Anatomy of a Perfect Blog Post

What is the secret behind the perfect blog post?

Is it the formatting, the research, the editing, the optimization, or the images?

The answer is yes. Yes, to all of those things. There’s quite a few factors that go into exceptional content marketing. Failing to perform any of these areas well can limit your blog’s success. Studies show that over 90% of marketers today are publishing custom content. There’s no lack of competition, which is all the more reason to ensure your work really shines. Here are the factors that go into an exceptional blog:

1. An Eye-Catching Headline

Research indicates that your blog headlines are the most important aspect of your blog. “Racy” and provocative headlines stand out in social media and in search engine results, powering up your ability to capture more first-time visitors to your website. Exceptional headlines often:

Include numbers or specific data
Incorporate powerful words and phrases
Create a sense of urgency or intrigue in the reader

Suggested Resource: 32 Resources to Write Great Blog Headlines.

2. An Intriguing Introduction

55% of webpage viewers will spend less than 15 seconds on a page. An additional 5% never scroll! You literally have less than 0.25 minutes to make the right first impression on your readers. The introduction to your blog article is absolutely crucial. Power it up with fresh statistics and research. Share an anecdote. Create a sense of camaraderie by empathizing with your reader.

If you’re aiming to write the perfect blog post, never-ever skimp on the quality of your introduction.

Suggested Resource: Writing Tips to Infuse Your Blog with Stickiness

3. Outstanding Imagery

When you first visit a web page or article, where is your eye drawn? I can almost guarantee it’s towards the imagery on the page. Humans are naturally visual creatures, and images are processed 60,000 times faster by the brain than text!

Never settle for boring stock photos. Take the time necessary to find quality images, or create your own for your perfect blog post! It’s probably easier than you think.

Suggested Resource: 14 Tools to Create Images for Blog Posts in 5 Mins

4. Fantastic Formatting

Few people read the blogs you create in-depth. The vast majority of web users today skim content instead. It’s in your best interest as a content marketer to format your blog into short, easily-digestible chunks. Forget what you learned in English class, and adjust your style to match human behavior. Some ways to format your content can include:

Writing more list posts, and using lists throughout your article
Avoiding long paragraphs and run-on sentences
Breaking up your text with images and screen caps
Embracing subheaders throughout your content.

Suggested Resource: Blog Formatting: How to Make Readers Love Your Blog

5. Spectacular SEO Optimization

Before you roll your eyes, hear me out. Search engine algorithms today are more like discerning humans than ever before. The types of tactics that will cause your blog to soar in Google will also thrill your audience. To SEO-optimize your perfect blog post, you should:

Perform in-depth research and cover topics thoroughly
Be original, and relentless about being the best at your particular angle
Edit carefully, and never publish content hastily
Incorporate formatting best practices and keyword research

Suggested Resource: How to Easily Optimize Your Blog Posts for SEO

6. Intriguing Calls-to-Action

Once a reader finishes your blog post, what should they do? You definitely don’t want them to leave your website, never to return. That’s why finishing your perfect blog post with an intriguing action is absolutely crucial. By inviting your readers to take a certain action, you can increase your chances of building a long-term relationship. Some popular types of calls-to-action can include:

Inviting your readers to check out a different blog post
Offering a link to download a free eBook or whitepaper
Requesting that readers share the blog on social media

However, these ideas are just the top of the iceberg! The sky is the limit when it comes to creating engaging invitations.

Suggested Resource: 15 Calls to Actions for Blog Posts that Convert

What do you think is crucial for the perfect blog post? Share your thoughts in the comments!