Writing a blog post can seem like an intimidating task.  Having a system in place can help make the process easier.  Here is a tried and true process to creating a blog post easily in 9 simple steps:

Step 1: Know Your Audience

Make sure you understand your target audience and their needs, desires, and pain points. Creating a buyer persona is a great tool that will help you to really hone in on who your target audience is and the type of information and targeted messages that will resonate most effectively with them.  It is also a great tool to use when communicating with your marketing team, employees, etc.

Step 2: Pick Your Topic & a Working Title

Now that you have a clear idea of who you are targeting, figuring out just what type of content to share should be  simple.  Create a list of topics and ideas, and add to this list as you come across relevant news items, trends, stats, questions from customers, etc.  If you don’t have a list, here are 30 content ideas to get you started.  It’s also a good idea to create an editorial calendar so you have a content marketing plan in place and know what’s coming up from month-to-month.  Make sure to establish the main keyword(s) for the post at this point.

Step 3: Create a Goal for Your Blog Post & Determine Calls to Action

Create a goal for your blog post and determine calls to action.  What is the main point of the post? What action do you want readers to take after reading the post?  Identifying these goals and CTAs will help to keep your writing focused and, hopefully, compel readers to take action in some measurable way.

Step 4: Create an Outline & Compile Resources

Organize your ideas.  Establish the main points of your post and jot down a few notes about each.  Compile relevant links to other websites & useful resources.  The idea is to get your thoughts down on paper.  It doesn’t have to be fancy; an outline with bullet points will do.

Step 5: Fill in Your Outline

Use your outline as a guide and expand on each of the points as needed.

OR

Send the outline & resources to a professional copywriter (we highly recommend writeraccess.com) to fill out your outline.  Coypwriters know how to create compelling copy that speaks to the reader and answers the question “What’s in it for me?”.  Make sure the writer understands your target audience (by providing them with your buyer persona), the post’s main keyword(s), and your goals, style, voice, etc.

Step 6: Proof the Copy

Once you have the outline filled out, proof the copy.  Make changes as needed.  If you are using a copywriter, request revisions, if necessary

Step 7: Come up with a Strong Title

Come up with a strong title for your blog post.  Here are some tips to keep in mind:

• Make sure to include the post’s main keyword(s) (for SEO)
• Try to shoot for 70 characters or less
• Make sure it resonates with your target audience
• Use strong language & make sure the value is clear

Step 8: Set-up the Blog Post on Your Website

Set-up the post on your website’s blog and schedule it to be published.

Make sure to include:

• Subtitles
• A relevant & good quality image
• Bullets, bolded text, etc. (break-up long paragraphs)
• Calls to action(s))

Step 9: Optimize the Post for SEO

To ensure the search engines can easily identify the main keywords for the post, make sure to optimize the post by including on-page seo techniques.

Include the post’s main keyword(s) in the following:

• Post’s title
• Post’s url
• Image file name & alt tags
• Heading tags
• Throughout the copy
• In bold or emphasized text (such as subtitles)
• The post’s meta tags (title & description)
• Links to pages on your site or another website. 

Ready to Set-up Your Company’s Blog and Increase Your Online Marketing Success?

Aspire Internet Design has helped hundreds of businesses with their website design and online marketing needs. Contact us today for a free consultation on how we might be able to help your business increase its online presence and drive more quality traffic, leads, and conversions on your company’s website.