How to write an amazing article or blog post

How can you write a great article or blog post that is easy to read, has a compelling introduction and answers your readers’ questions? 

These 7 tips can help you write compelling articles or blog posts that will captivate your readers and delight your clients. 

1. Highlight a common problem

People read content for the value it offers. For business blogs, that usually means a solution to a problem. By highlighting a pain point in your introduction, you immediately grab the readers’ attention. It tells them they’re in the right place. You understand their problem.

Once you’ve agitated the pain point, you need to deliver a solution in the rest of your content.

2. Open strong

Your introduction is super important. It convinces people to keep reading or sends them back to the search results page or to read something else. Make sure every word counts

3. Tell readers what to expect

When you agitate a pain point, you start a ticking clock. If you don’t tell your audience how you will help, they will quickly lose patience and bounce off. 

Few visitors read content from start to finish. By telling your audience what to expect, you make it easier to answer the reader’s question: Is this worth my time?

4. Create some conflict 

Conflict is the essence of drama. Anyone who has studied Confrontation helps in creating tension and engaging the audience.

When it comes to blog post introductions, you can create confrontation by challenging a long-held belief or strategically taking aim at a controversial issue in your niche.

A confrontational introduction typically results in three reactions:

• Readers disagree.
• Readers agree.
• Readers wonder why you are challenging the topic.

In all three cases, they keep reading to find out more. They are going to want to know how you reached that conclusion.

5. Explain the benefits

Some people read a blog post because they want to learn something that will help them to improve their lives. Whether it’s instructions on how to make pancakes or a guide on how to increase customer retention, your readers want results.

6. Ask a question

When you ask a question in your introduction, you invite the reader to ponder an answer. You actively think about the topic from the outset.

When you use a question in your introduction, you must back it up with an answer or answers in the content.

7. Use a quote

Quotes can be a great way to lend credibility and create a compelling lede ^[1],

A quote can back up your thesis and provide a framework to structure the rest of your content.

A quote can summarize a conventional belief or best practice and construct a counterargument in your content.

Avoid quotations overused in your niche (a la “content is king” in marketing). Use quotes from unexpected voices or source original quotes from thought leaders.

Summary: Writing your article or blog post in 6 easy steps. 

1. Step 1: Plan your article or blog post ^[2]
   by choosing a topic, creating an outline, conducting research, and checking facts.
2. Step 2: Craft a headline that is both informative and will capture readers’ attention. 
3. Step 3: Write your post, either writing a draft in a single session or gradually word on parts of it.
4. Step 4: Keep your paragraphs short and format your posts in a way that’s easy to scan. This will help your readers to get the info they are looking for quickly. 
5. Step 4: Use images to enhance your post, improve its flow, add humor, and explain complex topics. Remember copyright issues in choosing your photos. 
6. Step 5: Edit excellently. Make sure to avoid repetition, read your post aloud to check its flow, have someone else read it and provide feedback, keep sentences and paragraphs short, don’t be afraid to cut out text at last minute.