In the writing world, structure plays a key role in how we organize our ideas and make the text more appealing to readers. Whether it be an essay with the basic five-paragraph format, a textbook with headlines and subtopics, or a novel split into chapters, there is always a specific structure followed. Blogs, though more informal, are no exception to this system.
Blog writing has become more and more popular as we turn to the online world. When you search the Internet, you will come across all sorts of blogs about personal trips, places to go, reviews, or blogs about current events and world issues. When you look at each of these closely, you will see that the writer has followed a structure to capture your attention.
If you are a beginner blog writer or looking to revamp your current style of writing, here is a list of steps to help you structure your post and draw your readers in:
1. An Interesting Headline
Before you begin writing a blog, you need to have a specific topic. The idea for a blog is to make sure this headline grabs the attention of your audience as this is the first thing they see. Your headline needs to be engaging, straight to the point and descriptive so that readers are pushed to click and read more.
2. A Captivating Opening
First impressions are everything and it is important that your opening paragraph hooks your readers in immediately. Be sure not to include any unimportant details or go off into tangents, as you will quickly lose the attention of your reader. Some ideas to help you are, start your opening paragraph with a question, a quote or a bold statement related to your main topic or argument.
3. Interesting and Logical Supporting Points
The body of your blog is what we consider the “meat” of your writing. This is where you back up your main topic or argument with supporting rationale that is going to keep the readers engaged. To do this, your writing does not necessarily need to follow a strict three-point argument, but it should have some flow and not be all over the place. A good idea is to make a list of points and use these as your main sections or subheadings when writing your body.
4. A Convincing Close
This is where you wrap-up your article and give your readers something to take away. Don’t be vague. You do not want to lose your readers and make them wonder why they read your article in the first place. If there is a particular idea you want them to reflect on, an action you want them to take, or some sort of response you want them to have, make sure that is clear. Also, use this end of your article to invite your readers to leave a comment, share your post or answer a question.
Lastly, as with any writing make sure to edit, revise and proofread your post before publishing. Happy blogging!
Written by: Amrit Dadi