Simple Steps to Great Content, Part 2

byDianeK59

4.1K followers

Updated 3 years ago

Continuing my Tips for Great Writing

This is a continuation from yesterday’s post:

https://my.wealthyaffiliate.com/dianek59/blog/simple-steps-to-great-content

In addition to reading that post, I’d like to invite you to check out the training modules I've done on punctuation and methods of writing. You can find them on my profile:

https://my.wealthyaffiliate.com/dianek59

I'm adding more soon, so keep watching. And if there is a topic you'd like me to cover, please leave me a comment or send me a private email.

Continuing from yesterday:

11- Write to answer the questions. Your reader searched the internet to find an answer or somehow add to their knowledge. Maybe they want to know what the best camera for foreign vacations is. Perhaps they need a recipe for dessert when their keto friends visit. Or maybe they just want to know what makes an engine run.

Whatever the question, they are seeking answers. And, as I mentioned in part 1, they want those answers easy to read and understand. No fluff. Just the facts, please. (Actually, some enjoy the fluff, but make sure the facts-hunters get their fill first.)

If your article is about reducing your mosquito population, don’t start rambling about how the bee population is endangered. That’s another article. This one focuses on those irritating pests that want your blood.

Just as your posts should all stick to your niche, so should each post stick to its purpose.

12. Keep it organized. A well-written article becomes impossible to understand if the paragraphs don’t follow any order. For some, that means a step-by-step process.

For example, when writing about how to prune your rose bushes, you would probably start with an explanation of how to know when to prune, and the equipment you need. Starting with where to trim the stems, then jumping back to what pruning shears to use is confusing.

For other posts, you might need to organize in a different method. Some of mine begin with a “what it is” that leads to “how to manage” and then “how to avoid it in the first place”.

Whatever form, keep the flow easy to understand. Your readers will appreciate your efforts and usually stay on page.

NOTE: One way to do this is to use an outline. It doesn’t have to be a formal outline, like the one I explained here:

https://my.wealthyaffiliate.com/training/writing-a-post-using-an-outline.

But making a general outline helps to keep your post focused and on-point.

13. Write like a human. I like reading Wikipedia and even dictionaries. But most of us, prefer to read posts written with a more human-like approach. Yes, some need to be scientific or factual. But try to keep it human, even with those.

In addition to making your post more attractable to the average reader, it also helps the reader get to know you. And when they connect with you, they are more apt to return to your site and more apt to trust your recommendations.

14. Use bullet points, numbered lists, headers, etc. Most readers scan, rather than reading. Use the lists and bullet points to help them find the information they want quickly. And make sure the information can be scanned quickly, without jumping around.

I mentioned these marks yesterday in part 1 yesterday, too, in point 3, keeping your sentences short. But I wanted to highlight them by themselves, too. They are that important.

Using these tools also helps to break up the text. And they make it more interesting, too. An interesting thing I’ve noticed with my own sites: when I use these techniques, readers seem to stay on the page longer than if I don’t use them. I can’t be sure why, but I’m thinking it might be that it is easier to read, so they stay on page longer to digest the information.

15. Show the most important parts first. You will probably mention them in the introduction. But if not, make sure they are visible early in your post. Readers don’t want to have to read through 2500 words to find the answer to the question they had.

This ties in with the organization and flow, but because of its importance, I gave it its own section. If your reader cannot find the information, they will leave and might never return.

16. It is not finished when you are done writing. What? That’s right. You have finished writing, now the rereading and editing begins. Don’t skip this step, even if you are certain it is perfect. Chances are, it needs something added, deleted, or changed.

Read through the content. You might want to take a short break first, so you can look at it with fresh eyes. Use your grammar tools, too. I like Grammarly. While I use the pro version, the free version is fine for almost everything. And free is certainly a good price.

17. Add the finishing touches. Editing Done? All the spelling and punctuation is perfect? The article flows well? No, you still aren’t finished.

Let’s assume you have set up internal and external links that make sense for the article. You even have some good images and photos well-placed within the post. It looks good!

Now you need some finishing touches. Choose a featured image to use. I have started using a basic editor to take an image and add the title of the post to it. I think it looks quite professional, when done correctly. And it’s not that hard.

Remember, your reader will see that featured image first. Just as people judge a book by its cover, so they will judge your site by the featured image and the title. This is where you bring that “zing!” that encourages them to read.

If you want to print these...

If you prefer to have the 17 on one page, you can copy and paste them on one. Or, use this list, without the details:

1. Keep it original.
2. Keep it simple.
3. Keep your sentences short and your paragraphs, too.
4. Keyword stuffing is out.
5. Use quality content and provide information, rather than being salesy.
6. Keep in mind who your target audience is.
7. Images are like content (keep it legal).
8. Use creative anchor text.
9. Know your purpose and goals before you begin writing.
10. Use your CTA.
11. Write to answer the questions.
12. Keep it organized.
13. Write like a human.
14. Use bullet points, numbered lists, headers, etc
15. Show the most important parts first.
16. It’s not finished when you are done writing.
17. Add the finishing touches

And there you have the 17 items I use for the beginning writers I coach.

Simple and straightforward. Most of these you already know, but I think it helps to have a refresher.

I hope these 17 are helpful to you. Please comment and let me know.

Wishing everyone a very happy weekend!