Crafting a compelling blog post can be challenging, especially when you are unsure of where to begin. Many individuals aim to master blog content creation but do not understand the proper structure. This guide provides a comprehensive overview, covering essential elements and examples to help you develop well-structured and engaging blog content.
Feather’s notion to blog tool is here to help. It’s designed to guide you every step of the way, making creating engaging blog content that stands out easier.
What Does A Blog Post Look Like? Basic Structure of a Blog Post
What Does a Blog Post Look Like
A blog post is a unique digital article crafted to connect with readers on a specific topic. It’s a blend of:
Personal insight
Research
Practical advice
Think of it as a conversation starter, a way to:
Engage with an audience
Provide valuable insights
Spark discussion
Whether you’re curious about productivity tools or hunting for beginner recipes, a blog post is there to guide you, offering:
Pros
Cons
Actionable advice
The tone is conversational, aiming to educate or inspire you to explore something new.
Key Ingredients of a Blog Post
A well-crafted blog post includes several components that enhance readability and engagement.
Title
The title is your hook. It needs to be engaging and relevant. It’s the first thing a reader sees, significantly influencing the decision to read your post. A strong title like 10 Simple Ways to Boost Productivity captures interest and promises value.
Publication Date
This lets readers know how current your post is. For time-sensitive topics like 2024 marketing trends, the date helps readers find the most relevant insights.
Author Bio
A brief introduction to the author builds credibility and trust. It adds a personal touch and helps establish authority. Example: “Jane Doe is a productivity expert with 10 years of experience helping brands maximize efficiency.”
Blog Post Category
Categories help readers navigate your content. For example, if your post is about Healthy meal prep, placing it in a Nutrition or Healthy Living category guides readers to related topics.
Introduction
Your intro sets the stage and grabs attention. It might start with a question, a statistic, or an anecdote. Example: “Do you feel glued to screens all day? Here’s how to reclaim focus and reduce screen time.”
Subheadings
These break down your content into digestible sections, making it easy for readers to find relevant information. In a budgeting post, subheadings like Setting financial goals and Tracking expenses provide structure and improve readability.
Body Content
This is where you expand on your main points, supporting them with:
Examples
Tips
Lists
A post on productivity might feature sections like Prioritizing tasks and Using time blocks with actionable advice under each.
Visuals
Images, infographics, and charts can break up text and enhance understanding. For a post on fitness, photos of exercises or an infographic on workout benefits help clarify information.
Conclusion
A reasonable conclusion summarizes key points and leaves readers with a takeaway. For a post on financial planning, you might end with, “Building a solid financial foundation takes time, so start small and stay consistent.”
In a post about meal prepping, a CTA could be, “Ready to start meal planning? Download our free weekly meal planner to get started!”
Comments Section
This section invites readers to share their thoughts, ask questions, or add insights. It fosters community and provides valuable feedback and ideas for future posts. Engaging with readers in the comments shows that you’re open to conversation, helping to build trust and loyalty.
1. The How-To Post: A Reader's Guide to Skills and Knowledge
The how-to post is a staple for business bloggers, providing step-by-step guidance on various topics. These posts are educational, making them perfect for drawing organic traffic. They work best when the subject involves teaching your audience something unfamiliar. Enhance these posts with visual aids or instructional videos to make complex concepts easier to understand.
2. The Listicle: Organizing Ideas into Easy Lists
Listicles are blog posts that organize content into easy-to-read lists. Recognizable by their numbered titles, they’re great for compiling tips, tactics, or ideas under a common theme. While often seen as low quality, listicles can result in high-quality content when done right. They’re particularly appealing to readers because of their structured format.
3. The Curated Post: Gathering Valuable Resources
Curated posts compile external content around a specific theme. Although sometimes seen as unoriginal, they can be invaluable by saving readers the time to find resources. These posts are perfect for aggregating:
Industry examples
Statistics
Quotes
They also help build relationships with the bloggers and businesses featured in your curated content.
4. The Thought Leadership Post: Sharing Original Insights
Thought leadership posts are more challenging to write, requiring original data or opinions. These posts often explore industry trends or speculate on the future, sparking discussion and debate.
You cannot write on a whim. Instead, they emerge from:
Careful observation
Examination over time
5. The Fun Post: Entertaining Your Audience
Fun posts are meant to entertain, providing a break from more intellectual content. They’re great for holidays, weekends, or other times when readers need a mental break. Ensure these posts remain relevant to your blog’s focus. Entertaining content can be refreshing and help engage your audience.
6. The 'What' Post: Explaining Concepts
The 'what' post introduces and explains a concept to a beginner audience. It highlights the idea and why it matters, often linking to more in-depth content for readers seeking additional information. These posts are perfect for introducing industry trends, tactics, tools, or other topics to a novice audience.
7. The 'Why' Post: Emphasizing Importance
Posts explain why a particular concept is essential, using examples, facts, and statistics to support the argument. These posts are often introductory, helping readers understand the significance of a topic. Think of them as persuasive articles aimed at convincing readers to care about the subject.
8. The Feature Story: In-Depth Exploration
Feature stories mimic human interest stories, providing in-depth research and commentary on specific:
Topics
People
Trends
These posts are more journalistic, offering detailed analysis and insight. They’re harder to define in a blanket statement but are recognizable by their thoroughness and depth.
9. The FAQ Post: Answering Common Questions
FAQ posts use a question-and-answer format to address common questions from your audience. They’re great for beginner bloggers, as the Q&A format provides a built-in template. Use these posts to tackle common queries from sales, services, or social media interactions, turning them into valuable resources for your audience and team.
10. The Interview Post: Sharing Third-Party Perspectives
Interview posts feature quoted perspectives from third parties, often formatted as Q&As. These posts are excellent for sharing the insights of industry experts or influencers. They also help build relationships with interviewees and can increase your content’s reach if the interviewee shares it with their audience.
11. The SlideShare Post: Visual Storytelling
SlideShare posts center around an embedded SlideShare presentation, requiring more time and design skills than text-based posts. They’re ideal for:
Visual examples
Quotes
Charts
Takeaways
General storytelling
These posts are highly shareable on social media thanks to their visual nature.
12. The Infographic Post: Visual Data Representation
Similar to SlideShare posts, infographic posts embed an infographic within the content. These posts are high commitment but can result in significant rewards, such as increased sharing and inbound links. Infographics work well for presenting data, statistics, timelines, or visual tips clearly and engagingly.
13. The Newsjack: Leveraging Current Events
Newsjacking involves using a popular news story to support your marketing goals. These posts require careful news monitoring and must promptly tie the story to your industry. Use an RSS reader to track popular news and industry publications for potential newsjacking opportunities.
14. The Comparison Post: Helping Readers Make Decisions
Comparison posts weigh two solutions or competitors against each other, helping readers make informed decisions. These posts are valuable for readers in their buyer’s journey’s consideration or decision stages. Ensure your comparison is fair and provides situational breakdowns for added value.
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7 Examples of Blog Posts To Learn From
What Does a Blog Post Look Like
1. 100 Cheap, Fun Things to Do on Weekends
The most popular blog post on FinMasters is “100 Cheap Fun Things to Do on Weekends.” This post was created to help individuals at any stage of their financial journey find affordable and enjoyable weekend activities. It includes various ideas catering to different interests, budgets, and locations.
2. How To Write a Check: A Step-by-Step Guide
One of The Balance’s most popular articles is “How to Write a Check: A Step-by-Step Guide.” This practical guide breaks down the process of writing a check into simple steps, making it easy for readers to follow along and avoid mistakes.
With clear instructions and helpful visuals, this blog post has become a go-to resource for many small business owners who may not be familiar with writing checks.
It also includes helpful tips, such as preventing check fraud and keeping track of your spending. This blog post’s practical nature has made it a fan favorite and helped many small business owners navigate the sometimes confusing task of writing a check.
3. My 31 Favorite Places to Visit in the USA
A destination-based post written by Nomadic Matt is one of the most popular blog posts in the travel industry. These posts give readers an in-depth look at a specific location, including recommendations for where to stay, what to do, and where to eat.
They often include personal experiences and photos to give readers a sense of what visiting that destination is like. Nomadic Matt’s blog has gained a massive following through these strategies, and many travelers have trusted his recommendations.
4. Quick Homemade Ramen
One of Pinch of Yum’s most popular blog posts is their recipe for Quick Homemade Ramen. This post has received over 1 million views and is a favorite among their readers. The success of this post can be attributed to the easy-to-follow instructions, beautiful food photography, and relatable writing style.
It has also been shared on various social media platforms, increasing its reach and popularity. Many readers’ comments mention how they have tried the recipe and loved it, which shows the effectiveness of Pinch of Yum’s content in engaging their audience.
5. Life is Poetry
One of Zen Habits’ most popular blogs is “Life is Poetry.” In this post, author Leo Babauta discusses how life can be seen as a series of beautiful moments, just like poetry. He encourages readers to slow down and appreciate the small things in life, such as a sunrise or a cup of tea. By doing so, individuals can find more joy and meaning in their everyday experiences.
This notion of finding beauty and mindfulness in simplicity is a recurring theme throughout Zen Habits. The blog emphasizes the importance of letting go of material possessions and external validation and instead focusing on inner peace and contentment.
6. Food
One of the most popular blog posts on Cup of Jo is Food. This post covers a wide range of topics related to food, from recipes and restaurant recommendations to discussions about societal attitudes toward eating and body image.
The writer, Joanna Goddard, often shares her struggles with food and body image, creating a safe space for readers to open up and share their own experiences. In addition to personal stories and reflections, Food posts also include practical tips and advice.
Whether it’s how to make the perfect grilled cheese sandwich or navigate a dinner party as a vegetarian, Cup of Jo offers helpful insights for all types of food enthusiasts.
7. A Comprehensive List of 2023 and 2024 Tech Layoffs
One of the most popular features on TechCrunch is its annual list of layoffs in the tech industry. This comprehensive list covers all major companies and provides insight into the job market and potential shifts in the industry.
It is a valuable resource for those seeking job opportunities in tech or staying informed about company restructuring. In addition to the list, TechCrunch also publishes articles and analyses on the reasons behind these layoffs and their potential impact on the industry.
Know Your Audience: The First Step to Successful Blogging
Start by understanding your audience. Who are they? What are they curious about? This isn't just about creating content. It’s about making the right content. Consider what questions they might have and what information will genuinely help them.
Your goal is to provide value that resonates, even with those who haven’t heard of you yet. Offering unique perspectives or lesser-known insights will capture interest and keep readers returning.
Craft Headlines That Demand Attention
Your headline is the gateway to your blog post. Make it irresistible. Use numbers to add clarity and curiosity, like “7 Ways to Boost Your Morning Routine.”
People are naturally drawn to lists. Specific and intriguing numbers also work wonders, suggesting a deeper dive into content. Start with dynamic words like “Achieve” or “Discover” to highlight your post’s benefits.
Design for Skimming: Make Your Content Scannable
Internet users are notorious for skimming. On average, they read only 20% of a page. Your content should be easy to scan, so choose readable fonts and break your text into lists and bullet points.
Short paragraphs increase readability, especially on mobile. Don’t underestimate the power of white space. It gives readers room to breathe and absorb information.
Visuals: Your Secret Weapon for Engagement
Visuals are processed much faster than text, making them crucial for grabbing attention. Think beyond standard images.
Use videos, infographics, and interactive elements to communicate complex ideas quickly. While visuals can boost engagement, they can also slow down your site, so use them wisely.
Keep Readers on Your Site: Suggest Related Posts
Suggest related posts to encourage readers to explore more of your content. This keeps them engaged and increases page views, improving your search rankings. If a post isn’t quite what they want, these suggestions can guide them to valuable content.
Make Sharing a Breeze
Adding social media share buttons to your blog posts encourages readers to spread your content. Platforms like Jetpack make this easy, automatically integrating Facebook, Twitter, and more buttons. This simple addition can extend your reach without any extra effort.
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Feather handles it, ensuring your blog resides at domain.com/blog. This is a win for SEO. You get the HubSpot experience through Notion, effortlessly managing everything from your CRM to your website blog.
Streamlining Collaboration
Feather fosters collaboration like never before. You can work with your team as you publish your content in real time. This means fewer bottlenecks and quicker turnarounds. By writing on Notion, you're tapping into a tool that many teams already love.
Feather takes it a step further by integrating your blog and newsletter operations seamlessly.
Customization and Flexibility
If you're worried about design, don't be. Feather offers options to change your blog's look with custom CSS. It’s straightforward and doesn’t require you to be a coding wizard. Plus, you can collect emails effortlessly, helping you grow your audience and keep them engaged.
Integrating Newsletters
Feather doesn’t stop at blogs. It allows you to set up and send newsletters to your email subscribers directly from Notion. This streamlines your content creation and distribution, letting you focus on what matters most: creating great content and engaging with your audience.