Chances are if you have a business you have a blog, or at one point in time have be told you need one. Any professional blogger will tell you “Content is King”. The inferred meaning behind this mantra is that quality blog articles seize readers attention and don’t let go until the end. Often even compelling the reader to browse other topics of interest on the same blog.

The majority of bloggers, and small business owners do not know the key elements required to write a quality blog post. This quick tutorial will allow you to brush elbows with the greats as you learn time tested skills to grab and keep your reader’s attention.

1) Create an Attention Grabbing Opener!

You have only a few seconds to grab a reader’s attention. That is where a compelling and descriptive title comes in. You need to captivate readers, arouse curiosity with your title, and set the tone of the article with the next few sentences that follow.

As an added bonus a descriptive title and compelling opener will help with SEO (Search Engine Optimization) because you are laying the groundwork of what the article covers for your readers and search engines.

2) Paint a Picture

Certain topics require a little elaboration to get your point across. While you’re making your point add a touch of color to your sentences to hook people and reel them in.

Avoid flat words such as “nice”, “stuff”, “bad” have the conviction to expand upon key words to show off your diversity.

Get specific! Do not neglect the five senses while writing. Include the sights, sounds, and feelings when logical.

3) Active Language Exudes Confidence

It is paramount that you stick to this rule if you want to appear as an authoritative figure on a subject! Making your point quickly and concisely conveys knowledge of the subject matter better than beating around the bush.

For an indication of whether or not your phrases take a passive tone – keep track of how often you use words such as “was, were, had been, is, or are” – use them too often and you run the risk of taking on a passive tone.
Instead, switch your word selection to active verbs; doing so will add energy and depth to your content.

Instead of “yesterday I was typing an article…”
write, “yesterday I typed an article…”

Instead of “we were running about frantically...”
write, “we ran about frantically…”

4) What Would Shakespeare do?

William Shakespeare was a wordsmith. Creating hundreds of new words and phrases that revolutionize the way we communicate isn’t our goal. However replacing winded cliche’s with unique phrases that invoke thought, will suit our needs nicely.

Instead of writing, “I’m so hungry I could eat a horse...”
write, “I’m starving, where’s a horse when you need one …”

Instead of writing,Looks like I’m sleeping in the dog house again tonight...”
write, “The wife is pissed, hope the dog has room…”

5) Sum it up

It is generally good manners to recap the article for your readers; customer service applies in the blogging world too.

If a wide spectrum of information was presented a bulleted or numerated list gives readers a quick summary to refresh their memory without having to dissect the whole article again. You also give readers the option to scroll past the body of the article and get right to the highlights so they can determine if it is worth their time to read the article.

Post Summary:

1. Create an attention grabbing title and description of the article.
2. Replace generic words with ones that appeal to the senses.
3. Get your point across in a clear and concise manner to appear more professional.
4. Rework common phrases into those that provoke thought.
5. Provide a convenient summary of the article for readers to view.

What time tested tips do you have that deserve to be added to this list?