Five Things Every Blog Post Needs

As I begin year two of Currently, Kelsie, I'm starting to see my approach to blogging change. If I'm honest, a whole lot of year one was figuring out what I wanted the blog to be, how to really grow my audience, and what I wanted to focus my writing on. I didn't do a lot of research "pre-blogging". I chose more of the "learn it as I go" route. But now, I feel like I'm starting to get into a groove when it comes to crafting a post. So here are five things every blog post needs, and some tips on how to make them happen.

1. Meaningful Content

A blog post isn't anything without meaningful content. You can have all the bells and whistles in the world, but if your actual content doesn't have purpose that your audience finds valuable, they won't keep reading. What are things you've always wanted to know more about? What do you know that's worth sharing with others?

2. A Great Title that's SEO Friendly

Titles. Are. Everything. Readers want to know what your post is about (and what they'll get out of reading it), just from a few simple words. Not to mention, this title will be what readers look for in your archives, on google searches, and in your pin-worth pictures! If you need help figuring out how to make your post more SEO Friendly, check out this awesome post from Yoast!

3. Pin-Worthy Pictures (That Match Your Brand)

If titles are everything, pictures are a close second. You know what they say: a picture is worth a thousand words. When choosing a photo, try to take your own, and make it as high quality as possible. If that's not possible, find some free stock photos on great websites like Unsplash or Pexels. Definitely be careful not to use photos that aren't free use without citing your source. After choosing your photo, work to brand your image using editing sites like Photoshop, Canva, or PicMonkey. Keep in mind, longer photos get more "view time" on Pinterest. If the photo in your post isn't pin worthy, odds are it won't be pinned (and then you miss out on traffic).

4. Links to Previous Content

It's a fact of blogging: not all of your readers will see every single post you've written. So if you've got great, relevant posts that tie seamlessly into your post, link them up! Let your readers know that you've got helpful information that's worth their time, and encourage them to read more of your words. It's also a good idea to have a "popular posts" or "recent posts" widget or section on your blog for people to read some of your best work!

5. A Call to Action

Once your readers get to the end of your post, give them a chance to act. Let them know how to follow you on social media, how to join your email subscription list, or even share other posts they should check out on the same topic. How are readers supposed to do these things if they don't know that they can? Sometimes, it just takes simply asking. It's also a great idea to embed these things into the end of a post, or make a short list for them!

I hope these tips help you navigate your posts, and maybe look at them in a new way!

Currently,
Kelsie

Here are a few other posts on blogging that you may like:

Five Things I Learned in My First Year of Blogging 

2015: A Year in Review

When Blogging Becomes Ministry 

Are you following along with Currently, Kelsie on Facebook? Join us!