You’re probably under the illusion that you’re writing the best content. You spend hours drafting up a seemingly perfect blog post, only to be disappointed when the social shares and reads are nonexistent. You give it a few more stabs, only to find that the same issue still occurs.
What’s happening? There’s a disconnect somewhere. Maybe your content isn’t good enough.
When was the last time you read an informative, yet yawn-worthy piece and felt like sharing? Sure, boring articles might have several great takeaways, but sharing them never crosses your mind.
When you run into these issues, it’s not you. It’s your writing. Here is a six-step formula for livening up boring content.
- Make your post title irresistible
If you’re scrolling, you want your title to jump off the page. You want it to be so tempting that you can’t help but click. Controversial or confrontational titles always work the best. Make a dramatic statement or call someone out.
For example, instead of “How to Write Better Content,” try “Your Content Sucks! 12 Ways to Save Your Sinking Ship.” The body of these posts might be the same, but the second title will encourage more reads.
- Your opening paragraph should be short, sweet, and conversational
If the first few sentences are too complicated, repetitive, and uninteresting, you’re gone. If your readers wanted a thesis, they’d find one. Stop trying to make your articles too stuffy and complex.
- Make a definite statement
Don’t be a wishy-washy writer. Don’t delve too deep into opposing opinions. Make your point clear. If you’re lukewarm on an issue, argument or opinion, people won’t want to revisit your blog. Niche bloggers always attract a steady flow of traffic. Bloggers that try to please the masses will eventually lose their appeal.
- Ask yourself, “Who is my reader?”
If you don’t know your readers, there’s no way you’ll ever succeed. How can you write valuable content if you don’t understand what they want? Knowing your target audience will help you increase the effectiveness and value of your content.
- Close with a question
You want to encourage conversation. End your post with a question. Ask your readers if they agree or disagree. Invite them to share their opinions below. The more involved your readers are, the more likely they are to share your content and visit your blog in the future.
- Share with relevant industry leaders
Maybe your blog is still in the beginning stages. That means your traffic is low to borderline nonexistent, but that’s OK. Share your post with relevant industry leaders who would find your content valuable, interesting and shareable.
On top of this, don’t forget to post on all your social outlets, and include an eye-catching image. A recent report released by eMarketer proves that over 75% of Facebook posts worldwide include a picture.
To grasp the takeaway of this formula, you must ask yourself “What do I define as great content?” For some, 10 social shares and 100 unique reads might be enough. Others may want to see those numbers in the thousands, at a minimum. It all depends on you, and the type of growth you project for your business.
Keep in mind that you know best. Don’t let other content marketers set standards for your work. Set specific goals before launching any content-based campaigns.
Here are some questions to ask while brainstorming content standards.
- Which is more important: shares or reads?
- How many shares do I need to label this a success?
- How many reads do I need to label this a success?
- Over what period do I want to achieve these results?
If you answer each one of these questions, you’ll then be able to develop a content marketing plan better. According to a report from the Content Marketing Institute, only 34% of content marketers say they have a documented procedure. That can’t be good. Every piece of content marketing needs to hop aboard the planning train.
Never post without a purpose
Drafting up an off the cuff blog post won’t serve you any good. Maximize your reach and reads by making use of an editorial calendar. You want to get the most out of your efforts. A set plan forces you to stay prepared.
When you invest more time into your content, you observe better results. Give yourself time to check for spelling or grammar errors. In addition to that, taking your time with content creation allows you to beef up the value.
