What is a blog? A blog post is like a conversation starter between you and your audience. It’s your chance to share ideas, tell stories or offer helpful tips that spark curiosity and build connections. Whether you’re writing about travel adventures, business know-how or that amazing mac and cheese recipe, every blog post works as a piece of your bigger story.
When I first started blogging, I thought a blog post was just words on a page. But over time (and with some trial and error), I learned that it’s so much more. It’s about crafting something that resonates with your readers and keeps them coming back for more.
01. Brainstorm blog topics
When writing a blog post, whether you’re guest posting for someone else or writing for your own blog, you’ll want to cover topics that bring value to your readers and fall in line with their interests, as well as your own. Start by jotting down topics that excite you or align with your goals. “Think about the questions your audience might be asking or blog niche ideas,” says Sharon. For example, if you’re writing a food blog, take note of seasonal recipes or cooking techniques people are searching for. This step is all about unleashing your creativity without judgment. The more ideas, the better.
Once you find some interesting ideas online, think about the unique ways you can approach those topics. Consider the various ways you can play around with topic ideas to come up with something that isn’t only trendy and relevant, but that’s also original and fresh. You’ll also need to consider making sure your blog post is up to date and this will mean including relevant data and statistics related to the topic.
Let’s say, for instance, that you want to write about chocolate chip cookies. There are a few different angles you might consider taking here based on your target audience and potential for website traffic:
- A how-to post that instructs readers how to do something with clearly ordered steps (e.g., “How to Bake Chocolate Chip Cookies from Scratch”).
- A curated list that offers a set of recommendations for your readers (e.g., “The Top Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipes”).
- A tips and advice post that provides expert guidance and resources. (e.g., “Tips for Making Homemade Chocolate Chip Cookies Extra Gooey”).
- A definition-based blog post that helps explain the meaning of a term or topic (e.g., “What Are No-Bake Chocolate Chip Cookies?”).
- A top trends article that highlights what’s currently popular (e.g., “The Best Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipes From This Year”).
- A personal or business update that lets you unveil something fresh or recently unknown (e.g., “My New Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe Revealed”).
Sharon also recommends keeping a running list of potential blog topics in a place you can easily access, like a notebook or a digital note app. “When inspiration strikes, capture it!” she emphasizes. This habit will come in handy when you’re ready to write your next post and need a spark to get started.
Get brainstorming with these best blog ideas.
02. Refine your topic with keyword research
Part of writing a blog post involves keyword research. This crucial SEO practice is used as a marker to see which terms you can potentially rank high for in certain online searches.
Once you’ve chosen a direction for your blog post, and before you get started with the writing process, you’ll need to figure out the chances of its success on search engine result pages—which ultimately means getting more eyes on your content. In order to succeed, conduct keyword research to find the most relevant queries for your topic.
You can find keywords for your own articles by using various keyword research tools. If you’re new to blogging, you’ll probably want to start with free tools such as Ubersuggest and Google Keyword Planner. Afterwards, you may want to upgrade to more advanced tools like SEMrush or Ahrefs.
While conducting keyword research, keep in mind that the more specific the phrase, the more closely it will match your audience’s intent. On the other hand, broader keywords tend to have higher search volumes—meaning more people are searching for them each month.
Think about the benefits of opting for a broader phrase, like “chocolate chip cookies,” over a more precise phrase, like “how to make chocolate chip cookies.” Choosing the right keywords means striking a balance between high search volume and high intent.
Once you’ve selected your keywords, you can use them to shape the structure of your content. Google those phrases to find out which articles have successfully targeted those same keywords, and spend some time browsing their content. This will give you inspiration for your own article in terms of what to include and how to structure it. Don’t forget to also tap into your own experience as an entrepreneur or writer, when choosing what to write about.
“Keyword research sets the foundation for your blog post,” says Sharon. “It’s like a treasure map that leads you to what your audience is searching for. The more intentional you are with this step, the better your chance of connecting with readers and driving meaningful engagement.”