Blogging doesn’t have to be overly complicated, but it doesn’t hurt to have a plan, either. You wouldn’t go into any marketing endeavor without a roadmap, right? To get the most out of your blogging efforts, consider thinking about it like a process.
How do you create and promote a great blog post? Here are some ideas to get you going and keep you on track:
Organize your ideas.
Blog inspiration can occur at anytime, anywhere. Put them all in one place for easy retrieval. Tools like Evernote (available for your computer or mobile device) or even a simple spreadsheet will give you a place to compile and organize a library of blog ideas for future use.
With a repository of blog topics, organized by category, title or site, you have all the information you need to quickly put together great blog posts as you need them.
Write and edit.
When it comes to putting ideas to paper (so to speak), not every tip or trick works for everyone. Try this one: organize your writing process the same way that you organize your ideas. Create notes in your spreadsheet then make a simple outline to give you direction.
Remove distractions—not just external, but internal. Obsessing about the mechanical aspects of your writing, for instance, will cause paralysis. Leave that to the second stage of the writing process—editing. Here’s a tip used by seasoned writers—write your first draft then step away for a while. Come back when you have a fresh perspective. Do this until you are happy with the content and ready to publish.
Optimize.
If you want people and search engines to find your blog posts, SEO should certainly be part of the plan. But remember to write first and foremost for your readers To keep from focusing too much on keywords, densities and other elements of optimization, write your post first. The content should naturally contain your keywords, and you can then add the relevant keywords to your title and headers.
Of course, optimization isn’t just about keywords. To get more out of every post, add internal and external links and calls to action. This encourages readers to take the desired action, whether it be to jump to another page on your site or go to a landing page and fill out a form.
Promote.
Many lonely blogs out there wish their owners had done more of this. Blog promotion is the final stage of your blog writing journey, and just as critical to success as great content. Use social media to:
- Share the post with your Facebook and LinkedIn groups
- Tweet and link to the post on Twitter
- Request that your fans and followers pick it up and spread it to others
- Share on social bookmarking sites
And, don’t forget to mention your posts in blog comments and link to them within your site.
Your blog is a powerful marketing tool. Plan it out, organize your efforts and promote posts on every available channel. It’s a proven way to always get more from each and every post.
