How to Write a Blog (With Tips on Writing a Blog Post)

Updated 30 September 2022

A blog typically refers to a website or webpage that shares online content, such as articles, videos and photos. An individual or company can create a blog to improve brand awareness, increase advertisement or share valuable information with their audience. Understanding how to create a blog can help you provide useful and engaging information to your viewers. In this article, we discuss what a blog is, review how to write a blog and share some tips for creating an effective blog post.

What is a blog?

A blog refers to a platform that provides customers with information. The type of information that a blog contains usually depends on the industry of the business. For example, a dental clinic may create a blog that shares articles about maintaining dental hygiene, and an electricity company may share articles about electrical safety awareness.

Individuals can create a blog to share personal experiences. Blogs can be a powerful tool to help businesses and individuals gain public awareness. An individual can have a full-time career by creating and managing a personal blog. For an individual to make a profit from blogging, the blog usually requires engaging, entertaining and unique content.

How to write a blog for a business

Below are several steps on how to write a blog for a business:

1. Choose a hosting method

When writing a blog, first determine which method of hosting is best for you. The two most popular choices are to self-host or to utilise a free blogging platform. Self-hosting may be more professional than using a blogging platform because blogging platforms usually include their company name in the blog URL. For example, if the business's name is WestAuto and you post content through a blog platform called BlogPosts, the URL may resemble BlogPosts.WestAuto.com. By self-hosting, you have complete control over your URL.

If you choose to self-host, you may require a domain name and a web host. A web host is online storage for your website's content. Using a web host and creating a domain name usually costs a small fee. Web hosts often charge users a monthly or weekly fee. Before you choose a web host, review the goals and targets of the business. For example, if the business wants to post daily blog content, you may choose a web host that has an abundance of storage space.

2. Name your blog

Once you have chosen the hosting method, create a name for your blog. The URL usually contains the name of your blog, so it can be a good idea to make it original and unique. If you're trying to find an available name, you could search online for ideas related to the business. Before you choose a name, preview how it looks in a URL. A URL that's simple and clear may appear more professional and inviting.

It's beneficial to choose a name related to the blog's content. You can do this by identifying the keywords of the business industry. For example, a landscaping company's blog would likely include keywords from their industry, such as garden, seed and water. If you're trying to identify the relative keywords for the business, consider searching online.

3. Establish your style of content

After you have chosen a hosting method, plan the type of content to publish. There are many ways to communicate information on a blog. Articles can be a popular method of blogging as they can provide in-depth information about a specific topic. You may also consider videos, photo albums and statistical graphs.

When establishing your content, it's beneficial to research your target audience. By researching your target audience, you can determine which styles of blogging may be most effective. For example, a blog targeting youths may utilise entertaining videos and photos to help maintain viewer attention. Once you know your target audience, you can effectively establish a content plan.

4. Customise your blog

Before your blog is live, you could explore some of the customisable features of your blog platform. You can change several features on your blog, including colour, theme, icon display, interactive links and fonts. Customising your blog can be an excellent way of increasing viewer engagement and improving the professionalism of your blog. Some viewers may prefer simple formatting with easy-to-read fonts.

If you're unsure about customisations, you can use an appearance template. Depending on the platform you use, there is usually an option to browse pre-formatted blog styles. Blog platforms often provide a variety of custom appearances to choose from. Each appearance typically targets a specific industry, theme and formality. If you're self-hosting, you may require some knowledge in web design to create a theme that looks professional. When your blog is ready, you can publish your first blog post. A blog's first post usually describes its purpose and introduces the author.

Tips for creating an effective blog post

An engaging blog theme may gain the attention of your target audience. To maintain that attention, you want your blog posts to be engaging as well. Below are several tips for creating an effective blog post:

Understand the audience

One of the first things to consider when writing a blog post is your target audience. The tone of the blog post usually depends on the intended viewers. For example, a blog post informing business owners how to reduce business expenditures may have a more formal tone than a blog post targeting the video game industry. Viewers who find your content relatable are often more likely to read other posts on your blog.

Use appropriate headers

Using appropriate headlines can improve the readability of your blog posts. If you use headlines that relate to the content of the header, your viewers can easily navigate your blog post. Review your headers to ensure they're concise but still allow the reader to understand what the section is about.

Include subheadings if necessary

Subheadings can be an excellent way to organise content relating to a header. If a header has a substantial amount of content, it may be easier to view if you split the content into subheadings. This can improve the readability of the article and allow viewers to find the information they're searching for.

Utilise formatted lists

Bullet points and numbered lists can help you display statistical information clearly. When using bullet points, it's a good idea to keep the number of sentences after each bullet consistent. This makes the list look neat and may be easier for your viewers to read. Numbered lists are an effective way of displaying information in an ordered manner. If a blog post discusses steps for the reader to take, a numbered list can ensure that the reader understands the sequence of instruction.

Include images and videos

If suitable for the blog post you're writing, you might use images, videos or audio files to engage viewers. Informative blog posts might not utilise images, whereas a blog post written for entertainment purposes may include a variety of media content. Adding different types of media might help you attract a reader's attention.

Optimise for SEO

Search engine optimisation (SEO) is typically one of the most important aspects of creating an effective blog post. A blog post with good SEO usually appears on the first page of a search result. To optimise your blog post, include keywords on the post's topic. Keywords refer to words that internet users typically type into their search engine. You can discover the keywords of a topic by using online tools. If you don't want to utilise an SEO tool, type the topic into a search engine and review the top results.

Have a clear CTA

A call to action (CTA) is usually a line of text or an interactive widget that encourages the viewer to complete a specific action. The desired action depends on the goals of the blog post. For businesses, a CTA usually prompts viewers to make a purchase. A CTA can include a business's contact details, including their phone number, website URL or business address. A CTA often includes text, such as click here or read more.