Member guest blog: Blog with ease - the Inkie method

Sophie Boulderstone, the mind behind Inkie, presents a guide on "Blog with Ease: The Inkie Method." With a background in content creation and SEO, she's here to help those who often find themselves staring at a blank screen, unsure of where to begin. From identifying your blog's core focus to crafting an eye-catching headline, Sophie will guide you through the process of authentically engaging with your readers and effectively solving their problems. Identifying Your Blog's Core Focus: Solving the Problem Before you even put pen to paper, take a moment to identify the core issue you want to address in your blog. What problem does your product or service solve? This serves as the cornerstone of your piece, and ideally, you'll be able to discuss it as if you were explaining it to a friend. No jargon, no buzzwords – just straightforward, relatable language. Remember, the issue isn't just logistical; there's often an emotional journey that your reader is on, and your product or service can help navigate that. Understand that journey and find a way to articulate it. Mapping Out Your Blog: The Core Concepts to Cover Now, once you've honed in on the problem, brainstorm six to eight key points you want to cover. Think of these as the pillars supporting your overarching narrative. They don't have to be complex; simplicity often speaks louder than complexity. Setting the Tone and Addressing the Issue Crafting the introduction can be a stumbling block for many writers. However, if you've already defined the problem and your key points, it becomes a matter of condensing this information into a succinct yet compelling introduction. State the problem, but also engage the reader emotionally. Often, the pain points related to the problem have an emotional underpinning. Highlight this to create a connection with your reader. Battling Distractions and Writer's Block We understand that it's easier said than done. You're not only battling writer's block but also the constant bombardment of notifications, emails, and life's general distractions. One way to combat this is to set a timer for focused writing periods, commonly known as the Pomodoro Technique. A 25-minute timer followed by a 5-minute break can enhance focus and productivity. The Benefit of Sub-Sections Once you've outlined your key points, mould them into the body of your blog. Each point should act as a distinct sub-section, complete with its own brief introduction, main content, and summary. If you're feeling ambitious, you could even add individual headings for each sub-section. This approach not only enhances readability but also aids in structuring your thoughts more cohesively. Demystifying SEO: Organic Is the Way to Go SEO, or Search Engine Optimisation, can feel like an intimidating hurdle. It's often viewed as a complex web of algorithms and buzzwords that only a seasoned marketer could comprehend. But here's the thing: SEO isn't as mysterious as it seems. SEO is about making your content easily discoverable and valuable to both search engines and humans. You don't need to shoehorn keywords into every sentence or understand the ins and outs of meta descriptions to achieve this. Write in a conversational tone that feels natural to you and your readers. Think about the words you would normally use when describing your product or service. When you speak candidly, the relevant keywords appear organically. Good SEO is about quality content, as well as keywords. If your blog genuinely helps solve a problem or enlightens the reader in some way, the likelihood of it being shared or linked to increases. These are signals to search engines that your content is valuable, nudging you higher in search rankings. Wrapping Up: Offering Takeaways Over Sales It's time to draw your blog to a close! The conclusion serves as a recap of the challenges you've addressed and the solutions or insights you've offered. Instead of using this space to make a final pitch, think of it as your opportunity to reinforce the key takeaways. Give your reader something valuable to leave with. The conclusion is also a call to action: what do you want the reader to do next? Tell them that here! Final Creative Touch Circling back to your title after finishing the blog often ensures that it genuinely captures the essence of your content. A good rule of thumb? Use your conclusion as a guide. Your title should encapsulate the key takeaway or solution you've provided, and be phrased in a way that intrigues but doesn't mislead. You know your business and audience best. Trust your instincts when choosing a title. Check Your Work! Your final job is to proofread. I like Grammarly, but ideally, you should use a fresh set of eyes. Our brains are excellent at filling in gaps, making it difficult to spot errors in something you've written yourself. If you're on your own and can't share the text with someone else, try reading it out loud, one word at a time. This helps you focus on each individual word, making it easier to catch mistakes. Breaking Down Your Blog for Success Breaking down your blog into manageable pieces and developing a coherent plan are often half the battle. You'll find that as you follow these guidelines, not only will the quality of your writing improve, but the word count will also rack up more quickly. You're not just filling a page; you're creating content that could genuinely make a difference. Need Help with SEO and Content? Inkie's Got You Covered! If you find yourself wrestling with the nuances of SEO or bogged down by the constant need for fresh, optimised content, know that you're not alone. At Inkie, we help you focus on your passion pieces by taking care of the SEO essentials. Drop by our blog for more insights or get in touch to find out how we can help you keep your content both meaningful and search engine-friendly. www.inkie.ink