Taking Your Blog to the Next Level
You have a great blog idea and you’re a decent writer. That’s a good start. But that blog probably isn’t going to get very far without a readership, even if it’s a passion project. So, how can you make an engaging online space that people want to be a part of?
Though blogs are mostly made up of text, there are many ways you can spice up your content by using other forms of media.
1. Images Catch the Eyes of Your Readers
Most people learn visually, and some statistics say that as high as 65% of the population consists of visual learners. Even when not a visual learner, humans are still very visual creatures. We’re drawn towards more attractive options, including a good-looking blog.
Imagery helps to break up the text so it doesn’t look intimidating. In fact, using images in blogs results in up to 94% more views. They also add a splash of color to make your page look less monotone and more eye-catching.
Make Them Unique
Ideally, the images you use are unique to your blog. Stock photos are good for filling in space if you aren’t able to take photos or find ones that pertain to your topic, but it’s better to choose ones that readers won’t find all over other websites.
You can also use personalized infographics to demonstrate your points, re-creating the information you’ve presented in a picture to make it easier for readers to digest.
2. Social Media Makes Your Post Personal
Social media has become an integral part of communicating in the modern world. Websites like Facebook, Twitter, Reddit, and more are all daily roadways along which information travels.
Making it easier for people to share your blog post on social media is a must for getting it out there. Embedding the “tweet now” button into your post can help it reach more people. Sharing your blogs on your own social media accounts can also leverage your followers and attract more people to your content.
You can also embed tweets and Facebook posts into your blog itself. This can be used to share the information posted on those sites directly instead of having to quote and link to the original post. It’s easier and adds a visual element to break up the text in your post.
3. Pleasant-Looking Blogs Attract People
Your blog itself is a form of social media since the whole point is to share information and interact with readers online. You know how long of an attention span people have for social media posts — it’s not much.
You might spend a lot of time making sure your blog reads well and be very proud of the words you choose. Unfortunately, most people aren’t going to read them. 55% of people spend only about 15 seconds to go through an article — in other words, they skim.
Bullet Lists Are Your Friend
There’s nothing you can do to stop people from skimming, so if you can’t beat them, join them. Formatting your blog to appeal to the reader’s tendency to skim can make your blog appear friendlier and attract more people as well.
This is especially true for topics that people aren’t particularly drawn towards. For example, root canals aren’t a very fun topic. On a page like that, it’s especially important to make sure people can find the information they’re looking for.
Example: Using Bullet Points to Improve Readability
The above example shows how I wrote a part of a page on Dr. William Robson’s website for root canal therapy. Using headers and bolding makes identifying each section simple. The sections themselves are short and easily skimmable, especially the bullet points.
Just try not to overuse bullet points, because even they can become repetitive.
4. Embedding Video
If you’re wondering if it’s worth it to use video in your newsletters, blogs, and other content, you should know that 72% of businesses say that video improved their conversion rate.
Not only is video better for business, but it’s a phenomenal way to spice up your content as well. YouTube and Facebook both make it easy to share videos and embed them into your content. Even if you’re showing a still shot of a video and then linking to it, it still adds an extra element to your blog that gives it personality and makes it more versatile.
What Kind of Videos Should You Include?
Just as you might include meaningful links into your content, the right video can be just the thing to make certain points stronger, add credibility, or make a more comprehensive blog. Since YouTube is available for anyone to use, you can find videos on just about any topic and include them in your content.
5. Include Expert Opinions
Another great way to add depth to your blog is to include other opinions as well. Traditionally, this would mean including a quote from a certified expert to support your point, but there are many creative ways to use other people’s opinions in your content:
- Add a quote from someone who’s experienced your problem firsthand.
- Use quotes that challenge a long-held argument to raise questions.
- Celebrity quotes can pique the interest of readers and make your page more engaging.
- Quotes from business leaders will add professionalism and credibility.
- Comedic quotes can lighten up your content while still making a strong point.
The Power of Other Opinions
Even if you’re the one writing as a subject matter expert, there’s value in including quotes from people who support your point of view. This is the same reason why businesses include testimonials and customer reviews on their websites — people pay attention to these, and the more there are, the better.
This same strategy can be leveraged in your blogs and other content. It’s a good idea to use quotes from other people who’ve either shared your experience or support the point of view expressed in your blog.
Example: A Valuable Quote from an Expert
Assume you’re writing a blog for a client or your own business on why it matters which dentist you choose for a cosmetic procedure. You can make all the points you want, do heavy research, and make it as well-written as possible, but few things will be as valuable as a quote like this one from a reputable dentist:
“A dentist has to be an artist. In cosmetics, you have to visualize color, shape, and position, while also using technology and your knowledge of dentistry to help patients.”– Dr. Keith T. Macdonald
By ingraining strong quotes into your content, you can boost your credibility in an easy and convenient way. Even if you’re the expert, having quotes by other experts will only strengthen your content and add valuable support to make your point more compelling.
6. Add Personality with a Bio and Profile Photo
The vast majority of blogs feature an image, content, and a small author name by the side of the title. One way to elaborate on this strategy is to include a brief photo and bio about yourself at the bottom.
Advantages of Adding a Photo and Bio
If you’re wondering why this is worth the effort or why anyone would care about seeing the author, there are many good reasons for it:
- A bio and photo will add personality to your blog, something many blogs are missing.
- Including a bio makes it more likely people will follow you and read your other content.
- When people read your bio, they may relate to or like you, and become a follower.
Looking at the Big Picture
To truly understand why it’s best to include your bio and photo at the beginning or end of your blogs, it’s crucial to see the big picture. In the short-term, you want this blog you’re working on to be successful.
But ultimately, you want to be known as a top-level blogger that people instantly trust when they see your name. By adding your personal info, you’re taking a major step towards linking yourself with your content, paving the way for many followers and new blogs in the future.
Create Widely Varied Blogs People Will Love
Even the best written content is still just that — a bunch of words on a page. While that is the crux of online communication, there are other forms of media that can spice up your blog and make it much more readable overall.
To truly create content that moves people and achieves the results you want for your business, learn to use these, and other forms of media to improve your blogs. You’ll find that they’ll be more fun and engaging, and it will reflect in their rankings as well.
About the Authors
Nick Napier – After serving 7-years in the Navy and traveling to 22 countries, Nick settled in San Diego where he earned his MBA. He currently works as an SEO Specialist while hosting the Rogue Writers Podcast and writing a wide variety of content on a daily basis.
Shannon Downer graduated with a B.A. in English from UC Irvine and is passionate about writing. She lives in San Diego and works as a copywriter and is a member of the Rogue Writers Podcast. She spends her spare time drawing, writing, and listening to podcasts.
