- The first secret on how to write better blog posts
- Using SEO keywords at the beginning is another reason I know how to write better blog posts now
- I’m not an SEO expert, but I’m learning
- The tools I use are another way I write better blog posts
- I’ve used WordPress from the beginning—I’m much more comfortable now
- And that’s how I’ve learned how to write better blog posts
When I sat down to write my first blog post four years ago, I didn’t know where to begin. I knew how to write—I wrote a master’s thesis. Heck, I taught EFL students the basics of writing. I knew how to make an outline, organize my thoughts, and edit my writing. But I hadn’t actually written an article in a long time. I didn’t know what Search Engine Optimization (SEO) was or why it mattered. Since then, I’ve learned a lot about how to write better blog posts.
The first secret on how to write better blog posts
While teaching English as a foreign language, several students asked me the same question. They wanted to know the quickest way to get better at English. They were desperate for the secret. I always gave them the same answer—practice, practice, practice.
That same advice applies to my blog-writing journey. In the beginning, my blogs took much longer to write and weren’t as polished as they are now. The reason? I lacked experience. Since then, I’ve written 90+ blogs.
In my first year of blogging, I set a goal of writing a blog a week. I accomplished that goal but had to revise it when the year ended. By then, I was working full-time for one client and part-time for another. I couldn’t continue writing a weekly blog while working 60 hours a week.
Since then, I have committed to one blog a month. I’m happy to report I’ve achieved that goal three years in a row. I’ve refined my process during that time. I’ve made tweaks, found tools that help, and streamlined my writing process.
In addition, I’ve also written and edited tens of blog posts for clients during that time. I’ve applied what I’ve learned to editing initial drafts and improving them. I’ve edited and written blogs from scratch in varying styles for several clients.
It all comes down to reps. I’ve got 100+ blogs under my belt compared to when I began four years ago. I’ve continued to research how to strengthen my writing and my process. It stands to reason I’d know how to write better blog posts than when I started out.
Using SEO keywords at the beginning is another reason I know how to write better blog posts now
Starting out, one of the first things I learned about was SEO keywords. Basically, if you want people to read your blog, they’ve got to be able to find it! The primary way that happens is through online searches. Learning how to optimize blogs for SEO helps your blogs rank higher on Google search pages. If you’re on page one of the search results, you have a much better chance of getting traffic to your site.
SEO is complex—it’s not as simple as repeating a keyword in your blog. You need to know which keywords people are searching for (it’s no good ranking for a term no one searches for). You need to know how competitive a key phrase is. While ranking for a less competitive keyword is easier, that will also likely mean less traffic. Most in-depth SEO tools are not free—in fact, they’re downright pricey. But for your own blog, you can make do with a few free tools and a good keyword strategy.
I’m not an SEO expert, but I’m learning
My SEO knowledge is rather basic, but I think I’ve done quite well. My posts currently average just over 2,000 views each. However, my top three posts all have over 10,000 views. Many may not consider those massive numbers, but based on my niche and how long I’ve been at this, I’ll take them.
- 7 business email faux pas that guarantee you won’t get a reply (14,922 views)
- How to learn English more effectively than RM from BTS (21,410 views)
- All 12 English verb tenses—clearly explained [with examples] (30,069 views)
My first few blogs didn’t have any keywords and were certainly not optimized for SEO. As time passed and I learned how to write better blogs, I started doing this better. Over the past two years, I’ve spent time revising old blogs and ensuring they’re SEO optimized.
Now, I consider SEO keywords from the beginning. I naturally include them in the right places when I draft my blog (H1, introduction, headings, meta description, slug, alt text, etc.). I try to naturally work the key phrase into the body of the text several times. This reduces the amount of time I need to spend editing my blogs later for SEO optimization.
I’ve also learned about SEO in my role with my current employer. I try to use what I’ve learned in that capacity to improve my site and my writing.
The tools I use are another way I write better blog posts
I’ve written several times about the Hemingway app (affiliate link). It helps me keep my writing simple and at a low readability score. This is important for me as I’m trying to appeal to an audience who aren’t native English speakers.
The Hemingway app helps you avoid using excessive adverbs to strengthen your writing. It also helps you write more in the active voice, which is often preferred. Hemingway also flags “hard to read” and “very hard to read sentences.” These are usually related to sentence length.
Having used the Hemingway app for years, I now correct several of those issues while writing. The Hemingway app still catches things, but there are a lot fewer edits to make. That makes for a quicker process. I’ve also noticed that my initial readability score is lower than it was when I started using this tool.
I’ve also advocated using Grammarly (affiliate link) as a tool. It’s not perfect, but it does have its uses. Grammarly has repeatedly flagged some common errors in my writing. I’ve taken note and adapted my writing to correct those mistakes before they happen. These days, there are fewer errors to fix, but it still catches typos and other errors. Many of the things it flags are suggestions based on style rather than grammatical errors.
I’ve used WordPress from the beginning—I’m much more comfortable now
Four years ago, I had never used WordPress. It took me a while to figure out how to use the editor. I still remember the nerves I felt when I published my first pages and posts, worried I’d made some horrible mistake. Having added 100+ blogs to WordPress, I’m now much more comfortable and efficient with the editor. I know all the things I have to update or add in addition to the blog itself. It’s another reason I know how to write better blog posts.
Initially, I used the free version of WordPress, which prevented me from using plugins. I soon determined I was serious about my career change and site. I upgraded my WordPress plan to start using plugins. One of the first plugins I added was Yoast SEO.
Yoast SEO gives you three scores to help improve your blogs.
- SEO
- Readability
- Inclusive language
Like the Hemingway app and Grammarly, Yoast SEO is a tool. It provides guidelines, not absolute rules that must be followed. You also need to use your knowledge to know when to accept or ignore specific suggestions.
Like with the Hemingway app and Grammarly, I naturally write to get higher initial scores. This reduces the time I spend editing my posts. Having three green smiley faces for those areas doesn’t guarantee your blog will go viral. But it’s usually a good start. You have a better chance of writing a successful blog post than if you have red frowny faces across the board.
Now, my Yoast scores are good from the moment I paste my blog into WordPress. My readability scores are typically good because I keep each section under 300 words. I limit my use of the passive and avoid starting consecutive sentences the same way.
And that’s how I’ve learned how to write better blog posts
In a nutshell, that’s what I’ve learned. And essentially, it all comes down to my first point—practice, practice, practice. A few tools to help guide you don’t hurt. But, like language learning, nothing beats getting your hands dirty. Studying how to do something is a worthwhile pursuit. But actually doing it and learning from your mistakes is invaluable.
What about you? What have been the key things that taught you how to write better blogs? I’d love to hear them. Drop a comment or send me a message—I’m always keen to learn more!
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