1 ) Appropriate Length

This is a bit trickier. Some say good blog posts should hover right around 500 words. Others say anything less than 1,000 doesn't cut it.

The truth is both simpler and more complex.

A blog post should be as long as it needs to be. By this, I mean that it should be as long as it takes for you to succinctly and clearly explain your idea, concept or thought.

If you can write a well thought out, complete article in 400 words, that’s great. If you can keep it interesting, engaging, relevant and informative all the way to 1,500 words, then it’s still a great blog post.

In the end, as long as you offer quality, pertinent information in a readable and engaging manner consistently your blog should do well, hopefully fostering a sense of online community along with helping build a personal connection with your readers.

2 ) Keep it Readable

We’ve all seen the blog posts known as the old wall o’ text. No one reads these. They can be the best, most interesting, well-written articles, but if they’re not easily digestable they get skipped over. This isn’t prose, so keeps your thoughts succinct and to the point.

Bullets, lists, graphs, and images are a great way to make sure your content is easy to read. Always preview your work before you publish, and make sure it’s scannable. Check out this blog for a great job of making a hard to write subject extremely readable.

3) Make Your Post Engaging

A blog post must be well-written. And it’s not enough to have perfect grammar and spelling; it needs to be personal, interesting, and interactive.

Try to let your personality shine through in your writing. Don’t be afraid to write in a conversational tone. Personal stories and anecdotes are a great way to make a blog post more engaging. Southwest’s blog does a solid job of being personable.