Lindsey Komson

Featured Image by cottonbro studio

Starting a blog is a great way to share your thoughts with people near and far. Whether you’re writing about food, sports, academia, or anything else, there’s an audience for basically anything you publish. But before you actually hit publish, there are a few things you should do.

Make your layout scannable

Online readers don’t always read every word on the screen. I’m sure you can think of at least one time you were given a reading for class, and you just skimmed it for important information. Well, that’s exactly what much of your audience will do with your blogs. Here are some tips from the 16 Rules of Blog Writing and Layout to follow so that everyone will feel comfortable reading them:

• Use headers/subheaders
• Incorporate callout boxes
• Highlight key words
• Write short paragraphs
• Leave room for white space
• Include good images

Why should you do this? According to Maria Konnikova, putting too much information in front of your readers will make them feel tired and most likely close out of your blog. “We become tired from the constant need to filter out hyperlinks and possible distractions. And our eyes themselves may grow fatigued from the constantly shifting screens, layouts, colors, and contrasts, an effect that holds for e-readers as well as computers,” she writes.

Use a coherent structure

Throwing information at your readers in no specific order can really overwhelm them. There are three main types of structures that you should try to choose from when writing a blog post.

• Hierarchical – let people know what’s most important by creating a hierarchy. You can do this by adjusting font weight, size, or other variables.
• Sequential – creating an ordered list of steps in a process allows readers to easily follow along with what you write.
• Narrative – guide people through a story by establishing a beginning, middle, and end.

Whichever structure you use, make sure to read through your blog before posting. This way, you can make sure the information you’re presenting is easy to follow and/or understand.

Convey your own voice

No matter what you’re writing about, your tone of voice is the bridge between you and your intended audience.

For example, this blog post is intended for first-time bloggers. It probably wouldn’t be a good idea to use highly academic language because my intended audience wouldn’t be able to understand what I’m saying. If that teaches you anything, try to stray away from academic language unless you’re writing for class or a real publication. If a reader opens this page and can’t understand what’s in front of them, they’re going to close it right out.

Again, it depends on what you’re writing about and who you’re writing for, but many blogs will reach their audiences better if written with an informal voice. It’ll feel like you’re talking with a friend or someone you know, which I hope you’re feeling right now!

So, whether you’re writing for class or your own personal enjoyment, I hope these tips gave you a good basis for starting your own blog.

References

Dunlevie, S. (2020, April 7). 16 rules of blog writing and layout. which ones are you breaking?. 16 Rules of Blog Writing and Layout. Which Ones Are You Breaking? | Just Read. https://justread.link/g43RhVlI7

Konnikova, M. (2014, July 16). Being a better online reader. The New Yorker. https://www.newyorker.com/science/maria-konnikova/being-a-better-online-reader

Nielsen, J. (1997, September 30). How users read on the web. Nielsen Norman Group. https://www.nngroup.com/articles/how-users-read-on-the-web/

Pinker, S. (2014, September 25). The Source of Bad Writing – WSJ. Wall Street Journal. https://www.wsj.com/articles/the-cause-of-bad-writing-1411660188

Style Manual. Australian Government Coat of Arms. (n.d.). https://www.stylemanual.gov.au/structuring-content/types-structure