7 Steps to Write the Perfect Blog Post Faster
A blog can be a powerful way to reach new people and motivate prospects to take action. Finding the time to write that next article is a challenge. No worries! We have a method to write the perfect blog faster, in a fraction of the time.
It all comes down to a system.
This proven 7-step system will help you quickly write a blog post.
- Create a Content Calendar with great topics to use in future articles.
- It would help if you started with the end in your mind and then planned the CTAs (Call to Action) you want readers to take.
- Use an egg timer to limit your research time to 15 minutes.
- To save time and improve your article, use a template.
- Please do not edit your draft until you have it.
- Avoid the temptation to rewrite articles when editing. It is better to be done than perfect.
- Make your headline, and then choose your images.
Before you start screaming “System, Smithson,” I have a secret:
Creative people who are highly successful use systems to aid their creativity
- Frank Lloyd Wright, an architect, used to wake up at 3-4 a.m. every morning and work for hours before returning to bed.
- Brian Grazer, a movie producer (Apollo 13 A beautiful mind Friday night lights), schedules weekly “curiosity talks” with accomplished people.
- Many famous creators like Madame Curie, Frida Kahlo, and George Washington Carver kept their thoughts in journals. Tim Ferriss and George Lucas are examples of this.
We use a 7-step system that you will be able to follow, which will allow you to have lots of creative moments. It will also save you tons of time and grief.
Let’s get started, and let’s see how it all works.
1. Create a Content Calendar
Building a Content Calendar is a great way to get your blog started. A Content Calendar is a list of future posts that solve your customers’ problems.
Break down the work you do into smaller topics. This article provides many topics to consider and is a good starting point.
As a traveler, you might help readers find how late is the closest grocery store open in their surrounding area. You can create dozens of blog topics by subtopics or categories. These can be organized in Excel or Google sheets. Keep adding new topics to your list.
2. Always start with the end in your mind
It’s impossible to plan a vacation without a destination. The same goes for writing a blog.
A simple call to action (CTA), such as inviting the reader to visit another post on your website, is a good start. The goal isn’t to keep your reader on your website – it is to show them that you are trustworthy and can solve their problem.
You establish yourself as a trustworthy authority by ensuring that your reader consumes more content from you.
These are some of the CTAs that you can include in your blog post:
- Link to another post
- For more information, don’t hesitate to get in touch with us.
- Please complete a brief questionnaire to learn more about your needs.
- View a video explaining the services you offer.
- Add your email address to receive your gift/lead magnet.
- Download a “content update,” which contains additional information on the topic. You can download an Excel chart for investment planning or an estate planning checklist.
3. Use a timer to help you research
Now that you have your blog topic (from the Content Calendar), you can tell what action you want your reader to take (your CTA) …now is the time for research.
Set an egg timer for 15 mins before you lose yourself in other blog posts, WIKI articles, or past blog posts.
Spend more than 15 minutes researching, and you will procrastinate with the writing.
There are exceptions, however (e.g., technical or medical blogs).
You can find inspiration from other bloggers in just 15 minutes, get new ideas for subheadings, and possibly discover statistics, quotes, or facts that you can include.
If you spend more than 15 minutes researching a blog post, your post is likely too complicated and tedious for the reader.
4. This template can be used
A template is the best way to save time when writing your next blog post. A template can help you organize your thoughts, but a good template will keep your readers on your blog longer.
This is Legwork’s simple template. This template can be downloaded, and you can learn more about how to use it.
OPENING: Start with a story, bold claim, statistic/fact. The opening should grab the attention of your reader and get them to continue reading. PROBLEM Make it clear what problem you are trying to solve. You could save time, rescue a couple, or delegate better. Whatever the problem, it should be evident that you can solve it.
Personal What’s your personal story or client’s story? Or research you’ve done?
PROMISE: Tell the reader what to expect from the article. You can keep them reading by creating anticipation!
SOLUTION(S), What do they need to change or do? Has this worked well for you? What are they supposed to avoid?
Next Steps – Remind them about the problem and why you believe your solution is essential.
THE OFFER How they can go further with you (products and services, courses, etc.
CLOSE: End with a motivational message or call-to-action.
5. Write, don’t edit
Here are some tips from pros to speed up you’re writing. Write, don’t edit.
Editing can not only slow down writing but also allows you to switch from a creative level to think about the topic and solutions to a more detailed level.
You can also do this when you return to edit a blog article that you have written previously. Instead, go back to where you left off and finish your writing.
You’ll soon have what author Anne Lamott calls your “shitty initial draft” before you know it. Fix the first draft, and then you can reward yourself by editing.
6. Edit, but don’t write
Don’t be focused on creating a great blog. “Don’t focus on having a great blog. Once you have your draft article, it is time to quickly edit it and prepare for the final steps: headline, images, and publishing. This blog post is meant to be scanned.
This article will show you how to write faster and make your writing more engaging to read, especially when you’re using a smartphone.
These tips make your blog post easier to read and more likely to keep your readers scrolling.
- With a free tool like Grammarly, you can fix half your mistakes in minutes.
- Redundancies such as “that” should be removed, and sentences that are too long can be reduced to shorter ones.
- Breaking up long paragraphs into shorter ones will keep the reader interested.
- You can include “cliffhangers” such as: “Before you get to that …”,” or “Let’s ask you a question …”
- Divide advice into bullets or numbered lists.
- To keep your reader reading, use dashes and me dashes. Use bold to draw their attention toward essential points.
7. Images and headlines last
It’s now time to add your headline and images. This article will show you five methods to create great headlines. Look at #4 by Google’s Auto Suggest to narrow down the focus of your headline. One of my draft headlines for this article was “Write blog posts.” The post is about this, so that’s where it started.
Google’s Auto Suggest showed me that the search term “How to write blog posts fast” was trendy. I didn’t see any competition, so I chose that topic. Blog Works Amazing headline analyzer will quickly rate and give feedback about your headline. Get it now!
This article contains seven accessible image sources. This article will teach you everything you need about sourcing, sizing, and editing images (or video) to insert into your blog posts.
This 7-step system will keep your creative juices flowing and help you write, edit, publish, and attract new business.
Although you might be an artist, sometimes it is necessary to have a system in place to accomplish your goals.