Mar 17th, 2008
WRITE GOOD BLOG CONTENT - NOT DUMB BLOG CONTENT
Preparing blog content can be difficult, particularly if you are trying to write a post everyday or even harder, trying to write a couple of posts each day. There are a couple of key points that make the preparation of your blog content just a little easier.
Format
Write in an easy-to-read light style. Blog readers have developed a reading style of their own. Don’t bother with long sentences or large paragraphs. Keep everything short and to the point. Your finished copy should be easily scanned. Articles should be between 300 and 700 words max. The ideal size is around 500 words.
Style
It seems the preferred font for reading blogs is Sans-Serif and the size at 10 or 12 points. Any smaller and it is too much of a strain. Any larger and you are shouting. White space is another key preference. Small paragraphs create their own natural white space.
Delivery
Writing blog content that can be scanned quickly means delivering the content in nice neat little chunks. Bullet or numbered points are easily scanned. Small paragraphs with headings (as I have done with this post) also make for quick reading.
Keywords
Placing keywords in the article title are almost a must now. The keyword you use is also the ‘keyword’ for attracting your readers. For a 500 word article, you need only use the keyword six or seven times for SEO effect. Don’t fill the article with your keywords - keep the content interesting.
When preparing your content the most important thing to remember is why you are writing and who you are writing for. Don’t fall into the trap of saying I write for myself. If that is the case., why publish on a blog? You are writing for the general population.
Keep the articles user friendly, don’t fill them with keywords or long technical words. Keep the article as simple and straight forward as possible - but don’t dumb it down. You need to provide good blog content, not dumb blog content.