How to write a successful blog in 2022

It’s looking like 2022 isn’t going to be the year things go back to normal – at least not for the first few months. It’s increasingly likely we’ll be spending a bit more time having to isolate, mask up, hole up at home and find new ways to socialise. With that in mind, lots of people will be looking for an outlet – whether for their frustration or their pandemic epiphanies – or some entertainment, and many of us will have a little more time on our hands than usual. So what better moment to start that blog that’s been percolating?

With that in mind, here are some pointers to writing a successful blog.

Address a specific audience

Before starting any blog, be it lifestyle, creative writing, design or bitcoin trader reviews, it’s important to think about who will be reading it. The best blogs know who their readers are and tailor their content to fit. With that in mind, be specific and be individual – there’s no need to please everyone. Some solid research is a must before beginning any writing, to establish what kind of content will work best and where to publicise it.

Make titles and opening paragraphs pop

Most online readers are skimmers – if they’re not engaged within the first sentence or two, they’re gone. So an eye-catching title followed by an intriguing opening is an absolute must. The title should give a clear idea of what to expect in the content, and the first few sentences shouldn’t be too taxing to avoid losing readers off the bat.

Make it visual

A blog is always more fun to read if it’s complemented with good media. This can be the writer’s own photos or they can be drawn from one of the many stock photo libraries online. Photos can be used as a tool to help readers better understand the content, but they can also give an opportunity to relax from the reading effort (particularly if the writing or topic is relatively serious). In addition, images can be useful in creating interesting formatting and a unique design.

Make content accessible

Readers who are intrigued by a first read of an article will want to be able to easily access further content. There’s nothing worse than a blog without a search bar or well categorised posts, and it’s the easiest way to lost potential subscribers when they might have been hooked. It’s paramount to set up a search and archive system, ideally with linked content, so that it’s simple to find related pieces and the rabbit hole can continue.

Check and check again

While the blog as a genre is by nature relatively informal, and in most cases written, produced, proofread and edited by one person, it’s still important to ensure content is of good quality – and that includes the spelling and grammar! It’s worth going over it with an impartial eye to cut out bits that aren’t useful or interesting, and it’s always a good idea to check over the grammar with a fine-tooth comb. Getting a friend involved to read over it can be useful for some perspective.

The editorial unit