. I hope you are learning the ropes and bettering your writings everyday. Can’t wait to read your blog