blogging - Express Writers
SCHEDULE A CONSULTATION

blogging

15 of the Most Influential Bloggers and What You Can Learn From Them

by
15 of the Most Influential Bloggers and What You Can Learn From Them

Work until you will no longer have to introduce yourself! This is arguably one of the best pieces of advice that you will ever receive while working hard to grow your business. Next thought: could a blog simplify your efforts and support your boldest ambitions? The success stories of today’s best-loved influencers in the content industry show that a blog is an invaluable asset that can bring you money and fame in the long run. Let’s look at how they did just that! 15 Bloggers Who Prove That Content Success Is Just Around the Corner Some of the most influential bloggers of the moment demonstrate that inspiring strings of words can consolidate businesses, change mindsets and turn losses into profits. Here are 15 prominent, brilliant people who master the art of business blogging. 1. Noah Kagan. Noah Kagan of okdork.com is the founder of two multi-million businesses, successful blogger and Tacodeli lover. His blog is an excellent source of inspiration for those who are looking forward to revamping their content strategy and putting their talent and excellent writing skills to good use to supplement their income. Posts like What I’ve Learned about Email Marketing after Losing $135,000 a Day are educational, information-rich and tailored to the needs of readers who wish to reduce their losses and boost their productivity in the content industry. Whether you want to learn how to grow your email list or improve your writing, Kagan’s expert advice will guide you in the right direction. 2. Darren Rowse. As a former minister with a plethora of interests, including food, reading, movies, wine and photography, Darren Rowse has what it takes to fit the profile of a successful blogger. Rowse is the founder of multiple blog networks and blogs, including ProBlogger.net and b5media. 3. Pat Flynn. Pat Flynn from www.smartpassiveincome.com can teach you everything you need to know about foolproof ways of making passive income. If you also want to hear the ka-ching sound effect while resting on your couch with your laptop on your lap, follow Flynn and find out how he managed to make 3 million dollars over the course of six years by creating websites that target different niches. An interview published by Forbes reveals some of his well-kept secrets: he surprises his audience with well-written informative materials that answer their daily questions. By providing digital books and other freebies, Flynn keeps his readers coming back for more time after time. 4. Neil Patel. Neil Patel is a Seattle-based angel investor, entrepreneur and analytics specialist. As the founder of Crazy Egg and KISSmetrics, Patel gives SEO/blogging tips meant to help small business owners succeed where others have failed. Patel takes his relationship with his readers/potential clients to a whole new level by introducing a new option: Reserve Neil Online. At a touch of a button, you can schedule a confidential discussion with Neil Patel and discover the secrets of the entrepreneur who has turned multiple blogs into a successful online business. 5. Seth Godin. Godin is an overall genius: author, entrepreneur, marketer, and public speaker.The sky is the limit when it comes to inventorying the number of things that you could learn from this extraordinary multitasker. Land on his website, check out his blog, fall in love with his newest bestseller entitled What to Do When It’s Your Turn, and don’t forget to take a glance at the section entitled “Free Stuff.” In this corner, you’ll be able to download and analyze manifestos, PDFs and ebooks for free. For instance, The Bootstrapper’s Bible is available for free for a limited period of time and teaches you for to start a business when you have no money in your pockets. Download, read and apply. 6. Matt Marshall. Matt Marshall is the Founder and CEO of VentureBeat. For almost a decade now, VentureBeat has made a name for itself as a leading source of information delivering fresh news that can help tech enthusiasts, entrepreneurs and executives make smarter decisions. Basically, this premium resource that attracts around 7.5 million unique visitors each month gives you the chance to discover and understand all the novelty factors associated with various technology trends, ranging from games and health tech to mobile and social media. Marshall signs a series of interesting must-read articles that will automatically catch your eye, especially if you’re interested in the tech innovation and entrepreneurial field. 7. Rand Fishkin. Fishkin is the Founder of Moz and Co-Founder of Inbound.org. His blog gets thousands of views and shares, besides all the traction his amazing company Moz has had. He’s also a celebrated speaker at events like PubCon, and a well-read author. His Whiteboard Fridays are some of the best visually done weekly vlog-casts on the web. 8. Matt Cutts. Everybody knows Cutts as the voice of Google. He isn’t the most awesome blogger (sporadic posts, all over the board on topics) but he is definitely highly followed and read. Maybe because he works at Google—just a guess. 9. Gina Trapani. Gina Marie Trapani is the CEO and Founder of Lifehacker. She is also a reputable web developer, writer and tech blogger and the author of several bestselling books that deserve a spot on your nightstand, including Lifehacker: 88 Tech Tricks to Turbocharge Your Day and Upgrade Your Life. She is constantly active on social media platforms and spends most of her day podcasting and coding. Trapani is also the proud co-founder of ThinkUp, a brilliant app allowing you to picture your online self by offering you daily insights that you wouldn’t be able to find anywhere else. In case you’re interested, note that this handy tool comes with a 14-day free trial. 10. Pauline Cabrera. Pauline Cabrera is the founder of www.twelveskip.com, a popular blog on all things Internet Marketing. TwelveSkip is a top-rated resource whose purpose is to address the problems and concerns experienced by small business owners striving to boost their online visibility. Delivering a mix of quality information on content marketing, blogging, affiliate marketing and visual marketing, this blog also provides countless practical tips, educational … Read more

Find the Blog Posting Frequency that Works for You

by

You know having a blog for your business or brand is critical to drawing in new customers and keeping the ones you have. However, you likely have wondered what the right blog posting frequency is. Should you post once a week? Every day? Multiple times a day? What’s the ideal blog posting frequency for you? Of course, the answer depends on your needs, goals, and the size of your business/brand.  In this guide, we will answer these questions and help you craft the ideal content calendar for your blog. What Is the Ideal Blog Posting Frequency? At the end of 2023, there were over 1.1 billion websites. Of those, about 18% are active, which translates to over 200 million active websites on the web. Over these billions of websites, there are about 600 million blogs on the internet with millions of new blogs posted every day. With statistics like this, it can make you wonder how you could ever make an impact in your small corner of the internet. However, with the right marketing strategy and blog posting frequency, you are more likely to attract the attention of the customers you need. Knowing how often you should post blogs is a question that continually puzzles digital marketers because there is no single recommendation that fits every website. Smaller businesses may find blogging less often, like one to four times a week, works for them, while larger businesses may need to blog daily or even multiple times a day. There is also the consideration of what types of content you’re covering. If you operate in a small, niche area where information is stable and does not change frequently, you might find success with blogging less often. Another part of the blogging frequency puzzle is what your goals are for your blog. Most brands either want to drive organic traffic or increase their brand awareness. According to HubSpot, if driving organic traffic is your goal, you should blog more frequently, while increasing brand awareness doesn’t require as much content.   8 Considerations to Determine Your Frequency of Blog Posts While you can take a guess at the number of blog posts that works for you, you will have better success evaluating industry trends and considering your blogging goals. 1. Look at Statistics According to Orbit Media’s 10th Edition of the Annual Blogger Survey, blog trends have changed a lot in the past decade. While successful bloggers were previously posting every day, many of them are now posting less often. However, the difference is, their blogs are longer and more detailed. While a 500-word blog posted daily worked in the past, bloggers are finding longer blogs over 1,000 words posted less frequently get better results.  The survey shows the average blog post is 77% longer in 2023 than it was in 2013. As for how frequently bloggers post, the most popular responses were weekly and several per month.  2. Monitor Your Industry Just like any other part of your business or brand, it is a good idea to look at the competition. What are similar content creators doing on their blogs? Monitor 10-20 blogs in your niche and see how often they are updated. If you’re not posting as often, you could get left behind. This also means you need to keep up with any industry changes. If there are frequent updates in your industry, your blog posts need to reflect that new information. You can save time keeping up with this information by updating old content. 3. Consider Your Constraints A large multi-million-dollar company is going to have more time and resources to put into blogging than someone who is a solo content creator. If you try to keep pace with a multi-person team, you are most likely going to feel burnt out and the quality of your blogs is going to suffer. One option to increase your blogging output without overworking yourself or your staff is by outsourcing some or all of your blogging needs. Consider finding a high-quality writing agency or writer to help you expand your content calendar and keep up with the competition. 4. Focus on Quality Just like most things in life, it is better to deliver quality over quantity and Google backs that up. In late 2022, Google released an algorithm update that added an ‘E’ to the SEO acronym EAT. The new EEAT stands for Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, and Trustworthiness. You will get better Google results producing high-quality blogs, released less often than pumping out lower-quality blogs more often. If you can produce and publish a high-quality blog every day, that’s awesome. If your capabilities and mental load limit your blogging frequency to once a week, then that is ok, too. Just make sure whatever you publish is the best it can be. If you are struggling to produce high-quality content, hiring an experienced professional writer could be the best choice. Consider how much you could gain by publishing premium content on a regular basis. 5. Remember Your Goals It is easy to simply copy whatever your competitor is doing. However, that strategy may not give you the best results. Instead, you need to remember what your goal is for blogging. Why are you doing this? Consider the following questions: Are you prioritizing SEO? Are you trying to improve your brand recognition? Are you trying to get a higher position in your SERPs for specific keywords? The answers to these questions will help you refine your blogging purpose and frequency.  6. Focus on the Needs of Your Audience What does your typical customer/reader look for or need when visiting your blog? Are they looking for new information every day? Do they have specific questions that your blog can answer? Is there information missing from your website that would prevent them from moving through the customer journey? One of the primary functions of a blog, especially for a business, is to offer value. Publishing a blog that doesn’t add anything new, simply for the act … Read more

The Future of Blogging: Today’s Recipe for a Perfect Blog Post

by
Header For Future Of Blogging

A craveable, delicious, delightful blog post isn’t much different from a pastry.  As long as you follow the recipe, steps included, you will create a post your readers are hungry to devour – and might even return for more. The good news is you won’t make a special trip to the grocery store to get started on the perfect blog post. Everything you need is in your virtual pantry – you just didn’t realize it.  Writing a blog post, especially in today’s competitive market, is intimidating. Once you break it down and understand the ingredients, however, you can whip up these readable bits on the fly and stay up with the trends for the future of blogging in 2023. So, What Do You Need to Craft the Perfect Blog Post in 2023? The future of blogging has certainly changed. What worked last year doesn’t necessarily apply today. Therefore, staying up on the latest blogging and SEO trends is essential so that you know what Google expects – and, more importantly, what today’s reader wants. The Perfect Blog Recipe Before you start to type, you want to make sure you have the following essentials ready to add to the mixing bowl: 1 click-worthy title 1 attention-keeping introduction A pinch of creativity A few cups of informative, scannable subheaders A splash of succinct body copy A handful of authoritative research and your expertise 1 part formatting 1 delectable conclusion A dusting of enthusiasm for the topic A garnish of passion for your niche Putting it Altogether – How the Future of Blogging will Change How You Use These Ingredients As you can see, the ingredients haven’t changed, but how and when you use them has.  We will break down each portion of this recipe so that you know how to mix it all in and get your readers to come back for more. Creating Your Title By far one of the most essential ingredients! Your title sets the stage for what the reader can expect, even determining if they ever get past the SERPs to read your blog. Spend time on this stage of your recipe. In fact, whatever you title it as your “working” title, be prepared to come back and rework it until it is just right later. Don’t hastily toss forth the first title you have in mind. Instead, let it sit and rest, and the flavors meld together. Think of title creation as a slow, steady simmer rather than a rapid boil.  A good title mixes intrigue and information and is not too long.  Yes, Google says there is no limit, and the length of your title will not influence your search engine results. Instead, it affects whether or not someone will click on it. The first 60 characters matter the most – so make those count even if you have a 100-character title. Whatever you do, don’t over-sprinkle in the keywords for your title – not only will it kill your readability factor and turn off any enthusiastic taster, but it will turn away Google too. Roll Out Your Introduction Your introduction supports your title. So perhaps you may not create it until you have solidified your intro – and that’s okay.  An introduction requires time and patience. While you will mix up something short, sweet, and enticing, you will also want it to rest a few hours before you revisit and rework it again. While adding a keyword to the introduction is essential, ensure it is not the highlighting flavor. An introduction gives readers just a taste of what else is to come, but the full flavor doesn’t explode until the end. Of course, if your introduction isn’t tasty enough to keep reading, the end doesn’t matter much.  So, take your time, rework it after the entire blog is done, and ask yourself, would I eat this up? Never Forget the Power of Creativity Too many recipes lack creativity. Think of those five-star restaurants – are they working with “vanilla” recipes used over and over again? Of course not. They are hashing out something unique that stays with their branding but still tantalizes the tastebuds.  Never leave out a pinch of creativity in your content – all of your content. Creativity should be tossed in from the start; if you can’t taste it, add more. Start Rolling Out Subheaders Subheaders help your reader scan and understand what they are about to digest. They should go in an even flow, make sense, and inform.  Ideally, subheaders are introduced every 300-500 words max (there’s nothing wrong with adding them in fewer words as long as the words in between pack a powerful punch). Subheaders are a great place for optimizing with secondary keywords but don’t overdo it. Time to Mix in Your Body’s Copy You have a working title, and you’ve rolled out the subheaders. Now comes the time to mix together your blog’s body.  But before you add anything, do your research. You may be an expert in your niche, but that doesn’t mean you won’t need resources to back up what you say. Today, using authoritative, high-quality links is still a must-have for any recipe. Search Engine Journal states that every site needs credible, authoritative, and trustworthy content – and a reader can’t take you at your word without some citations. As you mix up that copy, make sure to spice it up enthusiastically. Nothing turns a reader away more than negativity. So, likewise, be as passionate about your niche as you want your reader to be as you create your blog – if you are not excited about it, why should they be? A few other things to keep in mind while you mix up your body’s copy: Optimize Gently. Optimizing your content is like working gluten. Too much, and it’s gotten too chewy, stiff, and undesirable. Yes, keywords matter in 2023, but how and where you use them has changed.  Focus on Your Brand’s Authority. What Google praises more than keywords are brand … Read more

Top 10 Fundamental Strengths Every Great Blogger Should Have

by
10 Fundamental Strengths Every Good Blogger Should Have

Out of more than 1.8 billion websites, there are over 500 million blogs. Every day, more than 2 million new blog posts are published. However, quality is more important than quantity. How many of those blogs do you think are good blogs, ones that people enjoy reading? Now that you mention it, how do you define a “good” blog? 🧐 Most people can generally agree that a good blog is one that provides regular, relevant content. It can be informative, newsworthy, and/or entertaining, as long as it somehow enriches readers’ lives. Facts are cited and linked back to credible sources, content is unique, and the writer’s perspective is knowledgeable and authoritative. Great blogs inspire conversations. People love sharing content, and when they read a blog that really connects with them, they’re happy to tell their friends and share the content on social media. Good blogs don’t go unnoticed. In fact, they’re often shared among other bloggers in the form of citations and backlinks. But, behind every good blog is an equally good — or great — blogger. Need some help with your blog? Our specialty content service partners you with an expert writer to create in-depth authority content, starting at $140/500w. Understanding Bloggers: The Real, Regular People Behind the Blogs Who is responsible for creating these posts on the worldwide web? Believe it or not, bloggers are regular people, just like you and me. Sure, some of them may be successful CEOs and serial entrepreneurs, but there are equally skilled bloggers who are stay-at-home dads, mommy bloggers, taxi drivers, late-night bartenders, etc. You don’t have to be rich and famous to be a great blogger. What you do need, though, is a particular skill set, work ethic, and unique insights into a topic or industry. The best bloggers have a talent for turning the mundane into the extraordinary through the magic of words. But blogging has evolved into something much more complex than the online diary entries you used to see in the early days. Business blogging has proven to be a lucrative form of content marketing that earns high engagement and conversions while costing 62% less than traditional forms of marketing and generating 3x as many leads. In fact, companies with an active blog have 434% more indexed pages and 97% more inbound links on average. However, the same best practices and rules apply. Being a business owner doesn’t automatically guarantee you can produce good content or mean your blog is any better than the hobbyist posting in his or her spare time. If you want to have a good blog, you need to be engaging your readers in the right way. If you’re struggling with your content strategy, we can help! [bctt tweet=”You don’t have to be rich and famous to be a great blogger. 🤩 What you do need, though, is a particular skill set, work ethic, and unique insights into a topic or industry. Learn the 10 top strengths every blogger needs:” username=”ExpWriters”] What’s a Good Blog? The 10 Most Important Strengths of the Best Bloggers No matter who you are, no matter what you blog about, you should strive for these 10 fundamental strengths that the best bloggers share. 1. Consistency The most popular blogs on the internet maintain their position by posting regularly. What does this mean in terms of a personality trait for the blogger? Although you might assume that a blogger doesn’t have to worry about deadlines, the fact of the matter is every single day is a blogger’s deadline. Bloggers need to be self-motivated to get things done. A consistent blogger is one that draws the admiration of his or her followers. An inconsistent blogger frustrates readers, and failing to update content often is an invitation for your audience to leave. 2. Uniqueness Serial entrepreneur, web designer, and podcast co-host Matt Wolfe said, “There’s a lot of information out there for free, so you’ve got to figure out what makes your information different.” True uniqueness isn’t something you can simulate or copy. It’s something that resides in all of us and just needs the right opportunity to come out. Ask yourself, “Why should people read my blog? What can I offer my readers that my competitors can’t?” This is known as your content differentiation factor (CDF). The best bloggers are those who tap into their innate uniqueness and carry it over to their blog. People love a spectacle, and if you provide one to them, they’re happy to keep coming back for more. 3. Eloquence Sadly, the art of eloquence seems to be lost on many modern bloggers. The successful ones are the light that shines out of the fog. They illuminate how important it is to present your ideas clearly. As writers, our very art – the thing we live for – boils down to how well we represent ideas through our medium of words, how well we connect with strangers, and how we share our insights and imaginations. As a blogger, this is a rare and important trait to have. Those who communicate well reap the spoils. 4. Niche-Based Mindset Niche bloggers develop content within a community that’s based around common interests. Bloggers who tackle the pertinent issues and topics within their niche are usually respected by their peers for what they do. Finding a niche gives you fuel to drive your blog because, in any niche, there are hundreds of thousands of possible topics. The great bloggers know how to use this to their advantage. For example, our blog (the one you’re reading right now), is clear about its specific niche. We are your authority source for practical content marketing advice, and we’re not shy about stating that: (See? It’s right there under the page title.) We know who our readers are. We know what we do best. And we know what kind of niche our expertise thrives in. You should, too. 5. Passion “You should do what you love for a living.” This advice is the … Read more

How to Use 5 Types of Content to Grow Your Online Authority (Recap of My Live Talk for #SocialMediaBootcamp in Austin, Texas)

by
How to Use 5 Types of Content to Grow Your Online Authority (Recap of My Live Talk for #SocialMediaBootcamp in Austin, Texas)

Last week on Friday, I had the honor of speaking at Jessica Campos’ event, a Social Media Bootcamp right here in Austin, Texas. It was exciting for two reasons: for one, it was at The Capital Factory, a dream speaking venue in downtown Austin. For another, I had a fantastic host: Jessica is the founder of Marketing for Greatness and a well-known local marketer here in Austin, Texas. She worked hard at putting together a memorable event, and invited me to come and speak personally. Jessica hosts many networking events locally, and is a great person in real life just as much as she is in marketing. I love being around her. I said yes to Jessica’s invitation, and the rest is history! This amazing lady worked her network marketing magic and sold out the room – we had 50 seats, and more than 50 in attendance! It was my largest live audience yet. I’ve had the idea for a session on how to build authority online using the five foundational types of content for a while, and I decided to explore that for Jessica’s bootcamp. It was the perfect complement session to her opening talk on holistic social media marketing practices. This talk was born: Building Authority Online & Where it Begins: 5 Types of Content You Should Be Publishing to Grow Your Brand. After my talk, it was exciting to hear terrific real-time feedback from attendees. Two senior-level marketing executives that worked in Austin came and found me to tell me how much my talk resonated with them. “Everything you were saying about content made SO MUCH SENSE! Our ads aren’t working, nothing has been working, and we know we’ve needed a new channel for a while.” It was clear they were excited to find a way out from old practices that weren’t working. That was a thrill to me to hear! I loved knowing I’d been able to make a difference for someone. In today’s blog, I’m recapping the talk I gave, including the most important takeaways and lessons. Buckle in! [bctt tweet=”Check out @JuliaEMcCoy’s recap of her talk on building #authority online through #content, live at @capitalfactory in #ATX for @jessicamcampos’ #socialmediabootcamp ” username=”ExpWriters”] Social Media Bootcamp LIVE in Austin, Texas (Hosted by Jessica Campos) Here’s a look at our fun day in Austin at Jessica’s bootcamp, put together by my designer in a collage. Keep scrolling for top takeaways, a recap of Jessica’s and my session, and some special shoutouts! Jessica Campos: Social Media Practices That Bring Real Results in Your Business Jessica Campos started off Friday’s Social Media Bootcamp with a fantastic, action-packed session. She talked about the reality of “marketing” on social media, and how it’s not okay to just “turn to the person next to you, and ask, Would you like to lose ten pounds?” — and she had the whole room nodding and laughing. If it’s not okay to do in a waiting room, why do it on social media? She shared with us the typical journey of one of her warm leads: the person left her website open in their tab for days, closed it, came back through a Facebook ad and then clicked over to the blog, left the site again and came back to the contact page in another few days. And repeat. I relate! We cannot predict our buyer’s journey. Jessica shared how the marketing funnel is dead, and what’s replaced it: the loyalty loop. (As most of you already know by now, I completely agree that the funnel is dead. I’ve written about that here.) Jessica also shared how to discover your audience using tools like Facebook Insights and Google Analytics’ user behavior, two great tools for finding out real information about your audience. Using the whiteboard to write out the frameworks she shared, Jessica covered several areas that made up a “sandwich,” or “burger” to help us remember how to build a solid social media marketing strategy: The importance of data and knowing what your leads and ideal audience is actually doing and thinking of Building avatars to represent and get to know your ideal audience Creating a culture to attract your tribe and people Writing a manifesto to represent who you are with a brand voice to differentiate yourself from the masses Focusing on growing your influence online to attract people to you and your brand Jessica also did a real-life marketing analysis with one of the attendees, Lori Stinson, an agent and owner for logistics and supply chain company DSV. It was awesome! With Lori next to her, Jessica built avatars to represent Lori’s ideal audience, an experienced, established company out in California. One method I loved was when Jessica told Lori that LinkedIn was going to be her best bet to earn social media leads from. Several members of the audience also shared terrific ways Lori could create fun marketing campaigns to pull in the eyes and ears of her ideal people. Around noon, Jessica wrapped up her session, and we all had a lunch break. Then, it was time for my session. Special Shoutout to Jeff at Chubby Diaries & @YoungMommy (Christine Young) on Twitter I want to take a quick moment to give some well-deserved shoutouts. Jessica asked Jeffrey Jenkins, a local entrepreneur, travel influencer, speaker, and the founder of ChubbyDiaries.com, to attend and record media for us (as content creators, Jessica and I are all about maximizing our event presence). He took our photos and the raw video (coming soon to my YouTube channel!). Special shoutout to Jeff, who was a fantastic help! Another shoutout to Christine Young, supermom to 7 and blogger at FromDatestoDiapers.com, for live-tweeting during our event! She captured some fantastic takeaways live during our bootcamp. Great ideas = great content. Take time to brainstorm ideas, research topics, gather data, and formulate topics for posts. #socialmediabootcamp — Christine Young (@YoungMommy) April 26, 2019 Building Authority Online & Where it Begins: 5 Types of Content to Grow Your Brand (Recap of My Live Talk) I started my session with these important facts about today’s buyer: 81% … Read more

The Recipe for a Perfect Blog Post (Infographic)

by
The Recipe for a Perfect Blog Post (Infographic)

If little boys are made of snakes, and snails, and puppy dog tails, and little girls are sugar and spice, and everything nice, what is the perfect blog post made of? Luckily, it’s a selection of ingredients you probably already have in your content “pantry.” While throwing together the perfect blog post can feel intimidating, it’s as simple as memorizing a straightforward ingredient list, assembling it all with love, and giving it the time, space, and attention it needs to develop into something extraordinary… Like a pastry chef creating a beautiful cake. Don’t forget to share if you enjoyed our infographic! Full transcript below. Feel free to share this infographic, credit to Express Writers: www.expresswriters.com/recipe-for-a-perfect-blog-post-infographic What Goes Into the Perfect Blog Post? Before you start assembling the perfect blog post, be sure you have the following ingredients on hand: 1 stellar title 5-10 sentences of compelling introduction 1 heaping spoonful creativity Several outstanding and informative subheaders 2 cups succinct body copy Four handfuls research Six parts formatting 1 part conclusion A sprinkling of enthusiasm Love (for garnish) Once you’ve gathered all your ingredients, follow these steps: Assemble the Title The title sets the stage for the rest of the blog post, so it’s important to get it right. If you don’t spend enough time on it, or if you throw it together hastily, the whole post will fall when you pull it out of the oven. With this in mind, be sure to mix the right amount of information, intrigue, and length into the title. Remember titles with numbers taste better to readers, so you may consider sprinkling some in. For best results, be sure to keep your title under 160 characters, so it doesn’t get cut off. Lay Out Your Introduction Next comes the introduction. Since the intro supports the title, you’ll need it to be nice and firm. Take your time laying it out and be sure to keep it short, sweet, and to-the-point. Don’t stretch it too thin. Otherwise, it won’t be able to support your nice, hefty title. You should also be careful not to make it too dense since this will drive your readers away. Once your introduction is the right consistency, let it rise for 4-6 hours before revisiting it again. Structure Your Subheaders Your subheaders are the pieces of your perfect blog post that help guide readers through, so you’ll want to ensure they’re well-spaced and informative. For best results, add a subheader every 300-350 words, so your content doesn’t get too dense. Be sure to use numbers throughout, and keep your subheaders impactful and informative, for best taste. Mix Together Body Copy For your body copy, you’ll need to assemble your creativity, research, and formatting in a large bowl and stir until well combined. If necessary, add more research to reach the right consistency. Citations are critical to great blog posts, so be liberal with yours. Be sure that the content on your site is fresh and high-quality since this will improve the taste of the entire blog post. Once you’ve secured your citations, turn your attention to the formatting. Half of the fun of creating a perfect blog post is making it look beautiful. With this in mind, use bolded subheaders, H1, H2, and H3 tags, bulleted and numbered lists, and plenty of images. The images are extra important since they make your blog post unique and unforgettable. Be sure to sprinkle them in to taste. Arrange Your Conclusion Your conclusion is the last part of your blog post, so you’ll want to pay particular attention to this. As you write your conclusion, be sure it sums up the main points of your blog post and gives your reader a tasty little morsel with which to end the post. Just like you did with your introduction and body copy, keep it short, succinct, and to-the-point. Any “fluff” should be cut out so as to preserve the taste and you should always use the most high-quality writing possible. Keep in mind that conclusions read better if they’re allowed to rest before publication, so you’d be smart to let yours sit for 4-6 hours before finishing. Finish the Post Once your post has cooled for 4-6 hours, run back through it one more time. Cut out any fluff that has risen to the top, tighten up language, remove unnecessary words, and re-shape the post into a narrative arc the reader would want to interact with. Edit 2-3 times before publication and consider asking someone else to read the post as well, for posterity’s sake. Once the post is finished, sprinkle it with your enthusiasm and love, for garnish, and publish across your blog channel and favorite social media platforms. Serve hot with a side of engagement and responsiveness to everyone who reaches out about the post. The Perfect Blog Post Made Simple Congratulations! You’ve just assembled your perfect blog post! That wasn’t as hard as you thought, was it? Keep in mind that blog posts are very flexible, so you can repeat this recipe, trying out various lengths, topics, methods, and writing styles. To keep your posts high-quality, be sure never to rush the recipe, and always allow time for them to rise and cool before you publish them. Also, don’t forget to decorate liberally with the love and enthusiasm, as this is what sets one blog post apart from another and puts the final beautiful touches on your blog “cake.” Happy writing, and enjoy that delicious content!

#ContentWritingChat Recap: Blogging for ROI in 2017: Where to Blog, SEO, and Writing Strategies with Julia McCoy

by
#ContentWritingChat Recap: Blogging for ROI in 2017: Where to Blog, SEO, and Writing Strategies with Julia McCoy

Are you curious about blogging for ROI in 2017? That’s what we covered in our latest round of #ContentWritingChat! And if you missed out, you’re in luck because we’ve created a recap for you and it’s filled with awesome tips. Keep reading to check it out! Blogging for ROI in 2017: Where to Blog, SEO, and Writing Strategies with Julia McCoy Join us for #ContentWritingChat TOMORROW at 10 AM CST! Our CEO, @JuliaEMcCoy, will be guest hosting! pic.twitter.com/h8rYfvYvX8 — Express Writers (@ExpWriters) February 14, 2017 For this week’s chat, our very own CEO stepped in to guest host. Julia McCoy shared her expertise on blogging for ROI in 2017 and offered some amazing tips for writing, SEO, and where you should be blogging this year. We covered some of the key topics to help you succeed as a blogger this year, so make sure you read through them and start implementing this advice for yourself! Q1: For those that aren’t convinced, why is blogging still so important for brands? The reality is, many brands still aren’t convinced that blogging is worth their time. They don’t realize the value that it can provide to their audience and their brand overall. So, let’s convince them why they should be blogging! Here are just some reasons blogging is important for brands: A1 Consistent blogging is a WINNER. This graph shows us outranking million $+ funded competitors, solely from blogging. #ContentWritingChat pic.twitter.com/saEk6raPvF — Julia McCoy ? (@JuliaEMcCoy) February 14, 2017 A1 Just a few awesome stats on why every brand should blog. (from https://t.co/l6E0VrwJlI) #ContentWritingChat pic.twitter.com/3Bey4oIe5z — Julia McCoy ? (@JuliaEMcCoy) February 14, 2017 Julia knows that blogging is a must for brands! She even shared some pretty impressive data that backs it up. The graph above shows Express Writers outranking major competitors solely from blogging. She also shared some stats that are sure to convince you of the importance of starting your own blog this year. A1: Blogging is a lead generation opportunity. It’s how you can build influence, which draws in an interested audience. #contentwritingchat — Annaliese Henwood (@MktgInnovator) February 14, 2017 As Annaliese said, blogging is a lead generation opportunity. So many people will stumble upon your blog and want to do business with you because of the content you share. She also said blogging helps you build influence, which is key to drawing in your audience. A1) It’s a way to establish an authentic, authoritative voice that YOU control. Your thoughts, your words…it’s genuine #ContentWritingChat pic.twitter.com/CsGRfImgTN — Jason Schemmel (@JasonSchemmel) February 14, 2017 Jason knows that blogging is a powerful way to establish an authentic, authoritative voice. Your blog is your place to share your thoughts with your audience. A1: Blogging is a great way to show your expertise to the industry. It also helps you connect with your audience. #contentwritingchat — Netvantage Marketing (@netvantage) February 14, 2017 Blogging is an opportunity to show off your expertise to your industry, but also to your audience. It’s a great way to connect with your audience and to start building a relationship with them. A1: Blogging is important because it allows brands to expand their audience, share more information, and establish voice #ContentWritingChat — Josh Lawson (@JoshKLawson) February 14, 2017 To put it simply, blogging is an opportunity to expand your audience, share quality information with readers, and can help you establish your voice as a brand. A1. Social media is just rented properties while your blog is your real estate #contentwritingchat — Cheval John (@chevd80) February 14, 2017 Cheval’s advice is important to keep in mind. Social media is like rented property when you think about it. You don’t own the platform, nor can you count on it to always be around. If a social media platform shuts down, you’re going to lose your followers and everything you’ve worked so hard to build (unless you’ve successfully converted them to readers, subscribers, and customers). Your blog, however, is one place that you truly own and are in control of. Q2: Where should you blog this year besides your own website? Discuss how to find the right platforms. While blogging on your own website is great, blogging on other sites can provide major results. There are a lot of benefits to guest blogging, but it’s all about choosing the right places to post if you want to make it work for your brand. Keep these tips in mind: A2 Create a target persona then study the publications they share. THAT’S where you want to blog https://t.co/FBSVmRvRxb #ContentWritingChat pic.twitter.com/cRvVTrCOk0 — Julia McCoy ? (@JuliaEMcCoy) February 14, 2017 Julia recommends creating a target persona for your audience so you know what they’re like. You can figure out their demographics and also what sites they’re reading on the web. That’s where you should be sharing your content! Check out the blog post she linked for more information on creating your own target persona. A2: Guest blog on the websites YOUR audience is reading. Find out where they spend their time online and BE THERE. #ContentWritingChat — Rachel (@redheadrachel) February 14, 2017 The key to choosing the sites to guest blog on is figuring out where your audience spends their time online. You want to post on the sites that your target audiences reads so they’ll discover you and head over to your website. A2) Find popular blogs within your wheelhouse & be a guest blogger. That exposes your content to a broader audience #ContentWritingChat pic.twitter.com/5vB7ffeUe4 — Jason Schemmel (@JasonSchemmel) February 14, 2017 Jason also knows the importance of finding the popular blogs in your wheelhouse and guest posting there. It’s the best way for you to reach your target audience and hopefully make them a fan of your brand. A2 Industry specific forums, Guest blog on Authority sites, Quora, Reddit, #LinkedIn are few great places #ContentWritingChat https://t.co/8bhBiI9RFQ — Varun Kumar ? (@DigitalVK) February 14, 2017 Varun recommends posting on forums that are specific to your industry, guest blogging on authority websites, and also using platforms … Read more

10 New Year Blogging Centric Resolutions for the Content Marketer (Infographic)

by
10 New Year Blogging Centric Resolutions for the Content Marketer (Infographic)

With blogging as a source of 97% more inbound website backlinks, 126% more business lead growth, and much more (stats below), it’s a major, major foundation of content marketing you don’t want to miss out on in 2017. To start January off with a bang, we decided to help share some inspiration for our fellow content marketers and create a list of 10 top resolutions to help you blog this year (better than you’ve ever blogged before)! Print the following infographic below out, and hang it up to inspire your blogging and content progress all year. 😉 Here’s the PDF version, resolutions only, to download. Enjoy – written and designed by our team at Express Writers! Why Make Blogging Resolutions for 2017? Here’s some (serious) inspiration. More than 200 million people (and a whopping 16% of the U.S. population) use ad blockers – so organic content (blogging is best!) is the only way to reach them. Companies that blog have 97% more inbound links. Small businesses that blog get 126% more lead growth than small businesses that do not blog. Companies that published 16+ blog posts per month got almost 5X more traffic than companies that published 0-4 monthly posts. Long-form blog posts earn 9x more leads than short-form posts. 70% of B2B marketers plan to create more content in 2017 than they did in 2016. The average length of top-ranking blogs is increasing – sitting at roughly 1,050 words in 2017. 49% of marketers are focusing on aligning their content with the buyer’s journey. Nearly 30% of the most successful marketers routinely repurpose their content. To join the club, though, you must have content to repurpose – and blogs are perfect for that! 45% of all marketers report that writing blogs is the single most important piece of their content strategy. 80% of decision makers would rather get information about a company through an article than they would through an advertisement. 10 Top Blogging Resolutions for the Content Marketer  To outperform last year’s results and make 2017 one to remember, stick to these ten resolutions: 1. I will get backup in my content creation this year No more stressing out about deadlines, topics, and writing it all. (Express Writers can help!) 2. I will be authoritative in every content piece I put out this year If it’s less than authority expert level in my niche, it might not be worth my time. 3. I will never put quantity over quality I should publish more blogs this year to increase my inbound leads, but if I’m rushing and the content is low quality, I shouldn’t publish. Quantity comes second to quality. 4. I will give my audience what they want I will be relevant, use tools like BuzzSumo to research and find out what my audience wants in topics. This will help me gain more loyal customers. 5. I will increase my rankings by finding and writing around long-tail keywords This is one of the top ways to gain blog spots in Google’s rankings. 6. I will promote and create Creating isn’t enough: I also need a promotion plan. I will have social media management and an active social account connected to my blog. 7. I will be creative with topics and approaches Content burn-out will only hurt me and my readers. This year, I’ll dig deeper to come up with more creative topics and new ways to approach topics and news. 8. I will take notes from my competitors I will monitor my competitors to learn things like which keywords they’re targeting, which social platforms they’re using (and how), and what I can do to enhance my content efforts accordingly. 9. I will try new content forms Interactive content, newsletters, infographics, and live-streaming can all boost my content strategy in 2017. I will expand into these new content forms to grow my business and expand my audience. 10. I will repurpose my content to get more traction Repurposed content can help my content strategy stretch further. I will find creative ways to repurpose and re-use content of all types. Ten 2017 Blogging Resolutions for the Content Marketer (Infographic) Sources: Content Marketing Institute: http://bit.ly/2dzquFa Orbit Media: http://bit.ly/2fhUWU4 PageFair: http://bit.ly/2iFYDrq Contently: http://bit.ly/2dohe5X Curata: http://bit.ly/2hVKOG3 Social Media Examiner: http://bit.ly/1eTVIyt SnapApp: http://bit.ly/2iMMBg8 HubSpot: http://bit.ly/2gkWhwG Think Creative: http://bit.ly/2iIUfFQ

ContentWritingChat April 19 2016 Recap: Strategies for Successful Guest Blogging From an Editor

by
ContentWritingChat April 19 2016 Recap: Strategies for Successful Guest Blogging From an Editor

Did you miss this week’s #ContentWritingChat? Well, there’s no need to worry because you can catch up with our full recap of the chat. Tuesday’s chat was all about guest blogging. If you’re looking to introduce guest blogging into your growth strategy or want to take your guest posts to the next level, you’ll want to read through these amazing tweets! #ContentWritingChat April 19 2016 Recap: Strategies for Successful Guest Blogging From an Editor Join us next week on #ContentWritingChat as we discuss #guestblogging with @itskgarvin! ? Tues, 10 AM CST! pic.twitter.com/tTaHwXAhkD — Express Writers (@ExpWriters) April 12, 2016 Our guest host for the week was Kathleen Garvin. Kathleen is the Editor over at The Penny Hoarder and previously worked at SEMrush. She’s experienced in SEO, blogging and digital marketing, as well as guest blogging. We enjoyed having her expertise over on our Twitter chat at #ContentWritingChat. Q1: Why is guest blogging essential to brands and writers with a presence online? Why is guest blogging a must and how can help build your online presence? Check out what some of the participants from Tuesday’s chat had to say: A1: It gives you a voice + exposes/expands your brand #ContentWritingChat — Kathleen Garvin (@itskgarvin) April 19, 2016 As Kathleen said, guest blogging helps to give you a voice and also gets you more exposure for your brand. When you guest post on another site, your content gets featured in front of a whole new audience. It doesn’t get much better than that! A1: #GuestBlogging establishes authority, esp. within a niche; also credibility as other publications accept your work. #ContentWritingChat — Tara M. Clapper (@irishtara) April 19, 2016 A1: Builds credibility across “venues,” shows versatility in subject matter, greater reach, etc #ContentWritingChat https://t.co/bJE7HPOCtT — ThinkSEM (@ThinkSEM) April 19, 2016 Tara mentioned that guest blogging could establish you as an authority figure within your niche. She and Sarah from Think SEM both agreed that you also gain credibility when other publications feature your work. That’s huge! A1: Guest blogging provides a platform with new readers exposed to your brand. A chance to build new relationships. #ContentWritingChat. — Ryan Clutter (@Ryan1SEO) April 19, 2016 A1: Guest blogging helps expand my audience & helps cultivate relationships w fellow bloggers. #ContentWritingChat https://t.co/wa4CPy8qPh — Eliza David, Author (@elizadwrites) April 19, 2016 As Ryan said, guest blogging exposes your brand to a new audience who hasn’t heard of you before. Both he and Eliza agreed it’s also a great way to build relationships. When you guest post, you not only start forming a relationship with the website, but also their readers. A1 HUGE. It’s massive content exposure potential online for free – the cost of your time writing & making the connection #ContentWritingChat — Julia McCoy (@JuliaEMcCoy) April 19, 2016 Our CEO, Julia, said guest blogging could gain you a ton of exposure for your brand without having to spend a dime. A1. Guest blogging gives your brand some exposure, strengthens your voice and can be used as an extension of your story. #ContentWritingChat — Brittany Brander (@BrittanyBrander) April 19, 2016 As Brittany said, guest blogging gives you exposure, strengthens your voice, and can be an extension of your brand story. Q2: How do you pinpoint great sites to pitch guest posts to? Now that you know why guest blogging is beneficial, you need to think about which sites you should be pitching. Here’s what you need to know: A2: Look to high-quality blogs in your field, including professional frenemies #ContentWritingChat — Kathleen Garvin (@itskgarvin) April 19, 2016 A2: Figure out YOUR goals (brand awareness, sales, blog growth). Are you OK writing for free? Want paid opps only? #ContentWritingChat — Kathleen Garvin (@itskgarvin) April 19, 2016 Kathleen said to look to the high-quality blogs in your field. Don’t forget to consider your goals. What are you trying to achieve with your guest post? Are you trying to grow your traffic, generate awareness for your brand, gain more sales? This could play a factor in choosing which sites to guest post on. A2: Relevance and audience engagement (you can look at the comments section) are big factors to consider #contentwritingchat — Andrew Dennis (@AndrewDennis33) April 19, 2016 As Andrew said, make sure you’re choosing sites that are relevant to your brand. Also, does the site receive a lot of engagement from their audience? That’s key! A2 Add value and match their #Content standard, pitch via networks or proper channel #ContentWritingChat https://t.co/nTwKLoWrYE — Varun Kumar (@varunkr842) April 19, 2016 Varun said to make sure you can add value to the sites you’re pitching to. Your focus should always be on providing great content for their audience. A2: Look for high traffic and authoritative sources. Exposes your work to reach new plateaus. Also follow your audience. #ContentWritingChat — Ryan Clutter (@Ryan1SEO) April 19, 2016 Ryan recommends looking to high-traffic and authoritative sources. This can help maximize your reach. A2 a TOOLS: I use @buzzsumo to find top blogs in my industry (ie “content marketing” search). But you can also Google! #ContentWritingChat — Julia McCoy (@JuliaEMcCoy) April 19, 2016 Julia likes to use BuzzSumo to find the top blogs in specific industries. Very helpful! A2. Reach out to blogs in your space. It never hurts to ask. #contentwritingchat — Kristen Dunleavy (@KristenWritesIt) April 19, 2016 Like Kristen said, never be afraid to reach out. The worst you could hear is no. If there’s a site you want to post on, send over a pitch. You never know how it could work out! Q3: How do pick topics guest bloggers can’t resist? The next step in guest blogging is coming up with an amazing topic. No matter what site you’re writing for or what topic you’re writing on, providing value is always a must. Here are some more tips for choosing topics: A3: If you’re pitching, do your homework + read the publication/blog. See what’s been covered, bring value. #ContentWritingChat — Kathleen Garvin (@itskgarvin) April 19, 2016 A great tip from Kathleen: … Read more

Everything You Need to Know About Online Content Word Count (Infographic)

by
Everything You Need to Know About Online Content Word Count (Infographic)

Have you ever stopped in the middle of creating your online content, whether it be a social media post, blog, or other piece of online content, not sure what the proper word count should be? We’ve studied, analyzed, and researched–and put an infographic together to guide you. Here’s every correct content length for any piece of online content on the web. Feel we missed anything, or do you have something to add? Let us know in the comments! Full infographic transcription below. An Infographic Guide to Online Content Length Curious how long your content should be? You’re not alone. With dozens of conflicting opinions about word count flying around the web, it can be difficult to determine how much is enough on various platforms like blogs and social media. Fortunately, we have the answers. Let’s explore the word count question here. The Rise of Social Media: Why Your Content Matters Social media is booming and one of the best ways to engage with the huge numbers on each platform is to ensure that the content you share there is as user-friendly as possible. Take a look at the user numbers for some of today’s hottest platforms: There are currently more than 2 billion active social media users in the world Content on Facebook earns 5 billion likes each day Twitter has more than 284 million users and the platform sees 500 million tweets daily Google+ has more than 363 million users Online Content Lengths for All Web Platforms Now that you know how big social media truly is, let’s take a look at what the ideal content length for all distribution channels really is. Twitter Is Twitter really increasing its character limit from 140 to 10,000? The CEO of Twitter, Jack Dorsey, started the rumor: pic.twitter.com/bc5RwqPcAX — Jack (@jack) January 5, 2016 But, best practices currently state that it’s more fruitful to keep Tweets limited to 100 characters. Here’s why: Tweets that are 100 characters or shorter enjoy 17% more engagement than longer Tweets So-called “medium length” tweets (between 71-100 characters) are re-tweeted more often than large (101-characters or longer) or small (41-70 character) tweets Twitter is built on brevity, and 100-character tweets are easy for users to consume Facebook While Facebook is often thought of a long-form content platform in comparison to Twitter, it may surprise you to know that the ideal character limit for a Facebook post is actually shorter than a tweet. Here’s what you need to know: The ideal Facebook post is 40-characters or fewer Facebook posts with 40-characters earn 86% more engagement than longer posts According to Facebook best practices, the second-best length of a Facebook post is 80 characters or less. These posts receive 66% more engagement than longer posts Google+ Google+ is all about readability and accessibility of content, so it’s important to keep content easily digestible. Here’s what you need to know about Google+ headlines and content: The highest-performing Google+ headlines are 60 characters or less Readers only absorb the first and last three words of a headline, so headlines that are 6 words or less have the most impact The ideal length of Google+ body content is 200-440 characters LinkedIn LinkedIn posts are designed to be short and sweet. According to BufferApp, the ideal length for a post on the platform is 25 words. LinkedIn posts that are around 25 words encourage the highest number of click-throughs. For B2B companies, the ideal word length for a LinkedIn post can vary between 16-25 words. For B2C companies on LinkedIn, the ideal word length for a post is between 21-25 words. Instagram  Since Instagram isn’t focused on text-based content, but rather great visuals: there are currently no solid “best practices” for word count. You can, however, follow these tips for best results from your Instagram posts. Use creative #hashtags to promote interaction with your established network. Consider using the Instagram Explorer page to learn more about trending hashtags that can enhance your brand. Up to 15 hashtags per post is an average amount. Always be relatable with your hashtags to what your visual topic is about. If you’re sharing an Instagram photo on Twitter or Facebook, be sure to lessen and streamline your hashtags. Photos with too many hashtags will look out of place on these networks. Some brands drop the hashtags in an Instagram follow-up comment if they’re streamlining. Tell your brand story through captions. This offers context for your image and helps followers connect with your content. Pinterest When it comes to Pinterest descriptions, keeping them within the correct character-count range can enhance their performance hugely. 200-character descriptions earn the most re-pins Pins that feature CTAs earn 80% more engagement than those that don’t Research has found that pins with an image height 800 pixels or greater earn significantly more re-pins than those with smaller images Blog Posts Rule of thumb: blog posts are the place where informative, guide-style, long-form content can shine. Buffer found that the ideal reading length of a blog post is 7 minutes. This translates to roughly 1,600 words As a general rule, longer blogs are more likely to provide quality markers for search engines, which allows them to rank higher Blog posts that are longer than 1,500 words receive an average of 68% more tweets and 23% more Facebook likes than shorter posts. Most web pages that sit in the top 10 SERP positions for any given keyword have at least 2,000 words Eight-word or longer search queries have risen by 34,000%, which means that content targeting long-tail keywords will perform better today. 5 Key Best Practices for Social Media Posts No matter where you’re posting content, there are several rules you should always follow: 1. Be helpful. Readers want helpful content. It matters less if your content is 80 or 800 characters and much, much more that it’s helpful and well-written. 2. Don’t blab. As a general rule, concise is better. If you can get a point across in 1,000 words, you shouldn’t be stuffing a … Read more

No HR needed to get access to the best writers, editors, QAs and strategists. We are your all-in-one content writing service delivering publish-ready content.

Copyright – 2025 Expresswriter -All rights reserved