Think about the blog posts you’ve read recently. Did you walk away having learned something new? Will you check out that blog the next time you’re looking for information?
According to Tech Client, adding a blog to your website can increase traffic by as much as 434%. If done consistently, blogging can also:
- boost your SEO
- create a connection with your audience
- build trust with your leads
- help position you as a thought leader in your industry
Want to build up your blog but not sure how to get started with a new post? No stress – we’ve put together a quick guide to walk you through it:
1 . Brainstorm topics and choose a title.
Choose a topic that you’re interested in and well-informed on. Think about how the topic relates to your audience and make sure you understand the topic well enough to explain it to them. If you’re stumped on a topic, check out 10 blog topics your leads will love.
Next, consider what kind of titles will grab a reader’s attention. 36% of readers prefer list-based headlines. Think about creating lists (i.e. “7 Benefits of Martial Arts for Kids”), sharing industry statistics, or explaining how to do something.
The more you blog, the more you’ll establish yourself as a thought leader. It’s a good idea to start out with blog posts demonstrating your knowledge and then moving on to how-tos and instructional posts.
2. Create an outline.
Once you’ve chosen your topic and given your post a working title, start to consider the different sections you’ll include in your blog post. Create an outline with key talking points and general ideas that you’d like to share with your audience.
3. Think about how the content is relevant to your audience.
Give your audience information they’re looking for. Try to approach your blog post from a unique point of view and present the information in a way that’s easy to understand.
4. Make it easy to read.
According to OptinMonster, 43% of people admit to skimming blog posts. Writing in shorter paragraphs and bullet points makes your content easier to read and digest.
As you’re writing your blog, you’ll either be creating short-form or long-from content. What’s the difference?
Short Form Content vs. Long Form Content
Short form content is typically less than 1,200 words. It effectively communicates a single message and aims to explain an area of a topic rather than the whole topic itself.
Long form content is typically more than 1,200 words, and it covers a topic in-depth. The goal of long form content is to educate and inform – it’s not meant to consume quickly and can take several minutes or more to read through.
According to Curata, long-form content generates eight times more page views, three times more social shares, and nine times more leads than short-form content.
5. Include visuals.
A picture is worth a thousand words! Incorporating visuals into your blog posts can help readers follow along and keep them engaged. Some people learn visually, so including photos or graphics can help keep people focused on the information you’re sharing.
Think about what content would work better in a graph or chart than a bullet-point list. If you’re sharing data and statistics, try creating graphics to go along with the numbers and including those in your post.
Using photos of your own school and members will give your readers a feel for what your school is about. Use high-quality photos and try to avoid stock photos and photos that are blurry or pixelated.
6. Wrap up with a CTA.
Keep your call-to-action simple and straightforward at the end of your blog post. It could be encouraging people to reach out to you for a trial, to read another blog post, check out a resource you’re offering, or joining you for an event!
Keep in mind, an effective CTA:
- is simple and straightforward
- clearly explains the action the user should take
- uses phrases that encourage taking action
- makes it easy to take the desired action
Blogging is an important tool to utilize – it has several benefits. The Market Muscles team recommends blogging at least once a month, but the more often you can share posts, the better!