{"id":146254,"date":"2022-09-02T01:00:00","date_gmt":"2022-09-02T06:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/?p=146254"},"modified":"2025-12-18T09:09:05","modified_gmt":"2025-12-18T14:09:05","slug":"how-to-write-a-blog-post","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/how-to-write-a-blog-post\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Write a Blog Post (That People Actually Want to Read) in 9&nbsp;Steps"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"intro-txt\">Type a couple of hundred words and publish them somewhere\u2014poof, you have a blog post. Or do&nbsp;you?<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>If a blog post is published and no one reads it, is it still a blog&nbsp;post?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Anyone can write a blog post. But <strong>not everyone<\/strong> can create one that people want to&nbsp;read.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In this post, you\u2019ll learn how to write blog posts that <em>actually <\/em>get readers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"intro-tok\" id=\"intro_tok\" style=\"display:none;\"><div class=\"intro-title\">Contents<\/div><a href=\"#\" class=\"expand-dots\"><span><\/span><span><\/span><span><\/span><\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Let\u2019s get started.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"post-nav-link clearfix\" id=\"section1\"><a class=\"subhead-anchor\" data-tip=\"tooltip__copielink\" rel=\"#section1\"><svg width=\"19\" height=\"19\" viewBox=\"0 0 14 14\" style><g fill=\"none\" fill-rule=\"evenodd\"><path d=\"M0 0h14v14H0z\" \/><path d=\"M7.45 9.887l-1.62 1.621c-.92.92-2.418.92-3.338 0a2.364 2.364 0 0 1 0-3.339l1.62-1.62-1.273-1.272-1.62 1.62a4.161 4.161 0 1 0 5.885 5.884l1.62-1.62L7.45 9.886zM5.527 5.135L7.17 3.492c.92-.92 2.418-.92 3.339 0 .92.92.92 2.418 0 3.339L8.866 8.473l1.272 1.273 1.644-1.643A4.161 4.161 0 1 0 5.897 2.22L4.254 3.863l1.272 1.272zm-.66 3.998a.749.749 0 0 1 0-1.06l2.208-2.206a.749.749 0 1 1 1.06 1.06L5.928 9.133a.75.75 0 0 1-1.061 0z\" style \/><\/g><\/svg><\/a><div class=\"link-text\" data-anchor=\"Step 1. Find a proven topic\" data-section=\"find-proven-topic\">\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Step 1. Find a proven topic<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>A proven topic is a topic that people want to read&nbsp;about.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you\u2019re familiar with the niche, then this shouldn\u2019t be a biggie. You probably already have a lot of ideas you want to cover. Open Google Docs and write all of them down (use a notepad if you prefer analog).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Otherwise, there\u2019s no better way to find proven topics than to write about topics people are searching for. After all, if there are many people searching for the same topic month after month, then it\u2019s <strong>very likely <\/strong>it\u2019s something they want to read&nbsp;about.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Here\u2019s how to find these topics in Keywords Explorer:<\/p>\n<div style=\"position: relative; padding-bottom: calc(58.266666666666666% + 41px); height: 0; width: 100%;\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" style=\"position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; color-scheme: light;\" title=\"Keywords Explorer - Ahrefs\" src=\"https:\/\/demo.arcade.software\/6jXpw90RkKJjlutOo8rg?embed&amp;show_copy_link=true\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/div>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Go to Ahrefs\u2019 <a href=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/keywords-explorer\">Keywords Explorer<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Enter a term relevant to your site or&nbsp;niche<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Go to the <strong>Matching terms <\/strong>report<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Switch the tab to <strong>Questions<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n\n\n<p>Shop around a little and look for the topics that interest you. Make a list\u20145 to 10 should be enough to start&nbsp;with.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Ideally, they should have some traffic potential too. Our metric, Traffic Potential, is the estimated amount of search traffic you can potentially gain if you rank #1 for that topic. You can see if a topic has Traffic Potential by looking at the <strong>TP<\/strong> column.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"post-nav-link clearfix\" id=\"section1\"><a class=\"subhead-anchor\" data-tip=\"tooltip__copielink\" rel=\"#section1\"><svg width=\"19\" height=\"19\" viewBox=\"0 0 14 14\" style><g fill=\"none\" fill-rule=\"evenodd\"><path d=\"M0 0h14v14H0z\" \/><path d=\"M7.45 9.887l-1.62 1.621c-.92.92-2.418.92-3.338 0a2.364 2.364 0 0 1 0-3.339l1.62-1.62-1.273-1.272-1.62 1.62a4.161 4.161 0 1 0 5.885 5.884l1.62-1.62L7.45 9.886zM5.527 5.135L7.17 3.492c.92-.92 2.418-.92 3.339 0 .92.92.92 2.418 0 3.339L8.866 8.473l1.272 1.273 1.644-1.643A4.161 4.161 0 1 0 5.897 2.22L4.254 3.863l1.272 1.272zm-.66 3.998a.749.749 0 0 1 0-1.06l2.208-2.206a.749.749 0 1 1 1.06 1.06L5.928 9.133a.75.75 0 0 1-1.061 0z\" style \/><\/g><\/svg><\/a><div class=\"link-text\" data-anchor=\"Step 2. Decide on the angle of your post\" data-section=\"decide-post-angle\">\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Step 2. Decide on the angle of your&nbsp;post<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>With more than <a href=\"https:\/\/www.envisagedigital.co.uk\/number-blog-posts-published-daily\/\">4.4 million new blog posts<\/a> published each day, your blog post has to stand out. Otherwise, it won\u2019t get discovered and no one will read&nbsp;it.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The key ingredient here is novelty.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>According to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.julian.com\/guide\/write\/ideas\">Julian Shapiro<\/a>, there are five novelty categories:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Counter-intuitive<\/strong> \u2013 \u201cOh, I never realized the world worked that&nbsp;way.\u201d<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Counter-narrative<\/strong> \u2013 \u201cWow, that\u2019s not how I was told the world worked!\u201d<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Shock and awe<\/strong> \u2013 \u201cThat\u2019s crazy. I would have never believed it.\u201d<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Elegant articulations<\/strong> \u2013 \u201cBeautiful. I couldn\u2019t have said it better myself.\u201d<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Make someone feel seen<\/strong> \u2013 \u201cYes! That\u2019s exactly how I&nbsp;feel!\u201d<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p>For example, check out <a href=\"https:\/\/www.collaborativefund.com\/blog\/story\/\">this blog post<\/a> by finance writer <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/morganhousel\">Morgan Housel<\/a>:&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-146279\" style=\"width: 523px; height: 214px;\" src=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/2-morgan-housel-blog-post.png\" alt=\"An example of a blog post written by Morgan Housel\" width=\"523\" height=\"214\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/2-morgan-housel-blog-post.png 1494w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/2-morgan-housel-blog-post-680x279.png 680w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/2-morgan-housel-blog-post-768x315.png 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 523px) 100vw, 523px\"><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>He states something that is counter-intuitive to what most people know and think. The best idea or \u201ctruth\u201d doesn\u2019t win\u2014instead, the best story does. This is incredibly compelling to people in his field of finance. Indeed, it stands out from the other news-based, fact-driven kind of articles they&nbsp;read.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Morgan does this all the time. He rarely writes about finance directly\u2014instead, he\u2019s always looking at the topic from the lenses of history, biology, anthropology, psychology, and more. It makes his posts unique, and the angle of his articles always stands out.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It\u2019s what you must do. So take your time and think of an angle that is unique and novel to your target audience. Use these questions to get started:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Do you have personal experience with this topic?<\/strong> For example, if you\u2019ve successfully implemented the keto diet, you can write about your experience and how you did&nbsp;it.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Can you interview experts?<\/strong> For example, you can interview an expert about the latest research and findings in the keto&nbsp;world.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Can you crowdsource opinions and ideas?<\/strong> For example, if you\u2019re writing about making keto-friendly ice cream, you can crowdsource recipes.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Can you provide data or back your post with science?<\/strong> Consider running a study (if possible) or looking through scientific research papers.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Can you be contrarian?<\/strong> Don\u2019t be the devil\u2019s advocate just for the sake of it. But if you truly have an opinion that\u2019s opposite to everyone else\u2019s, it can be a great&nbsp;angle.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"editor-note\"><div class=\"editor-title\">Editor\u2019s Note<\/div><div class=\"editor-content\">\n\n\n\n<p>If you\u2019re blogging with SEO in mind, then you\u2019ll likely have to match search intent. Search intent is the <em>why <\/em>behind a search query. We can look at the current top-ranking pages to figure it&nbsp;out.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Specifically, we want to understand the three Cs of search intent:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Content type<\/strong> \u2013 Is there a dominant type of content on the SERP, such as blog posts, product pages, videos, or landing pages? If you followed step #1, this is most likely a blog&nbsp;post.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Content format<\/strong> \u2013 Is there a dominant content format on the SERP, such as guides, listicles, news articles, opinion pieces, or reviews?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Content angle<\/strong> \u2013 Is there a dominant angle on the SERP, such as freshly updated content or content aimed at beginners?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>For example, let\u2019s look at the topic of \u201cdate&nbsp;ideas\u201d:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1764\" height=\"1028\" class=\"wp-image-146281\" src=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/3-serp-overview.png\" alt=\"SERP overview for the query &quot;date ideas,&quot; via Ahrefs' Keywords Explorer\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/3-serp-overview.png 1764w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/3-serp-overview-680x396.png 680w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/3-serp-overview-768x448.png 768w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/3-serp-overview-1536x895.png 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1764px) 100vw, 1764px\"><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Content type<\/strong> \u2013 They\u2019re all blog&nbsp;posts.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Content format<\/strong> \u2013 They\u2019re all listicles.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Content angle<\/strong> \u2013 A potential angle is \u201cfun date&nbsp;ideas.\u201d&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>If you\u2019re writing about this topic, you may have to create something similar.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But note that this is <strong>not<\/strong> a rule but a guideline. Even if your post is ranking high on Google, it <em>still<\/em> has to stand out from the rest of the ranking articles. So it goes back to finding a novel and unique angle for your article. If you can create one that\u2019s better than the other top-ranking articles, go for&nbsp;it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/div><div class=\"editor-info clearfix\"><div class=\"editor-photo\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Joshua Hardwick\" src=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/me.jpg\"><\/div><div class=\"extra-box\"><div class=\"editor\">Joshua Hardwick<\/div><div class=\"editor-job\">Head of Content<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"post-nav-link clearfix\" id=\"section1\"><a class=\"subhead-anchor\" data-tip=\"tooltip__copielink\" rel=\"#section1\"><svg width=\"19\" height=\"19\" viewBox=\"0 0 14 14\" style><g fill=\"none\" fill-rule=\"evenodd\"><path d=\"M0 0h14v14H0z\" \/><path d=\"M7.45 9.887l-1.62 1.621c-.92.92-2.418.92-3.338 0a2.364 2.364 0 0 1 0-3.339l1.62-1.62-1.273-1.272-1.62 1.62a4.161 4.161 0 1 0 5.885 5.884l1.62-1.62L7.45 9.886zM5.527 5.135L7.17 3.492c.92-.92 2.418-.92 3.339 0 .92.92.92 2.418 0 3.339L8.866 8.473l1.272 1.273 1.644-1.643A4.161 4.161 0 1 0 5.897 2.22L4.254 3.863l1.272 1.272zm-.66 3.998a.749.749 0 0 1 0-1.06l2.208-2.206a.749.749 0 1 1 1.06 1.06L5.928 9.133a.75.75 0 0 1-1.061 0z\" style \/><\/g><\/svg><\/a><div class=\"link-text\" data-anchor=\"Step 3. Create an outline\" data-section=\"create-outline\">\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Step 3. Create an outline<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>When I started blogging, I was told to always <a href=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/blog-post-outline\/\">create an outline<\/a>. This is one of the <a href=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/blogging-tips\/\">best blogging tips<\/a> I\u2019ve gotten.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Outlines help to organize your thoughts and even beat writer\u2019s block. When you have an outline, you\u2019re not writing from scratch. Instead, you\u2019re filling the \u201cgaps\u201d in&nbsp;it.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>What\u2019s even better is that you don\u2019t have to create the outline from scratch either. Spend enough time online, and you\u2019ll realize that most blog posts\u2019 structures are pretty much the&nbsp;same.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>So don\u2019t be afraid to use templates. For example, we use this template for almost all our list-style posts:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-146282\" style=\"width: 450px; height: 794px;\" src=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/4-listicle-template.png\" alt=\"A template for writing listicles\" width=\"450\" height=\"794\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/4-listicle-template.png 900w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/4-listicle-template-241x425.png 241w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/4-listicle-template-768x1354.png 768w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/4-listicle-template-871x1536.png 871w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 450px) 100vw, 450px\"><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Here are <a href=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/blog-post-templates\/\">three more templates<\/a> for other blog post styles you can&nbsp;use.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>When you have the skeletal structure in place, the next step is to figure out what you need to fill in, especially the H2s, H3s, H4s, and more. Here are some ideas to help you&nbsp;out:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">A. Use your personal experience and expertise<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Nothing beats your own experience and expertise. If you know there\u2019s a right way to do something, use that knowledge to create your outline.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For example, I\u2019ve been breakdancing for more than 10 years now. If I had to create a blog post on how to do the six-step, I wouldn\u2019t even need to do any research\u2014I can simply pour the information directly from my&nbsp;brain.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">B. Run a content gap analysis<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>If there are subtopics that almost all the top-ranking pages cover, then it\u2019s likely that they\u2019re important to readers too.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Here\u2019s how to find these subtopics with Ahrefs\u2019 Competitive Analysis tool:<\/p>\n<div style=\"position: relative; padding-bottom: calc(58.25% + 41px); height: 0; width: 100%;\"><iframe style=\"position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; color-scheme: light;\" title=\"Competitive Analysis - Ahrefs\" src=\"https:\/\/demo.arcade.software\/LkQxk5PH2DWIejcy3LX2?embed&amp;show_copy_link=true\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/div>\n\n<!-- \/wp:post-content -->\n<!-- wp:list {\"ordered\":true} -->\n<ol><!-- wp:list-item -->\n<li>Paste a few top-ranking URLs for your main topic into Ahrefs\u2019 <a href=\"https:\/\/app.ahrefs.com\/competitive-analysis\">Competitive Analysis Tool<\/a><\/li>\n<!-- \/wp:list-item -->\n\n<!-- wp:list-item -->\n<li>Hit <strong>Show keyword opportunities<\/strong><\/li>\n<li>Open the filter<\/li>\n<!-- \/wp:list-item -->\n\n<!-- wp:list-item \/-->\n\n<!-- wp:list-item -->\n<li>Select <strong>At least 2 competitors<\/strong><\/li>\n<!-- \/wp:list-item --><\/ol>\n<!-- \/wp:list -->\n\n<!-- wp:image {\"id\":146284,\"width\":672,\"height\":520,\"sizeSlug\":\"full\",\"linkDestination\":\"none\"} \/-->\n\n<!-- wp:image {\"id\":146285,\"sizeSlug\":\"full\",\"linkDestination\":\"none\"} \/-->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Here, you\u2019ll see that these pages are ranking for subtopics like:<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:list -->\n<ul><!-- wp:list-item -->\n<li><em>What is inbound marketing<\/em><\/li>\n<!-- \/wp:list-item -->\n\n<!-- wp:list-item -->\n<li><em>Inbound marketing strategy<\/em><\/li>\n<!-- \/wp:list-item -->\n\n<!-- wp:list-item -->\n<li><em>Inbound marketing definition<\/em><\/li>\n<!-- \/wp:list-item --><\/ul>\n<!-- \/wp:list -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>And more.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>If you\u2019re writing a blog post on \u201cinbound marketing,\u201d they\u2019ll likely make good&nbsp;H2s.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Note that your goal is not to copy and rephrase the top-ranking pages. The internet\u2019s full of that\u2014cookie-cutter content no one\u2019s interested in.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Your goal is simply to use top-ranking pages as inspiration. If they make good points, you can consider including them in your post. If they\u2019re stating something that\u2019s completely wrong, then even better\u2014take the chance to correct the misconceptions.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<div class=\"post-nav-link clearfix\" id=\"section1\"><a class=\"subhead-anchor\" data-tip=\"tooltip__copielink\" rel=\"#section1\"><svg width=\"19\" height=\"19\" viewBox=\"0 0 14 14\" style><g fill=\"none\" fill-rule=\"evenodd\"><path d=\"M0 0h14v14H0z\" \/><path d=\"M7.45 9.887l-1.62 1.621c-.92.92-2.418.92-3.338 0a2.364 2.364 0 0 1 0-3.339l1.62-1.62-1.273-1.272-1.62 1.62a4.161 4.161 0 1 0 5.885 5.884l1.62-1.62L7.45 9.886zM5.527 5.135L7.17 3.492c.92-.92 2.418-.92 3.339 0 .92.92.92 2.418 0 3.339L8.866 8.473l1.272 1.273 1.644-1.643A4.161 4.161 0 1 0 5.897 2.22L4.254 3.863l1.272 1.272zm-.66 3.998a.749.749 0 0 1 0-1.06l2.208-2.206a.749.749 0 1 1 1.06 1.06L5.928 9.133a.75.75 0 0 1-1.061 0z\" style \/><\/g><\/svg><\/a><div class=\"link-text\" data-anchor=\"Step 4. Write your first draft\" data-section=\"write-first-draft\">\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading -->\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Step 4. Write your first&nbsp;draft<\/h2>\n<!-- \/wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<\/div><\/div>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>With your outline in place, it\u2019s time to flesh that skeleton out into a rough&nbsp;draft.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>I write mostly in Google Docs. An immediate perk is that I can turn the headings I\u2019ve created into actual headings. I just have to click the \u201cStyles\u201d dropdown on the menu and change them:<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:image {\"id\":146286,\"width\":196,\"height\":385,\"sizeSlug\":\"full\",\"linkDestination\":\"none\"} -->\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-146286\" style=\"width: 196px; height: 385px;\" src=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/7-styles-dropdown.png\" alt=\"The &quot;Styles&quot; dropdown in Google Docs\" width=\"196\" height=\"385\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/7-styles-dropdown.png 261w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/7-styles-dropdown-216x425.png 216w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 196px) 100vw, 196px\"><\/figure>\n<!-- \/wp:image -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>You\u2019ll be able to see your outline on the side&nbsp;too:<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:image {\"id\":146348,\"width\":268,\"height\":486,\"sizeSlug\":\"full\",\"linkDestination\":\"none\"} -->\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-146348\" style=\"width: 268px; height: 486px;\" src=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/8-outline-google-docs.png\" alt=\"Outline of this post, as shown in Google Docs\" width=\"268\" height=\"486\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/8-outline-google-docs.png 536w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/8-outline-google-docs-234x425.png 234w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 268px) 100vw, 268px\"><\/figure>\n<!-- \/wp:image -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>From here, use your headers as a guide and write your first draft. This stage is all about \u201cgetting it out.\u201d That&nbsp;means:&nbsp;<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:list -->\n<ul><!-- wp:list-item -->\n<li>Avoiding any interruptions to your writing.<\/li>\n<!-- \/wp:list-item -->\n\n<!-- wp:list-item -->\n<li>Not self-censoring as you go&nbsp;along.<\/li>\n<!-- \/wp:list-item -->\n\n<!-- wp:list-item -->\n<li>Not repeatedly rearranging your outline to make things flow better.<\/li>\n<!-- \/wp:list-item -->\n\n<!-- wp:list-item -->\n<li>Not rewriting the same sentence 10 times just because it \u201cdoesn\u2019t read quite&nbsp;right.\u201d&nbsp;\ud83d\ude05<\/li>\n<!-- \/wp:list-item --><\/ul>\n<!-- \/wp:list -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>I know, I know. It\u2019s easier said than done. Still, try to minimize interruptions. There\u2019s time to edit for perfection later\u2014this stage is all about getting everything down on paper (or screen) so you have something tangible to work with. As author <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Shannon_Hale\">Shannon Hale<\/a> writes:<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:quote -->\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote\"><!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>I\u2019m writing a first draft and reminding myself that I\u2019m simply shoveling sand into a box so that later I can build castles.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph --><\/blockquote>\n<!-- \/wp:quote -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>One \u201ctrick\u201d you can consider is to use the <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Pomodoro_Technique\">Pomodoro Technique<\/a>. It\u2019s my go-to if I\u2019m stuck, distracted, or procrastinating.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>The basic idea: Set a timer for 25 minutes, write as much as you can, then take a break for five minutes. Rinse and repeat. You can use a Chrome extension like <a href=\"https:\/\/chrome.google.com\/webstore\/detail\/marinara-pomodoro%C2%AE-assist\/lojgmehidjdhhbmpjfamhpkpodfcodef?hl=en-GB\">Marinara<\/a> to automate your Pomodoros.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<div class=\"recommendation\"><div class=\"recommendation-title\">Recommendation<\/div><div class=\"recommendation-content\"> Struggling to put pen to paper because you can\u2019t figure out your intro? Use the PAS formula to get started. Here\u2019s how it&nbsp;works:\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:list {\"ordered\":true} -->\n<ol><!-- wp:list-item -->\n<li>State the <strong>P<\/strong>roblem<\/li>\n<!-- \/wp:list-item -->\n\n<!-- wp:list-item -->\n<li><strong>A<\/strong>gitate the problem by digging more into the pain (felt by the reader)<\/li>\n<!-- \/wp:list-item -->\n\n<!-- wp:list-item -->\n<li>Offer a potential <strong>S<\/strong>olution<\/li>\n<!-- \/wp:list-item --><\/ol>\n<!-- \/wp:list -->\n\n<!-- wp:image {\"id\":146288,\"width\":576,\"height\":569,\"sizeSlug\":\"full\",\"linkDestination\":\"none\"} -->\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-146288\" style=\"width: 576px; height: 569px;\" src=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/9-pas-formula.png\" alt=\"An illustration of the PAS formula\" width=\"576\" height=\"569\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/9-pas-formula.png 768w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/9-pas-formula-431x425.png 431w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 576px) 100vw, 576px\"><\/figure>\n<!-- \/wp:image -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Here\u2019s what it looks like in the&nbsp;wild:<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:image {\"id\":146289,\"width\":576,\"height\":911,\"sizeSlug\":\"full\",\"linkDestination\":\"none\"} -->\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-146289\" style=\"width: 576px; height: 911px;\" src=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/10-pas-formula.png\" alt=\"An example of the PAS formula in action\" width=\"576\" height=\"911\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/10-pas-formula.png 768w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/10-pas-formula-269x425.png 269w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 576px) 100vw, 576px\"><\/figure>\n<!-- \/wp:image -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<\/div><\/div>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<div class=\"post-nav-link clearfix\" id=\"section1\"><a class=\"subhead-anchor\" data-tip=\"tooltip__copielink\" rel=\"#section1\"><svg width=\"19\" height=\"19\" viewBox=\"0 0 14 14\" style><g fill=\"none\" fill-rule=\"evenodd\"><path d=\"M0 0h14v14H0z\" \/><path d=\"M7.45 9.887l-1.62 1.621c-.92.92-2.418.92-3.338 0a2.364 2.364 0 0 1 0-3.339l1.62-1.62-1.273-1.272-1.62 1.62a4.161 4.161 0 1 0 5.885 5.884l1.62-1.62L7.45 9.886zM5.527 5.135L7.17 3.492c.92-.92 2.418-.92 3.339 0 .92.92.92 2.418 0 3.339L8.866 8.473l1.272 1.273 1.644-1.643A4.161 4.161 0 1 0 5.897 2.22L4.254 3.863l1.272 1.272zm-.66 3.998a.749.749 0 0 1 0-1.06l2.208-2.206a.749.749 0 1 1 1.06 1.06L5.928 9.133a.75.75 0 0 1-1.061 0z\" style \/><\/g><\/svg><\/a><div class=\"link-text\" data-anchor=\"Step 5. Polish and edit your post\" data-section=\"polish-edit-post\">\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading -->\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Step 5. Polish and edit your&nbsp;post<\/h2>\n<!-- \/wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<\/div><\/div>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<blockquote class=\"small\"><div class=\"quote-content\">\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>\u201cI have rewritten\u2014often several times\u2014every word I have ever published. My pencils outlast their erasers.\u201d&nbsp;<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<\/div><div class=\"quote-info clearfix\"><div class=\"quote-photo\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Vladimir Nabokov\" src=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/220px-Vladimir_Nabokov_1973.jpg\"><\/div><div class=\"extra-box\"><span class=\"quote-author\">Vladimir Nabokov,<\/span> <span class=\"quote-author-job\">Novelist<\/span><\/div><\/div><\/blockquote>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Here\u2019s the surprise: Even though the activity is known as \u201cwriting,\u201d the magic is not in that. Rather, it\u2019s in the editing phase where the true blog post appears.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>This stage\u2014after you\u2019re done with your first draft\u2014is all about editing, polishing, trimming, and rewriting.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>My recommendation is to only edit after one or two days have passed. Why? Because you\u2019re too emotionally invested when you\u2019re first done drafting. The time gap will be helpful to remove this attachment so you can actually edit with fresh&nbsp;eyes.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Here\u2019s what you can do during the editing process:<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:list -->\n<ul><!-- wp:list-item -->\n<li><strong>Use <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.grammarly.com\/\"><strong>Grammarly<\/strong><\/a> \u2013 Great for checking grammar mistakes.<\/li>\n<!-- \/wp:list-item -->\n\n<!-- wp:list-item -->\n<li><strong>Read your draft out loud<\/strong> \u2013 Catch where it doesn\u2019t flow&nbsp;well.<\/li>\n<!-- \/wp:list-item -->\n\n<!-- wp:list-item -->\n<li><strong>Break up long sentences<\/strong> \u2013 Turn sentences with endless \u201cands\u201d and \u201cthats\u201d into short, punchier ones.<\/li>\n<!-- \/wp:list-item -->\n\n<!-- wp:list-item -->\n<li><strong>Add formatting where relevant <\/strong>\u2013 Images, GIFs, bullets, numbered lists, bold, italics, and more make your writing easier to&nbsp;read.<\/li>\n<!-- \/wp:list-item -->\n\n<!-- wp:list-item -->\n<li><strong>Pepper in \u201cflow\u201d<\/strong> \u2013 Wherever the opportunity arises, consider adding <a href=\"https:\/\/writeonline.io\/blog\/bucket-brigade-copywriting\/\">transition words and cliffhangers<\/a> so that the rhythm of your post is not static.<\/li>\n<!-- \/wp:list-item --><\/ul>\n<!-- \/wp:list -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>You should also pay extra attention to your intro, as that is how your reader will decide if they will continue reading.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>When you\u2019re done with the self-editing, get feedback from someone else. If you have an editor to show your draft to, great. Otherwise, a friend or colleague works absolutely fine as&nbsp;well.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>What\u2019s important here is to get an impartial pair of eyes on your&nbsp;work.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Chances are that a third party will be able to point out things like logical loopholes and poor flow that you won\u2019t be able to spot on your&nbsp;own.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>We do this for every blog post at Ahrefs. We even \u201ccall out\u201d the contributors:<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:image {\"id\":146290,\"width\":560,\"height\":287,\"sizeSlug\":\"full\",\"linkDestination\":\"none\"} -->\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-146290\" style=\"width: 560px; height: 287px;\" src=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/11-contributors.jpg\" alt=\"We show the contributors for each Ahrefs' blog post in the author's box\" width=\"560\" height=\"287\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/11-contributors.jpg 1244w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/11-contributors-680x349.jpg 680w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/11-contributors-768x394.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 560px) 100vw, 560px\"><\/figure>\n<!-- \/wp:image -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>When they\u2019re done, incorporate their feedback where relevant. Build off their ideas and opinions to produce the best piece of work possible.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Take the time to think about each point that was made. Set aside your ego and really try to see things from a third party\u2019s perspective: Which points do you agree with, which are you unsure about, and which do you definitely not agree&nbsp;with?<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Make edits based on the suggestions you believe in and leave out the things you feel strongly against (but be sure to have a logical explanation for doing this). If you\u2019re on the fence, it all comes down to how much you trust the person giving you feedback.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Also, be careful not to accidentally adopt the writing style of a third party, especially if they give feedback in long form or if you\u2019re incorporating many of their suggestions. Again, if possible, take a break from drafting and work on something else. Then, when you come back to it, try and rewrite the section in your own voice and&nbsp;style.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Now is the time to rewrite sentences until they \u201csound right\u201d or rearrange your points over and over again until they flow the best they&nbsp;can.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Keep getting feedback and revising your draft until you\u2019re happy with the final product.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<div class=\"post-nav-link clearfix\" id=\"section1\"><a class=\"subhead-anchor\" data-tip=\"tooltip__copielink\" rel=\"#section1\"><svg width=\"19\" height=\"19\" viewBox=\"0 0 14 14\" style><g fill=\"none\" fill-rule=\"evenodd\"><path d=\"M0 0h14v14H0z\" \/><path d=\"M7.45 9.887l-1.62 1.621c-.92.92-2.418.92-3.338 0a2.364 2.364 0 0 1 0-3.339l1.62-1.62-1.273-1.272-1.62 1.62a4.161 4.161 0 1 0 5.885 5.884l1.62-1.62L7.45 9.886zM5.527 5.135L7.17 3.492c.92-.92 2.418-.92 3.339 0 .92.92.92 2.418 0 3.339L8.866 8.473l1.272 1.273 1.644-1.643A4.161 4.161 0 1 0 5.897 2.22L4.254 3.863l1.272 1.272zm-.66 3.998a.749.749 0 0 1 0-1.06l2.208-2.206a.749.749 0 1 1 1.06 1.06L5.928 9.133a.75.75 0 0 1-1.061 0z\" style \/><\/g><\/svg><\/a><div class=\"link-text\" data-anchor=\"Step 6. Create an amazing headline\" data-section=\"create-amazing-headline\">\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading -->\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Step 6. Create an amazing headline<\/h2>\n<!-- \/wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<\/div><\/div>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<blockquote class=\"small\"><div class=\"quote-content\">\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>\u201cOn the average, five times as many people read the headline as read the body&nbsp;copy.\u201d<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<\/div><div class=\"quote-info clearfix\"><div class=\"quote-photo\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"David Ogilvy\" src=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/the-life-and-work-of-david-ogilvy.jpg\"><\/div><div class=\"extra-box\"><span class=\"quote-author\">David Ogilvy,<\/span> <span class=\"quote-author-job\">Advertising Tycoon<\/span><\/div><\/div><\/blockquote>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Your headline is one of the most important aspects of your blog post. It determines whether someone decides to click through and read. So you should take the time and polish it until it is compelling.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Don\u2019t stop on the first headline you create. Come up with a few and see which one looks best. Viral site Upworthy notoriously created 25 headlines for each article it published.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:image {\"id\":146291,\"width\":581,\"height\":563,\"sizeSlug\":\"full\",\"linkDestination\":\"none\"} -->\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-146291\" style=\"width: 581px; height: 563px;\" src=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/12-quora-answer.jpg\" alt=\"A reply on Quora by the former editor-at-large at Upworthy\" width=\"581\" height=\"563\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/12-quora-answer.jpg 1292w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/12-quora-answer-439x425.jpg 439w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/12-quora-answer-768x743.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 581px) 100vw, 581px\"><\/figure>\n<!-- \/wp:image -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>I\u2019m not asking you to create clickbait headlines like it. But the exercise can be a fruitful one. As singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran puts it, and I paraphrase, \u201cIt helps to clear the wastewater from the faucet.\u201d<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:embed {\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=EbU8MSpqTac\\u0026amp;ab_channel=TeresaHoskins\",\"type\":\"video\",\"providerNameSlug\":\"youtube\",\"responsive\":true,\"className\":\"wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"} -->\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=EbU8MSpqTac&amp;ab_channel=TeresaHoskins<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<!-- \/wp:embed -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>That said, here are some tips for writing better headlines:<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:list -->\n<ul><!-- wp:list-item -->\n<li><strong>Use \u201cpower words\u201d<\/strong> \u2013 Words like \u201cremarkable\u201d and \u201cnoteworthy\u201d help trigger an emotional response. Sprinkling one or two can make your headlines more compelling.&nbsp;<\/li>\n<!-- \/wp:list-item -->\n\n<!-- wp:list-item -->\n<li><strong>Add parentheses<\/strong> \u2013 Parentheses strengthen your title tag by adding the \u201cicing on the&nbsp;cake.\u201d<\/li>\n<!-- \/wp:list-item --><\/ul>\n<!-- \/wp:list -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<div class=\"further-reading\"><div class=\"reading-title\">Further reading<\/div><div class=\"reading-content\">\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:list -->\n<ul><!-- wp:list-item -->\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/how-to-write-a-headline\/\">How to Write an Irresistible Headline in 3 Easy&nbsp;Steps<\/a><\/li>\n<!-- \/wp:list-item -->\n\n<!-- wp:list-item -->\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/blog-title-formulas\/\">7 Blog Title Formulas That Get Clicks (With Examples)<\/a>&nbsp;<\/li>\n<!-- \/wp:list-item --><\/ul>\n<!-- \/wp:list -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<\/div><\/div>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<div class=\"post-nav-link clearfix\" id=\"section1\"><a class=\"subhead-anchor\" data-tip=\"tooltip__copielink\" rel=\"#section1\"><svg width=\"19\" height=\"19\" viewBox=\"0 0 14 14\" style><g fill=\"none\" fill-rule=\"evenodd\"><path d=\"M0 0h14v14H0z\" \/><path d=\"M7.45 9.887l-1.62 1.621c-.92.92-2.418.92-3.338 0a2.364 2.364 0 0 1 0-3.339l1.62-1.62-1.273-1.272-1.62 1.62a4.161 4.161 0 1 0 5.885 5.884l1.62-1.62L7.45 9.886zM5.527 5.135L7.17 3.492c.92-.92 2.418-.92 3.339 0 .92.92.92 2.418 0 3.339L8.866 8.473l1.272 1.273 1.644-1.643A4.161 4.161 0 1 0 5.897 2.22L4.254 3.863l1.272 1.272zm-.66 3.998a.749.749 0 0 1 0-1.06l2.208-2.206a.749.749 0 1 1 1.06 1.06L5.928 9.133a.75.75 0 0 1-1.061 0z\" style \/><\/g><\/svg><\/a><div class=\"link-text\" data-anchor=\"Step 7. Sprinkle on your on-page SEO\" data-section=\"sprinkle-onpage-seo\">\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading -->\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Step 7. Sprinkle on your on-page SEO<\/h2>\n<!-- \/wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<\/div><\/div>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Even if you\u2019re not blogging with SEO in mind, you\u2019ll want search engines like Google to find your post and rank it. After all, Googling is still one of the major ways people discover new content to read online.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>It\u2019s a good idea to follow simple <a href=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/seo-best-practices\/\">SEO best practices<\/a> for every blog post you\u2019re publishing. At the basic level, you should:<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:list -->\n<ul><!-- wp:list-item -->\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/title-tag-seo\/\"><strong>Include the topic in the title<\/strong><\/a> \u2013 You\u2019ve probably naturally included this while you were brainstorming your headlines. After all, if you\u2019re writing about intermittent fasting, it\u2019s difficult to <strong>not <\/strong>mention it. Don\u2019t worry if you haven\u2019t, though; a close variation works&nbsp;too.<\/li>\n<!-- \/wp:list-item -->\n\n<!-- wp:list-item -->\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/meta-description\/\"><strong>Write a compelling meta description<\/strong><\/a> \u2013 This is not a Google ranking factor, but it helps to \u201csell\u201d your article in the search results.&nbsp;<\/li>\n<!-- \/wp:list-item -->\n\n<!-- wp:list-item -->\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/seo-friendly-urls\/\"><strong>Use short, descriptive URLs<\/strong><\/a> \u2013 This type of URLs makes it easy for searchers to understand what your post is about. The simplest way is to make the <a href=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/seo\/glossary\/url-slug\">slug<\/a> your&nbsp;topic.&nbsp;<\/li>\n<!-- \/wp:list-item -->\n\n<!-- wp:list-item -->\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/alt-text\/#how-to-write-good-alt-text\"><strong>Add alt text to your images<\/strong><\/a> \u2013 Google uses alt text to understand images. Create a concise but accurate one for every image you&nbsp;use.&nbsp;<\/li>\n<!-- \/wp:list-item -->\n\n<!-- wp:list-item -->\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/internal-links-for-seo\/\"><strong>Link to internal<\/strong><\/a><strong> and external resources<\/strong> \u2013 Cite other people where relevant. It\u2019s also helpful for readers who want to learn&nbsp;more.&nbsp;<\/li>\n<!-- \/wp:list-item --><\/ul>\n<!-- \/wp:list -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>If you\u2019re using a content management system (CMS) like WordPress, installing plugins like <a href=\"https:\/\/wordpress.org\/plugins\/wordpress-seo\/\">Yoast<\/a> or <a href=\"https:\/\/wordpress.org\/plugins\/seo-by-rank-math\/\">RankMath<\/a> can make doing all of this a&nbsp;cinch.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p><strong>Recommended reading:<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/seo\/on-page-seo\" data-ahr=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/on-page-seo\/\"><em>On-Page SEO: The Beginner\u2019s Guide<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<div class=\"post-nav-link clearfix\" id=\"section1\"><a class=\"subhead-anchor\" data-tip=\"tooltip__copielink\" rel=\"#section1\"><svg width=\"19\" height=\"19\" viewBox=\"0 0 14 14\" style><g fill=\"none\" fill-rule=\"evenodd\"><path d=\"M0 0h14v14H0z\" \/><path d=\"M7.45 9.887l-1.62 1.621c-.92.92-2.418.92-3.338 0a2.364 2.364 0 0 1 0-3.339l1.62-1.62-1.273-1.272-1.62 1.62a4.161 4.161 0 1 0 5.885 5.884l1.62-1.62L7.45 9.886zM5.527 5.135L7.17 3.492c.92-.92 2.418-.92 3.339 0 .92.92.92 2.418 0 3.339L8.866 8.473l1.272 1.273 1.644-1.643A4.161 4.161 0 1 0 5.897 2.22L4.254 3.863l1.272 1.272zm-.66 3.998a.749.749 0 0 1 0-1.06l2.208-2.206a.749.749 0 1 1 1.06 1.06L5.928 9.133a.75.75 0 0 1-1.061 0z\" style \/><\/g><\/svg><\/a><div class=\"link-text\" data-anchor=\"Step 8. Publish your post\" data-section=\"publish-post\">\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading -->\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Step 8. Publish your&nbsp;post<\/h2>\n<!-- \/wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<\/div><\/div>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>You\u2019re finally ready to publish your&nbsp;post!&nbsp;<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Upload your post into your CMS. Or if you\u2019re using WordPress and have some budget, consider using <a href=\"https:\/\/wordable.io\/\">Wordable<\/a>. This allows you to do a one-click upload from Google Docs into WordPress. Really easy.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Then give it another quick look to make sure all\u2019s looking good. Finally, hit \u201cpublish\u201d!<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:image {\"id\":146293,\"width\":494,\"height\":74,\"sizeSlug\":\"full\",\"linkDestination\":\"none\"} -->\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-146293\" style=\"width: 494px; height: 74px;\" src=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/13-wordpress-publish.png\" alt=\"&quot;Publish&quot; button in WordPress\" width=\"494\" height=\"74\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/13-wordpress-publish.png 658w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/13-wordpress-publish-650x98.png 650w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 494px) 100vw, 494px\"><\/figure>\n<!-- \/wp:image -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<div class=\"post-nav-link clearfix\" id=\"section1\"><a class=\"subhead-anchor\" data-tip=\"tooltip__copielink\" rel=\"#section1\"><svg width=\"19\" height=\"19\" viewBox=\"0 0 14 14\" style><g fill=\"none\" fill-rule=\"evenodd\"><path d=\"M0 0h14v14H0z\" \/><path d=\"M7.45 9.887l-1.62 1.621c-.92.92-2.418.92-3.338 0a2.364 2.364 0 0 1 0-3.339l1.62-1.62-1.273-1.272-1.62 1.62a4.161 4.161 0 1 0 5.885 5.884l1.62-1.62L7.45 9.886zM5.527 5.135L7.17 3.492c.92-.92 2.418-.92 3.339 0 .92.92.92 2.418 0 3.339L8.866 8.473l1.272 1.273 1.644-1.643A4.161 4.161 0 1 0 5.897 2.22L4.254 3.863l1.272 1.272zm-.66 3.998a.749.749 0 0 1 0-1.06l2.208-2.206a.749.749 0 1 1 1.06 1.06L5.928 9.133a.75.75 0 0 1-1.061 0z\" style \/><\/g><\/svg><\/a><div class=\"link-text\" data-anchor=\"Step 9. Promote your post\" data-section=\"promote-post\">\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading -->\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Step 9. Promote your&nbsp;post<\/h2>\n<!-- \/wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<\/div><\/div>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>It\u2019s the truth\u2014blogging is extremely competitive today. Your content, no matter how good, will not be discovered by itself. You need to go out and let people know it exists.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Consider using some of these tactics to promote your content:<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:list -->\n<ul><!-- wp:list-item -->\n<li><strong>Share it with your audience<\/strong> \u2013 You may think you don\u2019t have an \u201caudience,\u201d especially if you\u2019re just starting out. But you have friends, family, colleagues, and followers on existing social media accounts. Share it with them! They\u2019ll be your biggest supporters. Then, over time, as you build up your audience (e.g., an <a href=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/grow-email-list\/\">email list<\/a>), you can share your articles with them&nbsp;too.&nbsp;<\/li>\n<!-- \/wp:list-item -->\n\n<!-- wp:list-item -->\n<li><strong>Email people you mentioned in your content<\/strong> \u2013 <a href=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/find-email-address\/\">Find the emails<\/a> of those people you\u2019ve cited or linked to and reach out to them. They\u2019ll be happy to know they\u2019ve been featured.&nbsp;<\/li>\n<!-- \/wp:list-item -->\n\n<!-- wp:list-item -->\n<li><strong>Share your content in relevant communities<\/strong> \u2013 Facebook groups, Slack communities, Discord, Reddit, and forums\u2014if you are a member of any communities, you can consider sharing your content there. But remember, don\u2019t&nbsp;spam!&nbsp;<\/li>\n<!-- \/wp:list-item --><\/ul>\n<!-- \/wp:list -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p><strong>Recommended reading:<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/content-promotion\/\"><em>13 Content Promotion Tactics to Get More Eyeballs on Your Content<\/em><\/a>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:heading -->\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Final thoughts<\/h2>\n<!-- \/wp:heading -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Hopefully, this post has shown you writing a blog post that people want to read is not a difficult process. You can do it&nbsp;too.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Now, go on and get started\u2014that blog post isn\u2019t going to write itself.<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>Any questions or comments? Let me know <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/siquanong\">on Twitter<\/a>.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->\n\n<!-- wp:paragraph -->\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<!-- \/wp:paragraph -->","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>If a blog post is published and no one reads it, is it still a blog&nbsp;post? Anyone can write a blog post. But not everyone can create one that people want to&nbsp;read. In this post, you\u2019ll learn how to write<span class=\"ellipsis\">\u2026<\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"read-more\">Read more \u203a<\/div>\n<p><!-- end of .read-more --><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":146,"featured_media":146295,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"wp_typography_post_enhancements_disabled":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[73,335],"tags":[],"coauthors":[339],"class_list":["post-146254","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-content-marketing","category-general-seo","odd"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.4 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>How to Write a Blog Post (That People Actually Want to Read) in 9 Steps<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Looking to write a blog post that people want to read? 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