The Secrets To A Great Pet Blog Post

Guest post by Blog Manager Robbi Hess

Psst! I've got a secret! Truly, there are no secrets to a great blog post, but there are steps you can take to get more eyes on your post and help bring readers to your blog on a regular basis. Settle in and check out my "secrets."

• “You” is one of the most important words you will use in a blog post. Make your reader believe you’ve penned the post specifically for his or her eyes. Using pronouns like “we’ or “they” or “us” doesn’t build a closeness the way “you” does.

We all known $10 words, right? Don’t use them in your blog posts unless that is what your readers are accustomed to. Blog posts are typically written at a fifth to seventh grade reading level.

How-to posts rule the Internet! People love to know how-to do… well, just about anything. Pen a great how to post that solves a problem your readers are having. Offer a solution to a problem they didn’t even know they had! Try to keep your how-tos to 10 steps (if possible) or less and be detailed in your explanations.

Provide all of the information you promised in your headline. Don’t tease the reader with the promise of a blog post on how to bathe a cat only to have them show up and you’re talking about how to teach a dog to walk on a leash. Live up to the topic that drew them in.

Speaking of headlines. On his blog, Darren Rowse, offers four qualities that all headlines share: They are unique, useful, ultra specific, and urgent. Give your headlines a once over and see if they meet these four qualities. If not, revamp them.

Ask a question when you wrap up your blog post. This could prompt the reader to want to offer his or her comments and advice. Start the conversation.

Be the go-to expert. You can be an expert and show your authority without shouting it from the rooftops. Be humble and prove your authority through the quality of the blogs you write.

Care about the readers. At the end of the day, without your readers what is the sense of continuing to blog? Reply to them, address their concerns, keep a friendly dialogue going and if they comment on your blog, check and see if they have blogs of their own and return the commenting favor, you’ll be glad you did!

Do any of these “secrets” ring true? 

 

Comments

[Colby]

I write a lot of how-to posts and they are definitely popular on my blog. It seems that most people are looking for answers when doing a search and how-to posts always seem to rise to the top of the SERPS.

Lots of great tips here I usually try my best to implement all of these ideas before publishing a new blog post.

[Robbi]

Thanks, Colby.I agree, How-tos are popular.

[Glogirly and Katie]

I've tried a number of different kinds of posts. I've done some "design" how-to's, but most have turned out to be too complicated. I've asked my readers on a few occasions and their comments are consistent with my numbers - Funny quips from my cats and great photos and graphics.

I know that I need to work on headlines...I try to be clever, but I need to think a little bit more about immediate appeal and attraction.
: )