9 Tips for Writing a Compelling Blog Post

Do you ever start reading a blog post and, before you realize it, you’re at the end? Something about the content just sucked you in. That is a compelling blog post.

Writing a compelling blog post means creating a piece that keeps readers engaged from beginning to end. A compelling post provides important information, but it also makes the reader think and gives them something to discuss.

Compelling blog posts are important for your blog because they attract readers and keep them coming back for more. They leave a lasting impression and encourage readers to share what you’ve written with others.

These must-read posts are what separates mediocre blogs from excellent ones. And here are nine tips for writing them.

1. Understand Your Target Audience

Sometimes, I feel like I should have this tattooed on my forehead. It seems like this is the first point or tip in just about every blog post I write. But there’s a reason for the repetition. To write content that resonates with your audience, you have to really understand them.

Understanding your digital marketing target audience means doing the research to understand not only their demographic information and interests, but also digging deeper in an attempt to understand them as people. Not just who they are, but also, “What problems do they go online searching for answers to?”

You can never know too much about your target audience. Once you have a pretty clear grasp of who they are and how they relate to your product or service, you must conduct keyword research to understand what they want to read. It’s one thing to have an idea about what they’re searching for online, but the secret sauce is in knowing the exact words they type into Google that can lead them to your content. 

You then write with those keywords to lead your audience to your content, thinking about them in every content-related decision you make — from the words that you choose to the stories you tell.

2. Craft an Attention-Grabbing Headline

Your post’s headline can make or break it, as 80% of blog readers read only the headlines. If the headline doesn’t sell the post, they won’t move on. 

An attention-grabbing headline:

• Makes a person stop scrolling and paying attention
• Summarizes the post simply
• Depicts the post’s tone
• Encourages the person to click and read the post
• Uses powerful branding words and emotional triggers to entice the reader

Clearly, headlines are vital. They’re probably worth a lot more time than any of us are spending on them. Want to know more? Check out our post on How to Write the Perfect Blog Post Title.

3. Tell a Compelling Story

You’ve likely seen people question whether there are any new ideas. It frequently comes up in content discussions. Has everything been covered? Are there any new blog post ideas? 

Maybe?

Maybe not?

More importantly, it doesn’t matter.

It makes no difference whether there are unique, original ideas or not, because the reader is still searching for the information, and how you tell the story is what sets your content apart.

Storytelling is what attracts people to your content and differentiates you from the competition. 

​​Stories can:

• Be Remembered. Potential customers will remember the stories you share because they emotionally invest in your brand before they buy anything.
• Simplify Concepts. Stories allow you to tell your audience, in your voice, why they need what you’re offering rather than bombarding them with technical terms.
• Connect People. Stories ignite unity which often creates a connection between you and your clients. They make your content, you, and your products or services more relatable.

So, how do you know what stories to tell? Tell them all! As long as they’re relatable. You know that excellent college professor or grandparent that never seemed to teach or lecture, but just told stories you loved to hear? You can be that person for your readers!

4. Write Engaging Content

I can’t stand it when people write like they’re the smartest person in the world. Who are you trying to impress with your man-splaining? 

Your goal in writing a blog post isn’t to sound smart or flaunt your intelligence. There’s nothing compelling about that to anyone. Your job is to write in an engaging tone that makes people want to read and helps them understand the information they’re seeking. 

Writing engaging content means maintaining a conversational tone, providing value to the reader, and adhering to an easy-to-follow format.

Want more info on this tip? Read our post on Writing Engaging Content. 

5. Add Visuals in Multimedia

In journalism, we have this concept called “show, don’t tell,” which means including sensory details that make the reader feel like they’re experiencing what’s happening in the story. I think we can use the phrase even more literally in content creation.

Don’t just write to tell the reader the information they need to know. Add visuals and multimedia elements to show them how things work or how to apply what you’re telling them.

Blog posts with visuals get 94% more views. 

Go a step further than a stock image to make your content compelling. Include a graphic representation or a video tutorial. Think about how you would want to consume the information, then give viewers those options.

6. Build a Strong Conclusion

When writing a compelling blog post, you can’t just peter out. It’s not like in journalism, where you just stop writing when you’re done. You have to lead your readers to a natural conclusion that leaves them with a lasting impression. 

To build a strong conclusion, summarize the post’s main points or key takeaways, then end with a strong call to action that tells the reader what to do next. 

7. Promote and Share Your Blog Post

You can’t write a post and expect people to flock to it. Sure, I understand how organic search works, but most of our content isn’t going viral overnight. And, even if it did, we’d be silly not to still get those low-hanging clicks. 

To help your content along, give it a little social sharing boost. Share your post on social media and in your email list. Even if you’re relying on search for the bulk of your website’s traffic, it’s never a bad idea to share and engage with your customers.

8. Optimize for Search Engines

Speaking of search … You want search engines to continue sending people to your content — now and in the future. That means you have to optimize each blog post using SEO best practices, both in the blog post and on your overall website.

Want to know more about using SEO in blog posts? Take a look at our post on SEO Content Marketing that Works. It gives you some specific advice on where and when to use those keywords we talked about earlier.  

9. Establish Your Brand Voice

What you really want is for people to see your content and know it’s from your brand. That means establishing a unique and consistent brand voice. 

Your brand voice is your brand’s personality. It’s words, attitudes, traits, etc., that people assign to your brand. It’s what they think your brand is like. 

Your brand voice is one of those unique ways you connect with your readers. It makes them relate to and even like your brand, being proud to associate with your brand and all the things it represents.

Not sure what your current brand voice is communicating to readers and potential customers? Ask them! 

Let Content Journey Help You Write Compelling Blog Posts

These nine tips for writing a compelling blog post either gave you clarity on how to do it or scared the crap out of you. We get it. Not everyone is a writer or has four to 10 hours a week to craft content. That’s why we offer expert blog content creation services. 

Content Journey helps you show up online for your audience with compelling content that answers their questions while promoting your brand. It also drives traffic to your website, making you a strong option when your readers are ready to make a purchase. 

Want to know more about how Content Journey can guide your brand? Contact us. We’re ready to lead you on your content journey.