How to Write a Blog: DO’S and DON’TS of Blog Writing
Written by Carley DenBoer and Matt Roseti
So, you want to know how to write a blog? ✍️
Maybe you got jazzed up to write a blog about a topic you love. But an hour or so later, you found yourself staring at a blank Google doc, scrolling mindlessly through Instagram, or randomly cleaning your house instead.
I’ve been there AND I’ve got you.
First off, you’re not alone.
Plenty of people struggle when learning how to write a blog – especially at the beginning of their writing journeys. And it’s easy as a newer writer to fall into common traps that could detract from your blog’s overall effectiveness.
And secondly, I promise you there are clear-cut, proven strategies you can start using TODAY to help you get over that hump and write a killer blog! That’s what we’ll explore here today.
- If you’re a new(ish) copywriter: The techniques I cover here will elevate your copy and get you ready for that monthly blog retainer with the client of your dreams!
- If you’re a business owner writing your own copy: This blog’s also for you. The tips we’ll cover will make sense and teach you how to write a blog for beginners even if you don’t have a writing background or experience.
I’m Carley DenBoer. After becoming disillusioned in my nursing career, I stumbled on Write Your Way to Freedom, a copywriting course that helped me leave nursing and start my own copywriting and copyediting business.
Flash forward to today – and I’m the founder of The Editing Marketplace – a platform that connects writers of all levels to top-notch copyeditors. I’ve edited hundreds of blogs throughout my years as a copyeditor, and I’ve boiled it all down here in this article.
I’ll cover the key DON’Ts and DOs of how to write a blog for beginners to help you craft posts that are engaging, informative, and well-received by your readers.
What IS a Blog?
Before you learn how to write a blog, I find it’s helpful to get everyone on the same page. Because the term “blog” has been used in different ways throughout the years.
Blogs = long-form online content
Most blogs serve 2 functions:
#1: Providing Helpful Content
Back in yesteryear (only kind of joking), if people needed to find information…what would they do? Well, they’d waltz over to their bookshelf and look for the Encyclopedia volume starting with the letter “B” for “How to Write a BLOG for Beginners.”
But nowadays, we turn to Google.
I always joke that my search history on Google would look so wild to someone NOT in my life. But that’s just because I use Google to answer all of life’s pressing questions – from “how to clip my cat’s nails” to “best pancakes to make on the weekend.”
And most of what we find on Google to answer the daily questions of life is in the form of none other than a BLOG.
So, when you start learning how to write a blog, you actually have the potential to reach tons of people and help them in those little Google-able moments throughout the day. Kind of cool if you ask me.
#2: Marketing for Businesses
But blogs are not ONLY informative. I like to think of blogs as THE BEST and sneakiest kind of sales associate. They’re so helpful, that you kind of forget they’re selling you something.
When you learn how to write a blog, this should be a huge focus: selling products for businesses. This happens in the Call to Action (CTA) – where you encourage your readers to act.
That could mean:
- Subscriptions
- E-commerce & Online stores
- Courses
- Coaching
But it’s important to note that blogs are typically at the start of the marketing funnel – meaning they’re usually the first piece of content someone might find from your brand.
Because of that, many blogs also just use blogs as a way to advertise their other content or channels. So, you’ll see CTAs like:
- Subscribe to our newsletter
- Read similar posts
- Follow us
All good blogs BOTH share value AND encourage action in a seamless blend.
5 Blog Writing DON’Ts
I always like getting the bad news out of the way first. So, let’s start with 5 DON’Ts of how to write a blog for beginners.
How to Write a Blog DON’T #1: DON’T Write a Journal Entry
We’ve all been through embarrassing phases.
*I’m thinking of my dramatic eyeliner phase. Yikes!*
And I think we can all agree that the blog-as-a-journal era was a collectively embarrassing phase for humans in the early 2000’s.
Don’t get me wrong: it’s super important to inject personality into your writing.
BUT a blog should NOT read like a private journal.
We’re not airing out our dirty laundry here, people. 🧺
Or sharing moody musings from our log cabin. 🪵
We’re writing content that provides value to your readers and makes their lives better!
Like I always say, readers are selfish and lazy (no offense). This means they’re reading your blog because THEY want to. They’re CHOOSING to give you their attention and trust your input. So, make it an easy choice for them.
When you’re learning how to write a blog, focus on topics that resonate with your readers, offering insights, advice, or solutions relevant to their needs.
How to Write a Blog DON’T #2: DON’T Write an Essay
We all remember our English teachers telling us to make our writing more formal.
And there is some value to knowing how to tone the formality UP or DOWN in your writing.
But when it comes to how to write a blog: we want that formal knotch turned WAY DOWN.
Blogs should be engaging and accessible, not overly formal or rigid. While it's important to maintain clarity and organization in your writing, avoid sounding stiff or overly technical.
Instead, aim for a conversational tone that invites readers in and makes your content easy to digest. Remember, the goal is to connect with your audience, not to impress them with your vocabulary or knowledge.
How to Write a Blog DON’T #3: DON’T Assume Reader Knowledge
You know what they say about assuming, right?
Well, this applies to how to write a blog as well.
Never assume that your readers know how the blog topic relates to your company or industry.
**That’s why I took the time at the beginning of this post to clarify WHAT a blog is. I can’t assume everyone knows that. And I don’t want to leave anyone in the dust. **
It's super important to provide context and draw clear connections between the subject you’re discussing and your business. This ensures that your audience understands the relevance of the content and how it applies to their needs or interests.
That’s why I recommend getting your copy edited when you’re learning how to write a blog. Your copyeditor can identify gaps in the audience’s knowledge. And make sure even the newest person to that topic is included in on the fun!
Need help writing to your audience? Get support from a trained copyeditor.
How to Write a Blog DON’T #4: DON’T Plop Content Straight from ChatGPT
Look, I get it. AI made writing easy, right?
Kind of true-ish.
But like all good things: AI works best when used in moderation.
When it comes to my copywriting skill, I have:
- Hours of professional development through courses like Write Your Way to Freedom
- Experience creating my course, Copy Anatomy
- Hundreds of hours of experience editing writing from other copywriters
- AND my own life experience to draw from
Even though I use ChatGPT to make my life easier every day, I know it could NEVER replace me fully as a writer.
That’s why I use AI as a tool in my writing but NEVER to replace me in that process.
Personally, I like using AI to:
- Brainstorm ideas
- Generate rough drafts
But then YOU need to go in and add in all the good stuff that makes it originally YOURS.
One of the most powerful techniques for how to write a blog is storytelling. When you do this, you can:
- Share your own experiences
- OR write a story with the reader as the main character
And you always want to use imagery to paint a picture of that moment in the readers’ mind.
** Some examples of me doing this in the blog are:
- The anecdote about YOU trying to write a blog but cleaning your house instead
- The example of my embarrassing eyeliner phase **
Both of these examples helped you really picture what I was sharing. And NEITHER of these could come from AI.
How to Write a Blog DON’T #5: DON’T Overdo the Information or Stats
Speaking of sounding robotic, let’s talk adding stats and facts to your blog.
Something new copywriters can struggle with when learning how to write a blog is how much information to include. And wanting to impress their clients – they tend to overdo it.
Effective blogs strike a balance between providing valuable information and connecting with readers on an emotional level. While it’s important to share facts, data, and insights, don’t forget to engage your readers’ emotions.
How can you do this?
Use storytelling, relatable examples, and empathetic language to create a connection that goes beyond just the intellectual. This approach can make your content more memorable and impactful.
Writing a blog is a bit like navigating conflict in a relationship: It’s not so much about WHAT you’re saying – it’s about HOW you say it. 😂
That’s why blogs are still so effective — even when the topic has already been written about.
Ever use a blog for parenting advice? I know I have.
In fact, back in 2014, there were 4.4 million motherhood bloggers. [1]
That’s a lot of moms sharing advice, and imagine how many there are today!
So, if you own a baby skincare brand, and you want to write blogs about motherhood as resources on your website, is there even a point in you adding content to the mix?
The answer is YES.
You have unique perspectives, experiences, and stories to share about this topic.
And people don’t just want to learn about motherhood. They want to learn about motherhood from someone they trust – YOU.
So, blogs can incorporate some good stats here and there **notice the stats I just provided about 4.4 million motherhood bloggers.**
BUT that doesn’t replace the stories and images only YOU can give to your readers.
7 Blog Writing DO’s
Okay, now that you know what NOT to do, let’s take a more positive spin on how to write a blog for beginners. Hopefully, you’ve worked out all those bad habits by now, and you’re ready to learn what TO do.
How to Write a Blog DOs #1: DO Research
Speaking of baking bread, let’s go with a bread analogy here.
Let’s say you want to make a delicious loaf of focaccia bread.
Unless you’re Paul Hollywood from The Great British Baking Show, you won’t be able to just walk into your kitchen and start throwing ingredients together.
By the way, if you CAN do that, then you should GO ON The Great British Baking Show, but I digress.
To bake a good focaccia loaf, it takes a little bit of research.
For example, you need to know things like:
- What ingredients do you need?
- What temperature should the oven be set to?
- How much should you work the dough?
- How many people are you baking for?
Knowing all of this before you set out on your baking venture will help you when it’s “Ready, set, bake!” time.
The same applies to blog writing.
Preparation is KEY to a successful blog post.
Before you start writing, take the time to gather and organize the information you need. If you're writing for a client, ensure you have a clear understanding of their goals, audience, and key messages.
If you’re working on a portfolio piece or creating content without a specific client, consider making up a fictitious client or choosing a dream client as your muse. This will help you stay focused and give your writing a sense of direction.
Key elements to consider during preparation include:
Audience: Who are you writing for? What are their needs, interests, and pain points?
Client: Who is the client or the voice behind the blog? What do they stand for?
Problem: What problem are you addressing in your blog? How will your content help solve it?
CTA: What action do you want your readers to take after reading your blog?
By addressing these elements before you start writing, you’ll have a clear roadmap for your content and a better understanding of how to write a blog that resonates with your audience.
How to Write a Blog DOs #2: DO Outline
When I was first learning how to write a blog, I hated taking the time to outline.
So, I would usually just look up a few facts and then dive head-first into the writing process.
And what I found was that those blogs took me fooorever to write.
That’s because I ended up having to do all that research, outlining, and structuring on the back-end AS I wrote.
Would. Not. Recommend.
What I do recommend when learning how to write a blog is taking a good amount of time to prepare ahead of time.
Creating an outline is a crucial step in the blog writing process. A well-organized outline helps you structure your content logically and ensures that your blog flows smoothly from start to finish.
Here are two common and easy-to-digest blog outlines:
Oldschool Outline: Traditional format with an introduction, body, and conclusion.
Listicle Outline: A list-based format that breaks down information into easy-to-digest sections, often used for tips or step-by-step guides.
Remember, your readers are often busy and looking for quick answers. Make it easy for them by organizing your content logically and keeping your points concise and clear.
How to Write a Blog DOs #3: Write a Rough Draft
After outlining, it’s time to begin the rough draft. This can look however it works best for you, but my main piece of advice is: Don’t be a perfectionist!
Coming from a recovering perfectionist myself, I get it. But if you stop and nit-pick your blog as you write it, it WILL slow you down.
Instead, treat the rough draft as an idea dump that you can go back to and refine later.
Sometimes, I’ll even dictate using voice-to-text on my phone to get my ideas down for a blog. This helps me get all of my ideas out there, and then I can go back to organize, edit, and polish it up.
After your rough draft is complete, I recommend a few steps:
STEP 1: Go through the blog to look for fluff. Then, de-fluffify it!
STEP 2: Look for opportunities to add stories and vivid examples using imagery.
STEP 3: Get your blog edited.
More about Step 3 later, but by following these steps, you’ll turn your rough draft into a publish-ready piece in no time!
How to Write a Blog DOs #4: DO Make it Skimmer-Friendly
Ever open up a blog and get intimidated by ALL the words?
That’s probably because that blog was not skimmer-friendly.
When you’re learning how to write a blog, adding details to make it skimmer-friendly is like the finishing touch. And one of the key factors separating the newbies from the pros.
In fact…
- 58% of people searching on Google are browsing on their mobile devices. [2]
- 35% of people reading blogs are just skimmin’ on through [3]
- Most readers spend about 96 seconds on a blog before they bounce. [3]
So, the takeaway is…pay attention to formatting!
1) Use headers to break up sections
2) Vary sentence and paragraph lengths to maintain reader interest
3) And incorporate bolded phrases, lists, and bullet points to highlight key information **kind of like what I’m doing here!**
This approach not only improves the user experience but also makes your content more likely to rank well in search engine results.
Learning how to write a blog and make it skimmer-friendly takes a lot of time. So if you wanna write up a rough draft and move on – that’s where a copyeditor can be very helpful!
At The Editing Marketplace, you can submit rough drafts of your work and ask your editor to make your writing skimmer-friendly. Or if you had AI draft up something for you, you can hire a copyeditor to make it more personable and sound more LIKE YOU.
Learn more about how to join The Editing Marketplace below.
How to Write a Blog DOs #5: DO Optimize it for SEO
Part of writing a blog for yourself or a client is optimizing it for SEO.
Remember how we talked about the main points of writing a blog:
- To provide valuable information to your readers.
- And to boost your marketing!
Neither of these can happen without SEO.
When you optimize a blog for SEO, you basically ensure that it can be found on Google by people searching for the topics you address.
A few ways you can do this when mastering how to write a blog for beginners:
- Keyword Research: Use tools like Ubersuggest or Ahrefs to research keywords that people are searching for on Google. Then, use these statistics to drive the keywords you use in your articles.
- Keyword Density: Once you identify the keywords to use, do your best to use those keywords naturally throughout the writing. I recommend 1-3% keyword density, which just means that you’ll want to use that keyword 1-3 times per every 100 words. [4] By choosing conversational keywords that also have the potential for high search volume, you can simultaneously add in natural-sounding keywords and boost your blog’s traffic. The editors and mentors at The Editing Marketplace can assist you as you master both of these skills!
- Word Count: I often get asked: How many words should a blog be for good SEO? Aim for a word count between 1,500 and 2,500 words. [5] However, there are always exceptions where it’s okay to go longer, such as those intentionally longer pillar posts.
- Higher word counts have the potential to show Google that you're providing helpful information (if you actually are).
- It also provides many ways for you to naturally incorporate the keywords into your writing without sounding forced.
SEO is scary and unpredictable. So, you’re not alone if this feels like a lot.
One of the add-ons we offer at The Editing Marketplace is SEO analysis. So, once you write your blog and incorporate SEO into it, get an expert’s eyes on your SEO when you book an edit with us.
How to Write a Blog DOs #6: DO Learn How to Write Quickly
When you’re first learning how to write a blog, the actual writing process takes forever!
But trust me. Blog writing gets FASTER. You’ll find a flow and process that works for you. And while writing a blog is always a decent time commitment, you’ll find your rhythm.
In my experience, the biggest roadblock to speedy writing for people learning how to write a blog is perfectionism.
And I can relate.
BUT if you tend to overthink or rewrite excessively, consider submitting your work for edits sooner rather than later.
Striving for perfection when learning how to write a blog can sometimes lead to “overbaking,” where your content loses its freshness and authenticity. Focus on delivering high-quality content, but don’t let the pursuit of perfection slow you down.
How to Write a Blog DOs #7: DO Get Your Blog Edited
As a new writer learning how to write a blog, THE BEST way to grow is to surround yourself with a community of like-minded people.
One of the best ways to do that is to get your blog edited.
For Copywriters
If you’re a newer copywriter learning how to write a blog, here are a few scenarios that might apply to you.
You have a portfolio piece: If you just wrote a blog as a portfolio piece, the next step is to get it edited by a more experienced copywriter. Nothing compares to actually having someone else get into the nitty-gritty to give your writing feedback.
You have a client: If you’re new to this whole “how to write a blog” thing, but you have a client, I get it. You probably feel scared and have all types of impostor syndrome. I’ve been there. One way to help with that is to get your blogs edited before you submit them to your clients.
I always recommend that copywriters factor the cost of editing into the original price they negotiate with the client. This allows for someone other than you to put their eyes on the work and for you to continue investing in yourself as a writer.
For Business Owners Writing Their Copy
If you're a business owner learning how to write a blog, here are a few scenarios that might apply to you.
You’re using AI to write your copy: If you’re using AI to write 100% of your copy at the moment, no shame. That probably just means you're stretched thin because you’re working so hard on other aspects of your business.
If you submit copy written by AI to a copyeditor, they can help take that piece and make it sound more like YOU.
You’re writing your content: If you’re not a trained copywriter but you don’t want to swing the price of hiring one for your business, that probably means you’re writing the copy for your business.
If that’s the case, hiring a copyeditor is a cheaper alternative to hiring a copywriter. You get a trained pair of eyes on your work without breaking the bank.
Working with an editor at The Editing Marketplace is a great opportunity for you to invest in yourself and your writing skills. We can also help provide a seamless transition for the day when you are ready to hire a copywriter and take a load off!
Not to mention, when get edits from us, you get marketing strategy and approach built into the editing process.
Why? Because we help you hone in on your audience and their needs. This allows us to amplify your copy AND provide clarity on how to design your overarching funnel to best serve your audience.
Ready to Submit Your Latest Blog for Edits?
Learning how to write a blog doesn’t have to be daunting. By following these DOs and DON’Ts, you’ll be well on your way to creating content that resonates with your audience and drives engagement.
If you feel like you need some extra support as you work through these DOs and DONT’s of how to write a blog for beginners – I recommend joining The Editing Marketplace.
For a $5 monthly subscription, writers get access to:
- Copyediting from professional copyeditors
- Weekly Q&A Calls
- Access to a community of writers and editors who make money obsessing over words!
At The Editing Marketplace, we don’t just edit your comma splices.
We treat each piece of copy as a holistic piece of writing, and we provide feedback on:
- Organization & structure
- Tone & Personality
- Word choice
- Skimmability
- SEO
- Marketing Strategy
- And SO MUCH MORE.
Click below to join The Editing Marketplace.
How to Write a Blog FAQs
How to write a blog for beginners?
If you’re a beginner learning how to write a blog, check out the DOs and DONTs in the how-to guide. I’ll share all my best insights.
What are blog writing examples?
For some great blog writing examples, I recommend checking out my Copy Anatomy Course, where I step through many blog examples to teach writers how to write and edit blogs.
How do bloggers make money?
If you’re wondering how to write a blog to earn money, you’re in the right place. Blog writing is an essential part of marketing for many businesses, and writing blogs can make you great money.
What is a blog format?
To learn more about the format I teach for how to write a blog, check out my Copy Anatomy Course
Sources:
[1] https://www.forbes.com/sites/neilpatel/2016/11/03/9-things-we-can-learn-from-the-mom-blog-industry/
[2] https://research.com/software/mobile-vs-desktop-usage
[3] https://masterblogging.com/blog-readership-statistics