10 Writing Tips: Create Blog Posts That People Read

Last Updated on December 12, 2024 by Jan Barley

Create blog posts that people read? How do you do that?

Did you know that nearly 70% of blog posts get less than 1,000 views? The truth is that creating content that people actually read is harder than it looks. With so much noise online, it’s easy for your blog posts to get lost in the shuffle. But here’s the good news: it doesn’t have to be that way.

In this post, I will share 10 writing tips to help you create blog posts that attract readers and keep them coming back for more.

Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced blogger, these tips for how to write blog posts that people read will ensure your content stands out, engages your audience, and leaves a lasting impact. Ready to turn your blog into a must-read?

Tip #1: Start with a Captivating Headline

Your headline is the first thing potential readers will see. It is critical to whether they’ll click on your post or scroll past it. Studies show that 8 out of 10 people only read headlines, and if yours doesn’t grab their attention, your post will likely go unnoticed.

Here are a few strategies to help you write irresistible headlines:

Make It Specific

Vague headlines don’t inspire curiosity. A headline like “Tips for Bloggers” might sound nice, but it doesn’t clearly tell readers what they’ll get from the post. Instead, try being more specific. For example, “10 Writing Tips to Create Blog Posts That People Read” clearly communicates the value readers will gain.

Use Numbers

Headlines with numbers typically perform better because they promise a well-structured, easy-to-digest list. Numbers also make the post feel more actionable. For instance, “7 Secrets Every Successful Blogger Knows” feels like a manageable number of tips, enticing readers who are looking for concise and practical advice.

Trigger Curiosity

A great headline piques readers’ curiosity. Phrases like “What You’re Doing Wrong,” “The Truth About,” or “The Secret to” make readers curious and drive them to find out more. For example, “The Secret to Writing Blog Posts That Go Viral” sparks interest and encourages clicks.

Include Power Words

If you want a guaranteed way to write blog posts that people read, certain words have a psychological impact and can increase the emotional pull of your headline. Words like “free,” “proven,” “ultimate,” “essential,” and “easy” evoke excitement or a sense of urgency. For example, “The Ultimate Guide to Blogging for Beginners” sounds more enticing than a generic “Blogging for Beginners.”

Read: The Power Of Using Trigger Words In SEO Content

Keep It Short and Sweet

While being specific is essential, you also want your headline to be easy to read. Aim for headlines that are clear, concise, and to the point—usually under 60 characters. It ensures they’re visible in search results and social media, where brevity matters.

Tip 2: Hook Readers with a Strong Opening

You’ve got their attention with your headline, but the real challenge is to keep them engaged. The first few sentences of your blog post are crucial. Do they fulfil the promise of the headline? If not, readers feel misled.

A strong opening will make your readers want to dive deeper into your post, so how do you create that irresistible hook? Let’s explore some effective strategies to use hooks to write blog posts that people read.

Start with a Question

Asking a question at the beginning draws readers in because it immediately makes them think about the topic. It creates curiosity and encourages them to read on to find the answer.

For example, if your post is about blogging tips, you might start with, “Have you ever wondered why some blogs get thousands of views while others barely get noticed?” This question instantly addresses a common problem and invites readers to discover the solution.

Share a Surprising Fact or Statistic

People love learning new things, especially if the information is unexpected or challenges common beliefs. Starting with an eye-opening statistic or fact grabs attention and makes readers want to keep reading to learn more. For example, “Did you know that 95% of blog posts never make it to Google’s first page?”

This surprising information hooks readers and makes them want to learn how to avoid being part of that 95%.

Tell a Personal Story

Sharing a personal anecdote or story is an excellent way to connect with your readers emotionally. People are drawn to stories because they feel relatable and human. It could be a moment of struggle or success you’ve experienced as a blogger.

For instance, “When I first started blogging, I had no idea how to write posts that people actually wanted to read. I spent hours writing, only to get a handful of views. Here’s what changed…” Sharing your journey creates empathy and builds trust with your audience.

Create a Visual or Descriptive Scenario

Painting a picture with words is another way to draw readers in. You can captivate and transport your audience into your world by creating a vivid scene or scenario.

For example, “Imagine this: You’ve just hit ‘Publish’ on your latest blog post, and within minutes, your phone buzzes with notifications. People are commenting and sharing, and your traffic is skyrocketing. That could be your reality, and here’s how…”

Make a Bold Statement

A bold or controversial statement can also spark curiosity and get people invested in your post. People love to read posts that challenge common assumptions or introduce new ways of thinking. For instance, “The most common blogging advice is totally wrong—and here’s why.”

Promise a Solution

Let your readers know they’re in the right place to solve a problem or get valuable insights. Make it clear that they’ll walk away with something actionable. For example, “If you’re tired of writing blog posts that no one reads, keep reading—because I’m about to share 10 proven tips that will change your blogging game.”

Read: Blogging Strategies: 11 Creative Ways to Hook Your Readers

Tip #3: Write for Your Audience

One of the biggest mistakes bloggers make is writing without considering who their audience is. If you want your blog posts to resonate, you must know who you’re writing for.

Understanding your readers’ needs, challenges, and desires will make your content more relevant and engaging. Here’s how to write blog posts that people read by speaking directly to your audience:

Read: How To Find Your Ideal Customer Avatar Using AI Software

Know Your Audience’s Pain Points

To write effectively for your readers, you must first understand what problems they’re trying to solve. Whether it’s increasing traffic, improving SEO, or finding blog post ideas, addressing these pain points is key to creating valuable content. Think about the challenges your audience faces and write posts that offer solutions.

For example, if you’re writing for new bloggers, they might struggle with building an audience or monetising their blogs. Your content should focus on providing actionable tips to overcome these challenges.

Use the Right Tone and Language

The tone and language of your blog post should match your audience’s preferences and expectations. Are you writing for busy professionals who prefer quick, actionable advice? Or are you targeting hobby bloggers who enjoy in-depth, conversational content? Tailor your writing style to the type of person you’re addressing.

For instance, a post aimed at beginners might use a more casual, friendly tone, while one targeting seasoned bloggers might be more formal and focused on advanced strategies. Matching the tone to your audience ensures that your content feels personal and relatable.

Engage with Your Audience’s Interests

Understanding your audience’s interests allows you to create content that captivates them. Research what your readers are passionate about and align your topics accordingly. Use tools like Answer the Public, Google Trends, BuzzSumo, or social media polls to find out what your audience is talking about and what kinds of questions they’re asking.

For example, if you’re blogging about digital marketing and notice that your audience is particularly interested in SEO, consider creating similar content to keep them engaged.

Anticipate Their Questions

When writing blog posts, think about what your readers might be wondering. You create a stronger connection by anticipating and addressing their questions in your content. This approach makes your posts more valuable because you offer relevant information that fits their needs.

If you’re writing a post on how to start a blog, some of the questions your audience might have could include: “What platform should I use?” or “How do I get traffic to my blog?” Addressing these concerns in your post ensures readers feel understood and supported.

Speak to Their Emotions

People make decisions based on both logic and emotion. By connecting with your audience on an emotional level, you increase the chances they’ll take action. They’re more likely to sign up for your newsletter, leave a comment, or share your post. Use storytelling, relatable scenarios, and empathy to make your readers feel heard and understood.

For instance, if your post is about overcoming blogging struggles, share your personal experience with challenges and how you overcame them. This emotional connection encourages readers to engage more deeply with your content.

Address Different Levels of Expertise

When writing for an audience with varying levels of expertise, it’s essential to balance beginner-friendly content and more advanced strategies. You can do this by providing a clear structure, such as breaking your post into sections catering to novices and experienced bloggers.

For example, in a post about SEO, you could explain basic concepts like keyword research at the start and then dive deeper into advanced strategies such as link building later in the article.

Read: 38 Websites That Pay Bloggers To Write

Tip #4: Keep Paragraphs Short and Scannable

Did you know the average reader spends less than 15 seconds on a webpage before deciding whether to stay or leave? With such a short attention span, your blog posts must be easy to read and digest.

Short Paragraphs Improve Readability

Long paragraphs can overwhelm readers, especially when reading online. Large blocks of text look dense and can be intimidating, causing readers to lose interest quickly.

Instead, break your content into smaller, manageable chunks—no more than 3-4 sentences per paragraph. It makes your post feel more inviting and less like a daunting task to read.

Look at any post on this website to see how I incorporate white space into my articles. It’s called visual flow.

Use Subheadings to Guide Readers

Subheadings are essential for scannability. They act as signposts to help readers quickly navigate your post to find the information they want. Subheadings should be clear, descriptive, and relevant to the preceding section.

For example, instead of using a vague heading like “SEO Tips,” try something more specific, like:

• 5 SEO Tips Every Blogger Should Know
• How to Rank Your Blog Higher on Google
• The Secret to Writing SEO-Friendly Content

Subheadings break up your content visually and tell the reader what to expect from that section. Subheadings also help Google bots understand your content, and you can utilise keyword synonyms.

Bullet Points and Lists Make Information Digestible

Readers love lists (and so does Google). They’re easy to scan, and they provide information in bite-sized chunks. Whenever you have a series of steps, tips, or important points, format them as a list. Bullet points or numbered lists help to emphasise the key takeaways and make it easier for readers to digest your information quickly.

For instance:

• Keep sentences concise
• Use subheadings to break up content
• Highlight key takeaways with bullet points
• Keep paragraphs short (3–4 sentences max)
• Avoid overwhelming your readers with jargon

This approach helps readers quickly skim through and grasp the most crucial information. In addition, notice how I lined up the bullet points so there’s more visual flow.

Read: 7 Types of Blog Content That Google Loves

Bold and Italics for Emphasis

Highlighting important points by using bold or italics can draw attention to key takeaways and help guide the reader’s eye. Be careful not to overdo it—too much bold text can have the opposite effect and make your post more challenging to read. Use these tools sparingly to emphasise critical concepts or action steps.

Avoid Long Sentences

Long, complex sentences can be difficult to follow, especially when readers are skimming. Aim for short, clear sentences that get straight to the point. If a sentence feels long or complicated, try breaking it into two or more shorter sentences.

Tip #5: Use Visuals to Break Up Text

Using images, infographics, charts, or screenshots can make your post more engaging and visually appealing. Visuals break up the text and give your readers a moment to pause, which can improve their overall reading experience.

White space—empty areas between paragraphs, images, and text—also plays a crucial role. It makes your content feel less cluttered and gives readers room to breathe.

Avoid cramming too much information into one section or paragraph. Instead, let your content breathe by leaving adequate space around text and images.

Use Relevant Images and Infographics 

For example, if you’re explaining a step-by-step process, include screenshots or diagrams to guide readers through each stage. Infographics are also great for summarising key points or statistics, making them more memorable.

Make Sure Visuals Add Value 

In short, adding relevant visuals enhances the overall aesthetic of your post and boosts readability, helping your audience absorb the information more effectively.

Tip #6: Include Actionable Takeaways

Your readers want to walk away from your blog posts with something they can use. Whether it’s a tip, strategy, or advice, including actionable takeaways ensures your content provides real value.

Give Clear, Practical Steps 

Instead of leaving your readers with abstract ideas, offer concrete steps they can implement immediately. For example, if you’re writing about growing blog traffic, instead of just explaining the importance of SEO, provide specific actions like “optimise your blog post title with targeted keywords” or “add internal links to improve navigation.”

Focus on Results 

Always aim to tie your takeaways to results. Instead of just saying, “Improve your content,” explain how it will help them: “By improving your content quality, you can increase reader engagement and grow your audience.” It creates a direct connection between the action and the benefit.

By ensuring your blog posts have actionable takeaways, you provide real value that readers can apply, increasing the chances they’ll return for more.

Tip #7: Edit and Proofread Your Content

A well-written blog post doesn’t happen on the first draft. Editing and proofreading are essential to ensure your content is polished and professional.

Check for Grammar and Spelling Errors

Small mistakes like typos or grammatical errors can undermine your credibility. Use tools like Grammarly or Hemingway to catch these errors, but also manually read through your post to catch anything automated tools might miss.

Improve Clarity and Flow 

During editing, ensure your ideas flow logically from one paragraph to the next. Trim any unnecessary words or sentences that don’t add value to your message. Clear, concise writing keeps readers engaged and ensures they don’t lose track of your main points.

Read Aloud 

Reading your post aloud is critical to help you spot “sticky” phrasing or sentences. If something sounds off, it likely needs to be reworded. I use the “Read Aloud” tool on Microsoft Word. It’s incredible how many mistakes you “hear.”

Tip #8: Optimise for SEO

If you want your blog posts to reach a wider audience, optimising for SEO is essential. SEO helps search engines understand your content and rank it higher, making it easier for potential readers to find your posts.

Use Relevant Keywords 

Start by researching keywords that are relevant to your topic and audience. Include these keywords naturally in your title, headers, and throughout the body of your post. Avoid keyword stuffing, but place them in key areas like the introduction, subheadings, and conclusion. In addition, put your keyword in the first sentence of the article.

Optimise Meta Descriptions and Titles 

Your meta description and title tag are crucial for SEO. They appear in search engine results and influence whether people click on your post. Write compelling meta descriptions that accurately reflect the content while including your target keyword.

If you host on WordPress, add the free Yoast plugin.

Add Internal and External Links 

Linking to other relevant posts on your blog helps boost SEO and keeps readers on your site longer. Additionally, linking to authoritative external sources adds value to your content and increases credibility, which search engines reward.

Use Alt Text for Images 

Search engines can’t read images but can read the alt text. Use descriptive alt text that includes relevant keywords to help your images rank in search results.

Tip #9: Promote Your Blog Posts

Writing a great blog post is only half the battle—promoting it is just as important. Once your content is live, you need to get the word out so it reaches your target audience. I use Pinterest to link to my blog posts.

Share on Social Media 

Post your blog content on social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn to drive traffic. Tailor your message for each platform, using engaging captions and relevant hashtags to increase visibility.

Read: Is Social Media Marketing Worth It? 7 Reasons It’s Not 

Leverage Email Newsletters 

If you have an email list, use it! Share your latest blog posts with your subscribers to keep them engaged and drive repeat traffic. Encourage readers to share the post with others, helping you expand your reach.

Use Pinterest 

Pinterest is a powerful search engine that drives traffic to blogs. Create eye-catching pins for each post and share them on relevant Pinterest boards.

When you write blog posts that people read, they typically make highly clickable pins. Promoting your blog posts across multiple channels helps increase traffic and builds your brand’s presence and credibility.

Read: Make Money On Pinterest: 7 Ways Bloggers Create An Income

Tip #10: Engage with Your Readers

Building a loyal audience goes beyond publishing great content; it’s about creating a community and engaging with your readers.

Respond to Comments

Take the time to reply to comments on your blog posts. Whether it’s a question, a compliment, or feedback, engaging with readers shows that you value their input and helps foster a sense of community around your content.

Ask Questions and Encourage Interaction

Encourage readers to comment by asking questions at the end of your posts. For example, “What’s your biggest blogging challenge?” or “Have you tried these tips before?” Questions like these, invite discussion and makes your readers feel involved in the conversation.

Create Polls and Surveys

Conduct polls or surveys to learn more about your readers’ preferences and what they want to see on your blog. They can provide valuable insights and make your readers feel heard and involved.

Conclusion

In conclusion, blogging isn’t just about creating content—it’s about creating value and fostering connections with your audience.

If you want to write blog posts that people read, follow these tips. You’ll be well on your way to building a successful, impactful (and profitable) blog.

Keep refining your approach, stay consistent, and remember that the key to blogging success is always putting your audience first. Happy blogging!