Writing a blog: How to write the perfect blog article

What better way to inspire your target audience than with an excellent blog post? Picking her up exactly where she is and solving her problems in a few words in a sustainable way? Is there a better way to attract customers and keep them loyal to your brand forever?

We do not think so. And that’s why every entrepreneur and marketer should know how to write the perfect blog.

How this works, shall show you our very special step-by-step-by-step instructions (and no, we have not accidentally written 3x step!).

This is because we not only divide the entire article into individual and practical steps, but also make these individual steps even more practical and easier to implement by providing our own instructions.

What is a blog article?

A blog article is written content that is published on a blog. Blog posts are written by individuals and groups on many topics. They are used to exchange information, ideas and personal experiences. Many marketers use blogs to generate leads and create brand awareness.

13 steps to writing the perfect blog post

These 13 steps will make writing the perfect blog article easier:

1. Determine your target group
2. Determine the purpose of the blog article
3. Choose an interesting topic
4. Research your topic
5. Create an outline to organize your thoughts
6. Create a catchy title and an introductory paragraph
7. Write an informative text
8. Use examples, anecdotes, and narratives to engage the reader
9. Optimize your text with relevant keywords, meta tags and alt tags
10. Add a CTA at the end of the article
11. Proofread and edit the content before publication
12. Add internal links within the blog post
13. Distribute your blog post on different channels

1. Determine your target group

Determining your target audience should actually happen when you determine your content strategy. Not much should then be changed about this target group when creating a blog article. Therefore, we only briefly present here what to do for each blog post:

• Step 1: Take your previously defined persona at hand
• Step 2: Determine the main goal of your blog article. Is it meant to inform, amuse, persuade or educate? (more on this later)
• Step 3: Collect data about your target audience’s current preferences. Use social media monitoring and Google Trends to do this.
• Step 4: Analyze current market and industry trends
• Step 5: Use this data to personalize your blog post for your target audience. Use words, examples and images that your target audience understands.

Examples of how to determine your own target audience:

If you’re writing a blog post about retirement planning, your target audience might include those approaching retirement age who are interested in financial planning and looking for advice on preparing for retirement.

If you’re writing a blog post about the benefits of meditating, your target audience might be stressed-out people who are interested in self-care and looking for methods to improve their mental health.

If you’re writing a blog post about the impact of social media on mental health, your audience might include parents, educators, and health professionals who are concerned about the impact of social media on children and teens.

If you want to define your target group from scratch in 8 steps, we recommend our article on this: Defining your target group – A guide for your target group definition.

2. Determine the purpose of the blog article

After your target audience is clear and you can narrow down what your personas are most interested in at the moment, you need to be clear about the purpose of your blog article. The best way to do this is as follows:

• Step 1: Ask yourself what you want to accomplish with the blog content. Do you want to inform, entertain, persuade or educate your readers?
• Step 2: Figure out where you’re going with your post. What is the most important message or lesson you want to convey to your readers? Write a list.
• Step 3: Think about what your goals are for your blog or website. What is the connection between this content and the overall goal and vision of your blog or website?
• Step 4: If it is an important blog article, create a clear and concise mission statement for your blog post.

Just imagine your blog post was a bridge and that bridge was between two states of your target audience. What do you want your reader to think at the end of the article? How do you want him to feel? Then think about what materials your bridge must be made of.

Also feel free to include these key insights in your blog article, this will make it easier for your readers to understand everything quickly and sustainably.

However, the easiest way to determine this purpose is if you have previously developed a content strategy and then, using this as a basis editorial plan have done.

Examples of determining blog purpose:

If you’re writing a blog post about retirement planning, your goal might be to educate and inform your readers about how to prepare financially for retirement.

When you write a blog post about the benefits of meditation, you may want to urge your readers to try meditation as a way to improve their mental health.

If you’re writing a blog post about the impact of social media on mental health, you may want to educate and raise awareness among your readers about the harmful effects of excessive social media use on mental health.

3. Choose an interesting topic

This is how you choose an interesting topic for your blog article:

• Step 1: Consult your audience analysis and choose a topic that might interest them.
• Step 2: Get inspired by the previously researched trends as well.
• Step 3: Examine your competitors’ posts and find any topic holes. Try to develop your own point of view or perspective for this.
• Step 4: Do your research using tools like Google Trends, Buzzsumo and Ahrefs.

Examples of how to choose an interesting topic for your article:

If you’re writing a blog post about retirement planning, a good title might be “5 Retirement Planning Mistakes You Should Avoid.”

If you’re writing a blog post about the benefits of meditation, “Meditation for beginners: how to get started and experience its benefits” would be an interesting topic.

If you’re writing a blog post about the impact of social media on mental health, the topic might be “How to stand out on social media and avoid the negative impact on mental health.”

If you’re writing a blog post about personal development, “The Power of Mindfulness and How to Practice It in Your Daily Life” might be an interesting topic.

If you’re writing a blog post about technology, “The Future of Automation and How It Will Change the Way We Work” might be beneficial as a title or topic.

As you can see, the key to choosing an exciting topic is to identify the needs and interests of your target audience and provide a unique angle or perspective.

4. Research your topic

Want to do research for your blog article? Here’s a step-by-step strategy:

• Step 1: Write down the main topics and subtopics you want to cover in your article to define the scope of your article.
• Step 2: Search Google and other search engines for information on your topic. Don’t shy away from academic sources.
• Step 3: Search for other reliable sources such as studies, government websites, industry studies, and trusted news organizations.
• Step 4: Gather information about the issue from social media and online forums to get a sense of public opinion and current discussions about it.
• Step 5: Sort the information into categories or topics so you can see the big picture and better identify the structure.
• Step 6: Then formulate your own ideas and insights on most of the facts to add value to the article.

For this step you can use the insight of your market analysis.

Examples of researching a topic:

If you’re researching retirement savings options, financial planning methods and retirement budgeting for a blog post on retirement planning.

If you’re writing a blog post about the benefits of meditation, you might look at the science behind meditation, different types of meditation, and tips for getting started and maintaining a meditation practice.

If you’re writing a blog post about the impact of social media on mental health, you should look at the impact of social media on mental health, guidelines for healthy social media use, and ways to manage social media addiction.

If you write a blog post about personal development, you can explore the benefits of mindfulness, different mindfulness practices, and the impact of mindfulness on the brain and overall well-being.

If you’re writing a blog post on technology, you might look at the latest breakthroughs in automation, the impact of automation on different industries, and the future of work in the age of automation.

Only extensive research will ensure that your post is helpful, accurate, and trustworthy.

5. Create an outline to organize your thoughts.

Outlining is one of the most important steps if you want to create a top-notch blog article, and this is how you create an outline that helps your readers understand your point better:

• Step 1: Start by making a list of the most important topics or concepts you want to cover in your article.
• Step 2: Combine similar points or ideas to form superthemes and subthemes.
• Step 3: Organize your arguments into a hierarchical framework by starting with the main theme and then breaking it down into smaller, more detailed concepts.
• Step 4: Include an introduction and conclusion in your outline, making sure they are relevant to the goal and message of your text.
• Step 5: Use headings and subheadings to organize your ideas and make it easier for the reader to follow along.
• Step 6: Go through your outline and check that it is logical, cohesive, and that the ideas flow effortlessly into one another. A common thread should be recognizable.

Examples of good blog article outlines:

If you’re writing a blog article about retirement planning, your outline might include the following main topics:

The importance of starting early to prepare for retirement

• Various alternatives for retirement provision
• How to create a retirement plan
• Preparing for unforeseen expenses in retirement

If you’re writing a blog article about the benefits of meditation, your plan might include topics like these:

• The science of meditation and its effects on the brain
• Different types of meditation
• How to get started with your meditation practice
• Suggestions for maintaining a continuous meditation practice

If you’re writing a blog article about the impact of social media on mental health, your plan might include topics like these:

• The harmful effects of social media on mental health.
• How to set healthy boundaries on social media
• Methods to maintain a positive connection with social media.
• The importance of breaking away from technology and prioritizing offline activities.

Most readers will skim your article before reading those sections that appeal to them. That’s why your outline is so important. Its purpose is to show when which topic will be covered.

6. Create a catchy title and an introductory paragraph

After your rough outline is in place, it’s a matter of refining the title and writing a first paragraph and this is accomplished as follows:

• Step 1: Start by determining the core message of your article.
• Step 2: Use this message to write an attention-grabbing title that appropriately reflects the content of the article.
• Step 3: Include keywords in your title to improve the search engine optimization (SEO) of your article.
• Step 4: Create a hook for your first section. This can be an unexpected fact, a question, or a compelling statement that piques the reader’s interest and entices them to read on. Create a sort of circle that closes later in the article.
• Step 5: Give context and background information in the introduction. Inform the reader about the topic of the article and why it is important to them.
• Step 6: Use the introduction to set the structure and flow of the article. Explain the major topics and subtopics that will be covered.
• Step 7: Transition from the introduction to the body of the article by using a meaningful and clear transition sentence.

An example of a catchy title and a good introductory sentence:

If the topic of your blog post is as follows, “Meditation for Beginners: How to Get Started and Experience the Benefits,” the introduction might read something like, “Meditation has been proven to have many benefits for the body and mind, but many people find it difficult to get started. That’s why in this post, we’ll go over the basics of meditation and give tips on how you can cultivate a meditation practice for yourself and your own needs.”

As you can see, a good introductory paragraph and a meaningful title are important to grab the reader’s attention, provide context, and set the tone for the rest of the article.

7. Write an informative text

This is how you take care of writing a really informative text:

• Step 1: Start by going over the research you’ve done on your topic. Use this data to develop your own ideas and insights about the topic.
• Step 2: To explain your thoughts, use a clear and concise writing style. Avoid jargon or technical terms that might confuse your readers.
• Step 3: Support your views with facts, data and examples to make your text more credible and convincing.
• Step 4: Structure the text with headings and subheadings to make it easier for readers to follow.
• Step 5: Cite sources to prove and support your ideas.
• Step 6: Throughout the text, use transitional words and phrases to guide the reader and make the connection between your thoughts clear.
• Step 7: Include photos, videos, and other media in your post to make it more interesting and provide more information about your topic.

Above all, your text should be original and yet well researched. Only then can it offer your reader real added value.

8. Use examples, anecdotes, and narratives to engage the reader.

This way, you’ll find examples, stories, and narratives that will captivate your readers and encourage them to read on:

• Step 1: Create a list of possible examples, stories, and narratives related to the topic of your blog post. Personal experiences, stories you’ve heard, or news stories you’ve read may be eligible.
• Step 2: Search online and offline sources for more examples, stories, and narratives that support your main ideas. Some relevant sources are:
  • Newspaper articles and publications
  • Reports and research studies
  • Social media and online forums
  • Books and other forms of media
  • Personal interviews and questionnaires
• Step 3: Support your examples, stories, and narratives with quotes and figures. Quotes can come from experts, influencers, or people who are knowledgeable about the topic.
• Step 4: Look for personal stories that can bring your blog post to life. For example, if you’re writing a blog post about the difficulties of working from home, you could include a story about a time when you struggled to balance work and personal responsibilities.
• Step 5: Tie your examples, anecdotes, and narratives into the larger framework of your blog post using storytelling strategies. This makes it easier for the reader to navigate through the material and makes it more interesting and relevant.

Examples of using stories and anecdotes:

If you’re writing a blog post about the importance of regular exercise, you could use a marathon runner who successfully prepared for and finished a marathon as an example.

If you’re writing a blog post about the benefits of meditation, you might include a story about a time when you were anxious and relied on meditation.

If you’re writing a blog post about the impact of social media on mental health, you could include a story of someone who suffered from social media addiction and how they overcame it.

When it comes to making your blog article more accessible, intriguing, and memorable for your readers, examples, stories, and narratives can have a big impact. So choose wisely and try as best you can to incorporate your own experience.

9. Optimize your text with relevant keywords, meta tags and alt tags

What good is the best blog article if no one finds it? Therefore, you must always take care of the SEO of your blog articles and this is how it goes step by step in general:

• Step 1: Conduct keyword research on the topic of your post. With the right tools like Google Keyword Planner or Ahrefs, find keywords that are related to the search intent of your article and have a high search volume or traffic potential.
• Step 2: Then build these keywords organically into your post. Use them in the title, headings, and throughout the content.
• Step 3: Then write a meta description that highlights the main points of your article and adds important keywords. The meta description should be about 155 characters long and inserted into the HTML code of the page.
• Step 4: Define images in your content with alt tags. Alt tags help search engines understand the content of images and can improve the accessibility of your site for those using screen readers.
• Step 5: Optimize the URL of your content to include important keywords there as well.

Examples of search engine optimization of your texts:

If you’re writing a blog post about retirement planning, you can use keywords like “retirement planning,” “retirement planning,” “financial planning,” and “budgeting for retirement” in the title, headline, and text.

If you’re writing a blog post about the benefits of meditation, you can use keywords like “meditation,” “mindfulness,” “stress relief,” and “wellness” in the title, headline, and text.

If you’re writing a blog post about the impact of social media on mental health, you can use keywords like “social media,” “mental health,” “social media addiction,” and “healthy use of social media” in the title, headlines, and text.

However, the ultimate goal should always be to create a well-written and informative article that adds value to the reader while being optimized for search engines.

10. Add a CTA at the end of the article.

Without a direct call to action (CTA) at the end of your article, your conversion rate will plummet, so if you want to write a converting CTA, here’s what you should do:

• Step 1: Determine the purpose of your CTA. What should the reader do after reading your article? Do you want them to sign up for a newsletter, download a lead magnet, or visit a specific page?
• Step 2: Think about what type of CTA will best achieve your goal. A button, a link, a form or a phone number are all common possibilities.
• Step 3: Develop a clear and engaging message for the call to action. Make the offer explicit and detailed by using action-oriented language.
• Step 4: Use contrasting colors or a special font to make the CTA stand out visually as well.
• Step 5: Highlight the CTA at the end of the content where it is immediately visible and accessible to the reader.
• Step 6: Experiment with multiple CTA versions to see which works best and make changes as needed.

Examples of CTAs:

If you’re writing a blog post about the benefits of healthy eating, you could include a CTA at the end asking visitors to sign up for a free 7-day meal plan.

If you’re writing a blog article about the difficulties of working from home, you could include a CTA at the end inviting your visitors to download a free guide to help them increase their productivity when working from home.

If you’re writing a blog article about the benefits of exercising regularly, you can include a CTA that encourages your readers to make a free appointment with a personal trainer.

Always remember that your goal is critical. The CTA is only the last step on this path. Think about what you need to offer or give your reader to make them willing to achieve your goal for you. Probably a well formulated Buyers Journey help with this task.

11. Proofread and edit the content before publication

This is also an important step in creating an excellent blog article, but one that is unfortunately neglected far too often:

• Step 1: Print out a copy of your submission and read it carefully, paying particular attention to grammar, spelling, punctuation, and sentence structure.
• Step 2: Read your post backwards, starting at the end with the last word and working your way to the beginning. This can help you discover errors.
• Step 3: Use grammar and spell check apps like Grammarly or Hemingway to identify and correct problems.
• Step 4: Read your article aloud to get a feel for its flow. This can help you identify halting sentences or phrases that should be changed.
• Step 5: Check the style, tone and texture for consistency.
• Step 6: Have another person read and comment on your content. You may notice typos or wording that you missed.
• Step 7: Make any necessary changes and proofread the content again before you publish it.

Proofreading and editing are important stages in the writing process because they help ensure that your content is well-written, error-free, and professional, which benefits both your readers and the credibility of your business.

12. Add internal links within the blog post

Below you will find step-by-step instructions for adding internal links and building a working link structure:

• Step 1: Find pages and information on your website that are relevant to the topic of your blog post.
• Step 2: In your blog post, use keywords or phrases that relate to the information you want to link to.
• Step 3: Use HTML anchor tags to create hyperlinks that connect the relevant keywords or phrases to the appropriate material on your website.
• Step 4: Use the title element to provide a brief description of the linked page and contextual information for the link.
• Step 5: Use the rel property to indicate the link between the current document and the linked document, e.g. “rel=’nofollow’ ” if the link is from a third party website.
• Step 6: Use the target attribute to specify how the linked page should be opened, e.g. “target=’ blank’ ” if the link should be opened in a new tab.
• Step 7: Test the links to make sure they work properly and point to the appropriate pages.

Examples of inserting internal links:

If you’re writing a blog post about retirement planning, you could include a link to a page on your website that explains the different types of retirement accounts.

If you’re writing a blog post about the benefits of meditation, you could include a link to a page on your website that explains various meditation practices.

If you’re writing a blog post about the impact of social media on mental health, you could include a link to a page on your website that explains how to use social media safely.

When you include internal links in a blog post, your visitors can browse your site more easily and it also helps with search engine optimization by allowing search engines to better scan your site and find new pages.

13. Distribute your blog post on different channels

Distribution is one of my favorite topics because it is simply criminally neglected by most marketers. That’s why we’ve come up with a step-by-step guide for this, too:

• Step 1: Post a link to your blog post on social networks like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn.
• Step 2: Share the link to your blog post in relevant online communities, forums or groups related to the content of your blog post.
• Step 3: Share your blog article on social bookmarking sites like Reddit, StumbleUpon, and Digg.
• Step 4: Post a link to your blog article on online forums or discussion boards related to the topic of your blog post.
• Step 5: Send the link to your blog article to your mailing list using email marketing.
• Step 6: Submit your blog article to web directories like Alltop or Technorati.
• Step 7: Contact other bloggers or social media influencers in your area and ask them to share your blog post on their website or social media accounts.

Examples of distribution strategies that work:

If you write a blog post about retirement planning, you can share the link on social media for finance and retirement planning.

If you write a blog post about the benefits of meditation, you can share the link in online mindfulness and wellness forums.

If you write a blog post about the impact of social media on mental health, you can share the link on social networks that deal with mental health and technology.

When spreading your blog article, remember that it’s not just the number of shares that matters, but also the audience that reads it. If you target the right people, dissemination becomes easier and more effective.

So blog writing finally becomes easier

Our 13 steps are helpful for anyone who wants to write a blog post, whether it’s for personal use or for their own corporate blog.