The thought of writing a Blog intimidates a lot of people. Why? Most often, people think they have to be a professional writer to sound articulate and knowledgeable. While details such as proper grammar, spelling and word use is important with any type of writing, the beauty of Blogs is they can be written in your preferred writing style. In fact, it is actually recommended that Blogs be written using a more “informal” language. Therefore, if you focus more on what you say rather than how you say it, it’s not very difficult for an amateur writer to be viewed an online expert.Below are some great tips for the amateur to write like a professional.
Top Quality Content
Probably the most important aspect of your blog is researching and developing quality content. Blogging just to say something for the sake of saying something is the quickest way to detract people from your Blog. Research topics of interest and develop content that people will find interesting. If you are a business or have a “niche” Blog, take time to keep up with the latest trends and happenings and strive to be the “first” to cover it. For instance, let’s say you have a technology blog. You will want to stay abreast of the latest software updates, computers, tablets, phones and gadgets and report on them either before or as soon as they are released. Remember, the early bird gets the worm, so be first and fast!
Use Bullet Points
Even a really bad writer can compose a good bullet point. If you are uncomfortable with your sentence structure, consider composing a short intro paragraph, followed by brief bullet points, then a closing paragraph. This is especially helpful when posting tips and advice. And, it takes the stress out of having to compose long paragraphs to relay your point.
Start Small
Many Bloggers feel the need to continually compose posts with a high word count. If you don’t have a lot of writing experience, consider posting smaller Blogs filled with richer content. As you write more, your skills will naturally enhance. Once you reach a level where you are comfortable composing longer posts, don’t be afraid to go for it! But, don’t stress yourself out worrying about word count until you’ve had some practice.
Use a Proofreader
Having a trusted friend, colleague or family member proofread your blog is always a good practice. They can help identify areas where you might need to work in more details, and even point out grammar and spelling errors. They can also tell you, from a third party perspective, if your blog makes sense. We, of course, know what we are talking about when we write it, but is it understandable to the reader? An objective proofreader can be an incredible asset!
Explore Plugins
There are also a number of plugins and tools available to help Blog writers. After the Deadline is an example of an excellent WordPress plugin to check your grammar, spelling, style and detect misused words.
So, as you can see, you don’t have to be a professional writer to sound like an expert. Taking time to research and develop your content will help even the most amateur writer achieve a healthy stream of followers!
By Guest Author – Gina Smith writes freelance articles for magazines, online outlets and publications on behalf of a number of companies, including Global Response. Smith covers the latest topics in the business, golf, tourism, technology and entertainment industries.
