Blog Posts 2023: What is a blog post and how to write articles?

Blogs, undoubtedly, have become the easiest, most accessible, and quickest way of gaining knowledge on all kinds of different subjects. All the way from technical stuff, across financial advice, to general lifestyle tips.

In this complete blog posts guide, you will learn almost everything about blogs, bloggers, and blog posts, and how to achieve your goals as a blogger or a copywriter.

But first, let’s define some terms:

What is a blogger?

A blogger is an author of a blog post, someone who publishes content to a blog that is published on the internet. A blogger can be anyone from an expert in their field to an everyday person with a story to tell.

What is a blog post?

A blog post, in the simplest terms, is an article, a guide, a list, or any informational piece covering a specific topic or query, consisting of text, images, videos, infographics, diagrams, charts, or as in most cases, a combination of a few of these. Published on the blog section of a magazine, a website, or a newspaper.

It’s a piece of online content that is written in the form of an article, typically with an informal or conversational tone. Blog posts are often used to generate traffic to an author’s website.

Blogs are usually updated with new content when there is something new to say about it, and not necessarily at any set interval

The current most common form of the blog post is, as you would expect, the website blog post. So, what is a blog?

What is a blog?

A blog is a type of website where the owner posts articles or blog posts, it features content in reverse chronological order. Blogs are often used to share one’s thoughts and opinions on a particular subject with the world.

The blog can be a website or part of a website.

Blogs can be written by a single individual or they can be made up of contributions from multiple authors. They are typically run by an individual, who may or may not be the author of all the posts on that blog.

Are blog posts important?

The short answer to this question is “Yes”. Blogs are an essential means of access to knowledge and expertise on subjects all across the board.

But, what makes them play such a major part in our lives? This is due to multiple different reasons, such as:

• Their vast accessibility: Access to the World Wide Web is all you need to reach an enormous collection of useful blogs.
• Their growing credibility: The overall advancement in the integrity of leading blog websites, and the trust bond they’ve created with their readers, make blogs a reliable source of information and knowledge when taken from the right sources.
• The ease with which blogs can be read, as it’s always good practice to write blogs in a simple, understandable language.
• Blogs are, usually, time-saving. The chief aim of blogs in a general sense is to deliver information on the go.

On the other hand, blog posts are one of the most important assets to have in your business. They offer you a way to showcase your expertise and prove that you are an expert in your field.

Blog posts also allow you to connect with potential customers and show them what they can expect from your business.

Blogs are a great way to build your brand, get more traffic, and increase customer conversion rates.

What are the types of blog posts?

We talked about how blogs can vary from lists to guides to articles, but what are these, and what’s the difference between them?

The main two types of blog posts are Informational blog posts and Transactional blog posts, but we can divide that into more types of blog posts such as:

Lists blog posts:

As the name suggests, a list blog post sorts out a list related to a specific subject. List blog posts can be ordered lists, ascending or descending, or they can be a summarization, or a collection of items, examples of this are:

• Top 10 award-winning movies of 2022.
• Best footballers of the 21^st century.
• 8 common mistakes when making your own blog.
• 9 quickest proven expert tips on how to lose weight.

Guides blog posts:

Every single one of us has read at least one how-to guide on some occasion (If you hadn’t, now you have!).

How-to guides aim to help the reader achieve a task. Either be it a simple everyday-task, or a complex, life-changing task. Here are some examples:

• How to replace your computer hard disk drive.
• How to parent: a guide to being the best parent you can be.
• How to double your income: easy tips on online earning!
• How to help your business grow: a complete marketing guide.

Personal blog posts:

It’s common these days to follow someone’s Instagram or Facebook page helping you know more about the daily experiences of these people as which they go about their lives.

Blogs are another way to do this! Reading about a thrilling personal story or a unique experience is always good entertainment. Here are examples of personal blog posts:

• Don’t visit themed parks: how I know they aren’t safe.
• Best sushi in town! You have to visit this place.
• Almost got mugged today, here’s how I got away.

Reviews/comparisons blog posts:

Many blogs aim to give the reader insights about particular products and are quite helpful when choosing which product suits you the most.

They usually contain comparisons in quality and prices, and some even offer the author’s personal favorite among the options. See examples:

• RTX 3060 vs. RTX 2070: is an upgrade worth it?
• ASUS TUF or ASUS ROG: which one’s right for me?
• iPhone vs Galaxy vs Huawei: best phone brand in 2022.

Can I be a blogger?

Now that we have a detailed idea about blogs and blog posts, you might be wondering: is blogging for me? Can I have my own successful blog? Is it worth the time and effort? And many other questions

So, we’ve prepared this blog post to guide you through.

Blogging is a creative task, that is having the skill of creative writing is necessary to run a consistently high-grade blog.

But, as with all creative tasks, there are always general guidelines, professional tips, and smart tricks to help you achieve the level of success and popularity you desire for your blog.

So the answer is “Yes, you can.” and this answer is depending on the effort you put on.

How do I start blogging?

To start blogging you need to have your own live website or blog. And to create your own blog you need to have a domain name and web hosting.

The Domain Name is the name of your blog, domain names are the web addresses for websites. They are the first thing that you see in a web browser.

Web Hosting is a service that provides server space for storing the files which make up web pages and sending out their contents to browsers.

This is what you need to create a blog. So, the big question would be; how to create a blog?

How do I create a blog?

You can follow our step-by-step guide on how to create a WordPress website. But if you want brief lines on how you can make a blog, here are the main steps that you should follow:

• Sign up for web hosting: If you are just a beginner, Bluehost or Hostinger are great web hosting services you can sign up for and get all the features they provide. They are cheap $2-3 per month and have reliable hosting services.
• The better web hosting choice: If you can afford extra money $10 per month and want the best web hosting provider which can deliver more website speed and performance, nothing can compete with Cloudways.
• Domain Registration: When signing up for BlueHost and Hostinger, they offer a free domain name registration which normally costs $8 on NameCheap for new users. For Cloudways, you definitely have to register a domain name elsewhere, as Cloudways doesn’t offer this service.
• WordPress installation: WordPress is the most used and easiest way to build a website or a blog. and the majority of web hosting providers offer WordPress one-click install which makes it easier for installing WordPress on your server.
• Upload articles: When you get your blog live on the internet, now it’s time for the hard part, creating content. Upload articles and blog posts so that you can finally and officially name it a blog.

These are the main steps for creating a blog, Read in detail step by step how to create one on Cloudways.

How do I get Ideas for blog posts?

Ideas are the most important part of a blog post. A blog post without ideas is just a list of facts, that nobody is going to read. But where do you get these ideas?

There are many ways to get ideas for blog posts. Some people like to brainstorm their ideas by starting with a topic and then jotting down all the words that come to mind. Other people like to start with a list of topics and then think about what they can write about.

One way is to do an online search for a topic that interests you and see what comes up. Another way is to think about your own experiences and write about them in detail or talk about them using anecdotes, metaphors, or analogies.

There are online tools that can help you generate blog post ideas such as Portent and Rytr.

Here are some tips that can help you pick the best blog post idea:

• Make a list of all the things that you want to write about in your business.
• List of keywords and phrases that you want to cover in your future articles.
• Keep an eye out for what people are talking about on social media or in the news.
• Listening to podcasts, interviews, or speeches for inspiration.
• Use Google Trends to see what people are searching for.
• Check out what other bloggers in your niche are writing about.
• Think about what your readers want to read about. What topics would they be interested in?
• Look at the top 10 articles on your site and see what topics they cover.
• Read articles and research papers for content ideas.
• Set aside time every day, week, or month to brainstorm new ideas for blog posts that you can write later on down the line.

How do I write a blog post?

If you’ve decided to give it a shot, you might be wondering where to start.

There are many different styles of blogging. Some bloggers write long-form blog posts while others prefer shorter posts.

There are also bloggers who write more personal blog posts like diaries or journals and then there are those who use their blogs as a platform for their creative writing skills.

In general, there’s a process that each blogger should follow every time they decide to write an article. We made it into steps so that it’s easier for you to follow up with this process:

Step One: Pick a general area of knowledge:

The first step is to decide what the post will discuss. So to start, choose a topic of your liking, a general subject you’re knowledgeable at. It can be, for instance, cars.

If you know a lot about cars and would like to share this knowledge with your readers, why not go for it?

Step Two: pick a lower-level subject:

Having decided what the general subject will be, it’s now time to choose a more specific, low-level subject.

“Why?” you may wonder. This is simply because there are probably a million blogs about “cars.” But there are definitely fewer blogs comparing Ford Pickup trucks to Mercedes.

Therefore, you’ll have a better chance of reaching the readers and helping your blog get bigger.

Step Three: Pick a title:

Now this may seem like a simple task, and many tend to underestimate its importance, but the right title is what sets successful posts from flop posts. Here are a few things to look out for:

• The title must be accurate, and reflective of the content of the post. No one enjoys feeling like they’ve been click-baited, so you should be very careful with the accuracy of your title.
• Clear and meaningful titles are much more likely to grab the reader’s attention than vague, ambiguous titles.
• Empathize with your readers. Put yourself in their shoes. Understanding the needs of your readers is an essential step in writing a post they’d be interested in. You must understand their way of thinking, and use words they can relate to. For example, in our cars blog, using adjectives like “Luxurious” and “Classy” would probably grab the reader’s attention, as this is what people usually desire and look for in cars.
• Spark curiosity when suitable. A title that teases the reader into diving into your article with curiosity is always guaranteed to keep their attention for longer.
• Avoid misleading titles. We can’t emphasize this enough, the frustration and disappointment in clicking a blog post thinking it’s one thing, only to find out it’s not what you were after; are things you always want to avoid.
• How long should my title be? Always try to stick to 60 characters or less, as this makes it more likely that users get to read your title at full length in the SERP (Search Engine Results Page), inevitably leading to more readers developing interest in your post, and therefore reading it. A truncated title generally pushes the user to lose interest.

Title guidelines and professional conventions are countless, but following these general tips will point you in the right direction.

Step Four: Check out similar blog posts: 

Checking out similar blog posts from top blogs can be useful as an inspiration and a development and learning process.

Checking out the title of your competitors gives you an idea about what titles actually attract readers, and learning about the thought process that led to the creation of this title can be your way to creating titles that are just as good!

 However, the titling system is not the only thing you want to check from your competition, you can also learn a lot about methods of writing blog posts, and get ideas for future blogs.

The structure of the blog post of successful competitors can be your compass to becoming a better blog post writer.

In addition, you can try to observe the writing practices in detail when checking out different top blogs, giving you significant insights into your way to success.

Remember, when checking out the competition, your takeaway shouldn’t be limited to the blog post itself and using similar words and subtopics, but rather a wider angle of approach to your post. Inspiration, thought process, and learning are your aims here. NOT stealing content.

Step Five: Make a general structure for your post:

It’s often tempting to just sit down, and start typing out your thoughts and hoping to get somewhere. But there’s a lot that can go wrong from here.

It’ll be more difficult to trace your thoughts and sort them out in a clear, mapped way, this is why it’s generally better practice to lay out the structure of your blog post, and then start filling out this structure as needed.

Cutting down the main task into smaller, doable mini-tasks is your way to an organized and clear thought process, and therefore, an organized and clear blog post.

Step Six: Create a solid closing:

The closing statement of your post is important, as many readers tend to have the desire to jump to conclusions and read the final takeaway from the post.

Step Seven: Optimize your blog for SEO:

SEO is one of the most important to consider when writing blog posts. In order to rank higher in search engine results pages, you need to make sure that your blog is optimized for SEO.

You can do this by following the best practices of SEO, including creating keyword-rich content, using meta descriptions, using keywords in titles, meta tags, content, and more.

Optimizing your blog for SEO is a tedious task. But with the help of some plugins, you can make it easier for yourself.

There are many plugins that can help you optimize your blog for SEO purposes. Yoast is one of them. It has everything that you need to optimize your posts and pages including keyword optimization, meta descriptions, and tags.

You can also use this plugin to get feedback on how well your content is optimized.

Essential tips when writing articles

Now that you have basic knowledge and the general guidelines needed to write a blog post, it’s time to learn about some essential knowledge and significant elements in blogs.

• SEO & SERP: These are common terms used in the field of blogs. SEO is Search Engine Optimization, which is the process and general set of practices used for the optimization of positioning and appearance of web pages in SERPs (Search Engine Result Pages). Using these practices is a great way of helping readers access your content, and helping your blog grow and reach as many people as possible.
• Target Audience: A term used to refer to the group of people for which your blog is created. Target audience specification is a process of learning about your potential regular readers, and this makes for better-aimed blog posts that suit your readers’ needs better.
• Scope: The scope is the range that blog posts generally circle. A blog with a certain field of specialization, or specialized sub-sections, is more likely to be trusted and enjoyed by readers. Modularity is a good approach to organization and growth.
• Credibility & Integrity: Credibility is the measurement of the bond of trust formed between a blog and its readers. Integrity is the extent to which a blog offers authentic, genuine, and accurate content. One might think that these are just ethical values, but they’re also great indicators of the growth and success of a blog. That is, a blog that usually posts inaccurate information and knowledge, or stolen content, isn’t very likely to grow and get very far.
• Consistency: Consistent content, in terms of subjects, and writing style, in addition to consistency in the frequency of posts, are elements that reflect professionalism and lead ahead on the way to success.
• Quality over Quantity: it’s possible to write a blog post of 10,000 words, but it’s probably also possible to deliver the same information in 2,000 or fewer words, and who would want to read a 10,000 words blog, when another one with fewer words and similar amounts of information is available? Always be as clear and concise as possible.
• Seek Constructive Criticism: When finished writing a blog post, remember that there’s always room for improvement. Seek different people’s minds before publishing, as they give you different angles and points of view.
• Uniqueness & Identity: It’s easy to find different blog posts on similar subjects, but one or two always stand out and excel by offering an element of uniqueness. Something that makes them different than all others. Always seek ways to stand out, and be unique. Identity, on the other hand, is an element that makes someone identify the blog post source even when not explicitly said, and adding this identity element to your posts is guaranteed to help you stand out, and have more loyal readers.

Read: Pro Tips to Write a Perfect Blog Post.

Blog posts: The Conclusion

In conclusion, writing blog posts is a creative task. No wiki, guide, or mentor can write your posts for you, they all offer guidelines and tips.

So always be yourself, and write in your own way. Reflect on your own touch through the knowledge you’re sharing, and be creative!

Do you wanna start a blog? click here.

Blog posts FAQs

Still some questions in your mind? Here are answers to questions that most people ask about blog posts:

What is a good blog post?

A good blog post should have a clear and concise introduction, a summary of the main points, and a conclusion. Also, a good blog post should be a mix of well-researched, well-written content, engaging, and entertaining. It should also provide valuable insights to the readers and be easy to read and follow. It should also be relevant to the audience and informative.

How long should a blog post be?

A blog post should be as long as it needs to be to get the point across. It should be long enough to provide the reader with a complete understanding of the topic. Of course, there is a limit to how long a blog post can be before it becomes tedious and difficult to read.

Many people think that longer posts are better because they provide more information. However, this is not always the case. It all depends on the niche, the topic, and the

What should a blog post contain?

A blog post should contain a title and content. The title should be catchy and the content should be interesting. It can also contain some images to make it more attractive.

The beginning of the blog post should introduce the topic and give a general overview of what the reader can expect. The middle section is where you go into more detail on the topic. Lastly, in the end, you summarize what you have said and provide a call to action for readers.

Why do I need to use tags in blog posts?

Tags are a great way to find content relevant to your niche. It is a great way to organize your blog content and make it more accessible to your readers.

Tags are also a great way to increase SEO and get found by new readers. Tags are used by search engines as keywords, which means that when you use tags in your posts, you can rank better on the search engine results page (SERPs).

Do bloggers make money?

Yes, bloggers make money with many different streams. A blogger can make money from advertisements, affiliate marketing, and sponsored posts. They can also make money by selling their own products or services on their blog.

How many photos should a blog post have?

The number of photos in a blog post depends on the article’s topic, the audience, and the type of photos.

Some bloggers prefer to use one photo per blog post because it is easier for readers to see what they are talking about, also, the less photo on a web page the faster that web page will load. Other bloggers prefer to use more than one picture because they want their readers to be able to see different perspectives of the topic or product.

In general, it is recommended that you do not include more than 10 pictures in a single post unless you have to.

Can I use screenshots in my blog?

Yes, screenshots are a great way to demonstrate an app or software. It can be used to show how a user interface works and what the user sees. You can use screenshots in your blog posts for this purpose.

Can I use other photos in my blog?

No, you cannot use other photos in your blog without the photographer’s permission. The reason is that the blog is copyright of the blogger. So you need to have permission from the owner of the photo and only then can you use it in your blog.

However, the internet is full of free photo stock websites such as Pexels and Freepik.

Can I use Google images in my blog?

It’s better to avoid using Google Images in your blog posts because it might be violating copyright law. Copyright law states that a person who creates an image owns the intellectual property rights to that image. This means that unless you have permission from the creator of the image, you are violating copyright law by using it in your blog post.

On the other hand, there are many other websites where you can find free images for your blog posts and articles as we mentioned above. These websites offer a wider range of images and they do not violate any copyright laws or terms of service agreements.