Keeping On Point When You Blog

~ humoringthegoddess

Even though I’m not much of a writer on the day-job side of my life, I do try and keep up with advice, thoughts, and suggestions from professionals across the board.

Today I received a newsletter from Hubspot, a great newsletter geared towards the marketing/blogging worlds. They published an article called 13 Blogging Mistakes Most Beginners Make.

Now I’m not new at blogging — heck — I’ve been doing it for years. Ha.

But the article made me really think about how I have been writing blogs, how they have changed through the years, and wishing I knew then what I knew now. So I thought I’d share their basic suggestions.

The main article had 13 faux paux’s for beginners, although us “seasoned veterans” could use a look too:

  1. Create blog posts that serve your larger company goals.
  2. Write like you talk.
  3. Show your personality; don’t tell it.
  4. Make your point again and again.
  5. Start with a very specific working title.
  6. Use a specific post type, create an outline, and use headers.
  7. Use data and research to back up the claims you make in your posts.
  8. When drawing from others’ ideas, cite them.
  9. Take 30 minutes to edit your post.
  10. At a certain point, just publish it.
  11. Blog consistently with the help of an editorial calendar.
  12. Focus on the long-term benefits of organic traffic.
  13. Add a subscription CTA to your blog and set up an email newsletter.

Now, granted, these tips are for those writing blogs for their companies. But the tips are golden for us social bloggers as well.

The one that grabbed my attention the most was:

  1. Use a specific post type, create an outline, and use headers.

Mistake: Your writing is a brain dump.

Sometimes when I get a great idea I’m excited about, it’s really tempting to just sit down and let it flow out of me. But what I get is usually a sub-par blog post.

Why? The stream-of-consciousness style of writing isn’t really a good style for blog posts. Most people are going to scan your blog posts, not read them, so it needs to be organized really well for that to happen.

I look back on my beginning blogs and that point is soooo me. Thinking I have something of value to share, but doing nothing more than “let it flow” until the blog was more of a sharing of the moment’s emotions than helping someone else through their journey.

That is all good and well if you are writing for a philosophy class, but if you want your readers to really get something out of your writing, you need to narrow it down to something specific.

We all want people to read our blogs, to get something out of them. Otherwise they will just check you off the inquiry list and move onto the next person. 

I’m not saying you need to write an instruction manual. But even poets need to reread, rewrite, and reconsider — have they put what they wanted to get across down succinctly enough? Are people really getting where you’re coming from? Art, poetry, and sometimes even plain writing is always in one’s point of view.  That’s okay.

But when you are blogging emotions, you need to have an outcome. A finishing point. A reason for the emote in the first place. Using your blog as a brain dump, as Hubspot says, isn’t really a good style for blog posts. Most people are going to scan your blog posts, not read them, so it needs to be organized really well for them to take their time and digest what you’re saying. Organized so it clicks with the reader and they come back to see what else you have to say.

If you want a little writer’s boost (and who doesn’t?). check out Hubspot or other professional marketing or writing newsletters. If you glean ONE point from an article, you’ve learned something.

And who doesn’t want to keep on learning?

Published by humoringthegoddess

I am a writer of fantasy fiction that often surrounds middle-aged women. I am a married mother of two and granny to three, a BoHo Chic kinda gal. I am recently retired and busier than when I worked 9-5. But writing and blogging is my main game.

15 thoughts on “Keeping On Point When You Blog”

  2. Love your thirteen tips on how to keep a blog rolling! Consistency is key for me, and I am working on writing posts that help with long-term traffic. 🙂

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  5. Oh my, I know about the shivers of the first book. 15 years? Whoa, but, but, I realized: writing depends on the mood too and one can never fail to edit something from it. Please, set the book free, and let it go out to the world. I have a good feeling, you got it 🐦🐥🕊🕊🕊

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  8. So you’re inflicted also… you do know what you have don’t you… it’s called “mustdoitis”.. most commonly found in people lovers, and they almost always suffer from the same symptoms… empty pages, overflowing thoughts, the need to fill blank spaces and the urge to share.. there are many more symptoms, but I don’t want to overburden you with worries…

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  9. I would love to have more time, too! So MANY ideas keep popping into my head…I either have to write them down or let them disappear so they can reappear sometime again in the future..

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  11. Congratulations! Your blog is included in INTERESTING BLOGS at FRIDAY FOSSICKING at
    https://thatmomentintime-crissouli.blogspot.com/2019/07/friday-fossicking-12th-july-2019.html
    Thank you, Chris
    Having two definite deadlines each week keeps me writing and researching.. would love to have time for a whole lot more. So many stories are whispering to me, begging to be released… I just have to work out how got stretch my lifespan by at least the same again…

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  12. Oh…that is sooo important. Being able to laugh about your faux paux’s. I used to think everything was perfect the first time I wrote something. Then, okay, my first reread, THEN it was perfect. I have a book I’m ready to publish (print out on my printer, actually), and I’m STILL clipping here and there — and that thing is 15 years old! There is something to over-kill with editing, but the first dozen times is usually worth it! And poetry is no different. Nor art. And good for you and your book!

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  13. Indeed, you are a Goddess, thanks for sharing. And yes, there comes poetry where many focus on the flow/rhythm and forget about the storyline. I remember having to rewrite all poetic short stories I had written for my first book. In my head they added up, but reading then out loud, they where a brain dump 😊😅😂😁 And I can now laugh about it

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  14. I agree..there are a few points that I don’t make my own. I don’t know if a calendar per se would work for me, but “aiming” to publish once a week or whatever keeps me motivated. You listen to your writing clock…you will know when it’s time to write. Blog from the heart and it will start coming more often.

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  15. My problem is point #11. I find it so hard to post consistently. For me its more of a “write when you feel” process. I write only when I’m really inspired by something I’ve read or seen. So that can really create a huge gap in my posting schedule. I think a calendar app is on the cards now, though.

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