Let's cut to the chase today: you know you're supposed to be blogging. You're trying to blog. But man, it's tough. Well I'm going to help you through the process over the next couple of weeks in bits and pieces, so let's tackle making those posts worth your time when you do get to them. 

1. Keep it short and the language simple. Do you read long blog posts? Neither do I. No one has the attention for it anymore, and if you can't say what you need to say in 300 - 500 words, you should break the content up into smaller posts, or think about a longer format (like a white paper). Same goes for jargon. Don't be a know it all, show you know what you're talking about without going over the heads of your readers.

2. Use lists and/or bullet points to break up the content. Blocks of paragraphs are very off-putting to a lot of readers. Make it easy for them to get the main points by pulling them out into lists. (Like this one.)

3. Always add a graphic (or two). You should ALWAYS have a graphic. Use a stock photo or hop over to Canva to create something for your post. The best graphics have your blog title and URL and/or logo on them. That way, when people link to the post or use Pinterest, the connection to the post is right there in your graphic. Also it discourages people from just lifting graphics from your website.

4. Spend some time on your title. This is important for briniging in traffic and appealing to the gods of SEO. Be clear about what your post is about. I struggle with this myself because I'm always trying too hard to be witty. Try this tool to help you craft great titles and peak the interest of your readers. 

5. Make sure you include a call to action. What should they do with the information once they have it? How can they get in touch with you if they want more information or help, or for the love, to hire you? Get it on there and ask for something specific!

BONUS: Don't forget your author byline. This one is a hat tip to my coach Natalie over at BizChix.com (you should definitely check out the podcast, even if you aren't a chick). You want the blog post to stand on it's own as a publication, so put some language in that explains who you are and why you're the expert. 

That's it! Now your'e ready to go create amazing and engaging blog posts!

Jensie is the ringleader of Slanted Communication & Consulting. She is an expert in marketing, social media, content, and loves helping other entrepreneurs get started in their own adventures. Learn more about working with Jensie and her team here.