Blogging is still such a highly relevant business task today, if you want to establish your authority in your field, and grow your audience. But writing doesn’t come naturally to everyone, so we have a few tips for writing blog posts to help you get moving. Sometimes all you need is a little nudge to get you started.
BLOG WRITING TIPS
1. Who and What?
Like most marketing copy, blog posts should offer a solution to a problem or question. Who is your audience, and what do they need? What’s preventing them from booking? More about the process of working with you? Understand the value of printed products? Do they need to see more of your personality?
For photography clients, the answers could be anything from needing more information about your services and products to being visually and emotionally stimulated by seeing more of your work.
*Have you seen our post, “22 blog ideas for newborn photographers“?
2. Break it down
Once you have your post topic narrowed down, give it some structure. Write down the main points or questions about your topic as SUBHEADINGS within your blank document. This process gives the information a sense of hierarchy, and also creates a map for you to “fill in the blanks“. The wording in these subheadings may well change by the time you’ve finished writing, but they are a great tool to get you started.
For example, if I was writing a post on Tips for Using Continuous Lighting, here are the points I might start with….
- What is continuous light?
- Who is continuous light suitable for?
- How to modify continuous light
- Tips for choosing a continuous light to purchase
- Links to buy continuous lights
If you struggle to break the topic down into subheadings, this may not be the right topic for you to write about today. You might need to do some further research or learn a little more about your audience and their needs, to help you determine the information they require. It’s okay to change topics. Keep all of your potential future blog ideas in a list for you to come back to in the future.
3. Are you an authority or is extra research needed?
Once you have your article roughly structured, add some points or key phrases to each section to note what you’ll cover in each. Think SEO-smart, and use words and phrases your audience may be searching for, to help bring them to you.
Make a note of anything you will need to research for more information. Remember, if you can’t say it better than someone else already has done, quote and credit the author, including a link to their site.
4. Finding your writing flow
Begin to fill out each subheading with your input or solutions, to form the paragraphs of your article. There are several writing methodologies. You may need to try a few different approaches until you find what suits you best.
Some people find it easier to write very casually in their first draft, ignoring any errors and keep the flow of words going. This process allows you to get your thoughts out, uninterrupted, before returning to refine and/or correct spelling and grammar in future edits. Others like to get it all right from the outset. If you’re really struggling with writing, we recommend the first approach, rather than interrupting yourself with corrections.
If you are struggling to write genuinely about the subheading within your article, do your research. Go to qualified sources to learn, and always quote and reference the author as appropriate.
5. Overcome your distractions
Often it’s simple distractions around the house or office. Solid writing is an essential asset for your business, so allow yourself the time and environment to do it properly. Your business depends on good copy (writing) as much as it depends on your photographic skills.
Set yourself a 20 minute timer. Twenty minutes is a good block to aim to focus on the task of writing without distraction.
And if you’re really struggling, go to a cafe or library so you can’t be distracted by emails, phone calls and so on. Turn your data and notifications off.
Pop your headphones and white noise or meditation music on if necessary to help you focus. Once you find your flow, you’ll be on a roll.
START WRITING BETTER BLOGS TODAY
Finally, throughout your writing process, remember that it’s crucial that you create genuine content which attracts an audience and provides them with value. This is important both for brand trust as well as your search engine ranking.
Use these blog writing tips to make a start on a topic of your choice today.
