The Anatomy Of The Perfect Blog Post

Have you ever started reading a blog post… only to wander off the page?

If you write blog posts, you probably wonder if readers are doing to the same to you.

A strong start, increasingly valuable middle, and decisive finish will keep your reader on the page. You’ll get a lower bounce rate and more engagements and conversions when you blog with purpose and strive to make every post “The Perfect Blog Post.”

Here’s what transforms a good blog post into a perfect one:

The Click-Seducing Headline

A powerful headline takes your blog post link from “eh, I think I’d read that sometime,” to “I better click this RIGHT NOW to make sure I don’t miss it!”

How-To and “7 Ways To…” headlines are tried and true, but they need something extra to make them stand out in a sea of similar headlines.

Instead of “7 Ways To Entertain Your Cat,” try “7 Super-Fun Ways To Entertain Your Cat.”

Better yet, replace “ways” with a more unique near-synonym. Games, tricks, or hacks could also entertain a cat. People seem to enjoy “little-known” ways. You can also simplify your article and make it about “The Best Way To Entertain A Cat.”

You can add pizazz to any, or even every part of your headline.

Like this:

“7 Genius Games For Hard-To-Impress Cats”

If you’re going to jazz up your headline with bold promises, though, you’ll need to be able to deliver. That brings us to the next part of your perfect blog post.

An Introduction That Hooks

Nothing makes online readers, particularly mobile readers, click away faster than long, cluttered paragraphs. The reality is, nobody will spend time reading anything they do not have to.

If your blog post looks like a chore to read, nobody will bother to dig deep, no matter how brilliant your content really is.

The first paragraph should consist of one line. Possibly one sentence. A word.

The second paragraph should be barely longer. The format of your content should gradually carry your reader into the most compelling points of your blog post.

A brief personal story can make a good introduction if it is relevant. Illustrate the problem your blog post will solve. Create context without giving away the meatiest details of your post.

The Unique, Never-Before-Seen Content

Everyone knows that cats like cardboard boxes. And crinkled tissue paper. If your content is similar to other blog posts on the topic, you’ll have a high bounce rate. Readers will quickly forget about your blog post and move on to something more fun.

It’s not always possible to come up with totally new content. You can only reinvent so much about your topic. However, you can take existing tips, data and key points and make them your own.

Google your topic, and read the first search results. Then, commit to making your blog post at least a little bit different and more useful.

Check out the next few pages of search results. Look at the image results.

Then, take to your most-used social media platforms. Search hashtags and keywords that will bring up content related to your topic.

Personal experience inspires truly unique content. Your can ask your own audience or users in forums and on social media for their input on your topic.

Finally, gather your source information – which may be ideas collected from other blogs – making sure to give credit where it’s due by linking within the body of your blog post or quoting those who have contributed their opinion or experience.

A Clean Finish

Ending a blog post can feel awkward.

You may be at a loss – should you just stop writing, or add a conclusion and sum up your main points?

The truth is, either is acceptable. By the end of a blog post, your reader will have gathered the meatiest, most important points of your post. If you can end on a final point without it seeming too abrupt, you do not need to ramble on or repeat yourself.

The Call To Action

Every blog post should give your reader something to do.

You don’t need to ask your reader to “please share” if you have social sharing buttons – it’ll just seem redundant. Readers will share if they curate content or think their friends will find your blog post useful.

You can ask your reader a question that they can answer in the comments, though the wrong question can put your reader off commenting.

After they’ve read your perfect blog post, you can ask your reader for a bigger favor than sharing or commenting.

Go ahead, ask them to sign up for your email list, take advantage of your free lead magnet or make a purchase from your affiliate link.

Every blog post can have one of these big, bold calls to action. You’ll make the best use of your time if you’re blogging with purpose.

So go ahead, be the blogger that asks your reader to take the next step in your relationship. By crafting the perfect blog post, you’ll have earned it!