It’s no secret that I love blogging, and I want everyone to love it too. That’s why I’m bringing you my fool-proof method for how to write a blog post.

Original photo byTyler Nix

Now. It’s worth noting that there are tons of resources out there on the subject. So, if you’re a professional marketer looking for how to effectively blog about your company, this may not be for you. Afterall, I’ve written about armpit vodka, my personal fuck bucket, and the time I re-enacted Mad Max: Fury Road on I-44. So, if your company ain’t cool with this, then I won’t be offended if you use a different resource.

But if you’re looking to get into blogging for your personal brand, I have your back. And while not all of my posts follow this format, you’ll find that the vast majority of them do. I like this structure for a number of reasons, but mostly because it conveys what I want, and it’s easy for my audience to consume.

And while I will acknowledge that this isn’t the only way to do it, this is what’s working for me right now.

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How to Write a Blog Post

001: A Solid Introduction with the Keyword.

While I love literary works that meander at the beginning to firmly ground the reader in the story world, there’s no time for that with a blog post. Your first two sentences should tell the reader what it is your going to tell them for the rest of the post, and those first two sentences need to contain your long-tail keyword. Also, I’ve heard tell that if you put that long-tail keyword in bold, it makes it easier for the Google spiders to find your SEO terms. If you want more information on the SEO side of blogging, you should check out this e-course.

002: A Pinnable Image.

Blogging is a visual medium. And even though it’s a ton of text on the screen, you need to have an image that conveys your meaning. And because Pinterest is a monster of a search engine, you want an image that attracts pinners. I take original photos on occasion, but mostly I use Unsplash. Those images are beautiful and free. Then, I have a copy of Photoshop Elements that I use to put text on the images, and re-size for various social platforms.

003: The Meat and Potatoes.

This is the section where you say what you’re actually going to say. You’ve stated the main gist of your post in the introduction. That was the amuse-bouche. Everyone is salivating for your tasty content now. So give them a hearty helping of meat and potatoes. This is where you’d put in the list of things for them to do, or lay out your argument.

The meat and potatoes can take several forms, and honestly, it all depends on what it is you’re trying to accomplish with the post. The key here is to be aware of your audience and what they need. (Side note: Writing with your audience in mind is probably the most important thing to remember when it comes to written communication.) If you’re concerned that maybe you don’t know what your audience wants, don’t hesitate to do a blog reader survey. I keep meaning to do one of these. Is 2018 the year that I do? Maybe! Stay tuned.

004: The Come At Me Bro

A more mature blogger would call this the “call to action.” I don’t call it that. “Call to action” sounds like a marketing term, and the only thing I hate more than marketing jargon is sales jargon.

This is where you tell your readers what they should do. Whether you’re encouraging them to to take the next steps, or issuing a challenge, or just asking a simple question, the Come At Me Bro is where to you puff up your chest and encourage your audience to do something with the information you’ve just given them.

Do You Know How to Write a Blog Post?

So, I know that a lot of my readers are bloggers themselves! So tell me in the comments how you like to write a blog post! And there will not be extra credit awarded to the person who points out in this post where the intro, pinnable image, meat and potatoes, and come at me bro are.

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