Writing good blog content - Start here!

in #content8 years ago (edited)

During the past few weeks I have been reading more and more, due to the vast amount of posts that I now read on a daily basis. Why? - Because I enjoy this wonderful platform so much. I enjoy the diversity of people, I enjoy making new friends on the platform, I love the Crypto Anarchists. I basically love everything on the platform.

One of the things I have picked up is that everybody have different writing styles. I decided about three weeks ag o that if I want to become a better writer, I should invest some time in training myself and learning as much as I can. I want to be noticed, I want to add value to every single person on the platform.

So this is my first - in a series of posts on what I've learned adn what works for me on the Steemit platform. I believe it might be very valuable to new people joining the platform. I have to mention that we get a lot of people joining the platform for a quick buck and then leaving the platform. This is not the audience, which I am targeting with this specific post. I am targeting this post on those whom want to be on Steemit and seeing it as a long term investment. Also note that I am not a specialist blog writer.

This is a summary what I've learned whilst using the platform. On other words a summary of various webpages and research on various blogs all over the internet. As I learn more on exactly what works for me, I will update this post, as it will be avaialble here forever :)


Image Credit

Is your Blog Post easily readable?

A lot of people will not read every single word you write, so your content must be scannable - (Not sure if this is a word ...MS Word does not believe so , but it doesn't sound too bad, so I am using it :). You can only learn this through experience so I use the trial and error method. I keep a spreadsheet for each and every post I make, building statistics on number of Upvotes, Number of Comments, Number of followers before and after the post etc.

Some techniques to make your blog post easily readable

Use Headings and Sub-Headings

Just as I am doing here, make sure you capture the essence of you main point in headings and sub-headings. It is kind of summarising your post for easy reading.

I cannot overemphasize the use of good pictures and titles

In Steemit, except for the fact that you must have good content in each and every single post, in order to move up the trending list, the use of good pictures and titles are key. This is how you get noticed and pulled out of the black hole of posts. There are various posts on the subject of topic and pictures, so I am not going in too much detail. Just know the are VERY important.

Formatting

Using Italics , Bold Text and various other types of markdown in your posts. Spaces between paragraphs and specific points is also key. You do not have to use every singly pixel of the avialble typing area.

Remember to make your point early in a post

If you make a good point early enough in your posts, I believe that readers tend to stay and read further. Especially if you are making an point that is interesting to the specific user. Remember everybody is different and is not interested in your point.

Enforcing your point

Find various ways to highlight and enforce your main points throughout the posts. You can do this with analagies, using borders and quotes

You shouldn't bring to many new points into a single post.

Some posts tends to get too long, have to many pictures, and this will lose the attention of your reader quickly. Remember you are trying to build a reputation, and hope that this reputation will get you more followers. When a possible new follower read your first post and it is too long, it will be very difficult to get them to follow you. I think you have lost them forever.

Lists

Many of the posts in the trending list is not written in essay style. I think that essay style overwhelms people, or rather I get overwhelmed if I must read a whole essay. Rather use lists to bullet point you're main points.

In general

I hope that this post will help each and everybody to become better bloggers. Like I said earlier, I am not a specialist , and a great believer that we need to learn at least one new thing every day. I have found that if you add value to users on the platform, they tend to follow you. My follower list is growing on a daily basis. Also remember that you are talking to people, just like you.


Image Credit

Please follow me on my blog @jacor if you enjoy my topics and content.

@jacor features authors to promote a diversity of content and new authors. All STEEM Dollars for these posts go to the featured author.

If you are looking to be featured as an author, please contact me via email - [email protected]

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Steemit has been great for finding interesting things to keep me reading. @jacor I am glad you noticed you are reading more as well. My favorite part of this article which is about how to write an article is that you didnt just tell us. You showed us. You made your point early used great pictures and a snappy title. Kudos PJ

Thank s @pjheinz , I am busy with a post on various tools which will assist all writers to build better blog posts. Easy ways to create your own images etc. Just followed you by the way. Thanks for the comment.

Thanks jacor for your advice. I will try it and see if it improve my poor score on article :)

i am always trying to assist the community by adding value! Nice to hear from you again! Just followed you by the way!

Thank you @jacor for your post. Its very helpful for me.

Pleasure @viktor.phuket , I am busy with a post on various tools which will assist all writers to build better blog posts. Easy ways to create your own images etc. Please follow me if you are interested to learn more.

Solid advices!

Images are indeed very important even if it's just one to generate the thumbnail. There's a much higher chance I click a post with a thumbnail than one without.

Pleasure @lantto , Please follow me if you are interested to learn more. Busy with some other quite usefull posts. I will be interlinking these posts by referencing the other posts, to assist new users of the platform.

Thank you! I love to write, but need to learn not to waffle on...great advice. :-)

I guess we all need to learn as we grow our own posts and blogs.

Jacor, I like the term scannable. Its what you pretty much have to do to look over hundreds and hundreds of posts. On top of the ones I read from the users I follow like yourself.

I like the posts that are not way too long like you said. I like reading and moving, reading and moving, and so on and so fourth. Keep up the great work. :)

Thank you @peacekeeper . Just followed you by the way. Thanks for the comment and hpe to see you around.

This is good advice, thank you.

Thanks a@jonasontheroof .

Good advice. We must take note of.
Thanks for the help.

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