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Creating a high-quality blog station isn’t arsenic elemental arsenic penning each the due words.
The mode it’s formatted besides makes a immense difference.
But earlier we get into formatting details, let’s commencement with the basics.
What Is a Blog Post Format?
A blog station format refers to the mode you contiguous your blog post’s ideas.
It covers elements like:
- How you contiguous concepts. In text, image, oregon video form, for example.
- How you show cardinal points. To stress their importance.
- The content’s structure. Which determines whether your blog station is casual to navigate and digest.
For example, the blog station below:
- Has a subheading that describes the subtopic
- Uses a numbered database for step-by-step instructions that are casual to follow
- Bolds words that users request to click erstwhile pursuing the post’s instructions
- Provides an representation to enactment an instruction
Why Does Blog Post Formatting Matter?
The format of a blog station affects:
- Whether the blog station is casual to skim. People often scan posts to spot if it satisfies their needs. And bully blog station formatting tin marque this easier.
- The magnitude of clip users walk engaging with the post. Effectively formatted posts are simpler to digest, holding readers’ attraction for longer.
- The blog post’s quality to pass concepts. Formatting definite blog ideas successful representation oregon illustration form, for example, tin assistance readers recognize them better.
All this influences the blog post’s imaginable for generating conversions (i.e., desirable actions similar relationship registrations).
For example, comparison these 2 variations of the aforesaid text:
The mentation connected the near is an unformatted chunk of substance that seems daunting and off-putting to read. Its call to action (CTA) besides doesn’t basal out, which could harm its conversion rate.
Meanwhile, the mentation connected the close is well-formatted with a heading, enactment breaks, a bulleted list, and a CTA banner. It’s easier to work and could pull much conversions.
How to Format a Blog Post
Here’s however to format a blog station to amended engagement and conversions:
1. Use Headings to Indicate Key Discussion Points
Use headings to interruption your contented into sections. To summarize the content’s main idea, helping readers recognize what they’ll larn from speechmaking it.
For example, “1. Use Headings to Indicate Key Discussion Points” is this contented section’s heading. And intelligibly spells retired what volition beryllium discussed.
Readers tin besides skim a blog post’s headings. To get the gist of its contented without speechmaking it successful full.
Adding Heading Tags to Your Headings
Add hypertext markup connection (HTML) heading tags to differentiate the post’s headings from regular text. Which helps hunt engines recognize your content’s operation and helps readers place headings and their hierarchy.
The heading tags spell earlier and aft the intended heading. Like so:
<hX>The heading goes here</hX>
“X” is simply a fig from 1 to six, depending connected the heading’s hierarchy wrong the post:
- The H1 heading should correspond the post’s title
- H2 headings awesome the commencement of a main contented section
- H3 headings bespeak subtopics wrong a main contented section
And truthful on.
Most penning apps and contented absorption systems (CMSs) marque it casual to make heading tags.
For example, here’s what an H2 looks similar successful Google Docs:
And successful WordPress:
This means you don’t request to use the HTML tags manually.
Creating a Table of Contents with Your Headings
A array of contents is simply a database of your post’s headings. It helps readers presumption each these headings astatine a glance. And determine whether your station contains the accusation they’re looking for.
For example, here’s the array of contents for our mobile advertizing blog post:
Each heading successful the array of contents whitethorn besides beryllium a jump link. Letting radical who click it skip straight to its contented section.
If you’re creating a WordPress post, you tin usage the Easy Table of Contents plugin to adhd tables of contents to your posts.
2. Write Short Paragraphs and Sentences
Keep your paragraphs and sentences short. This makes your station easier to work and much visually appealing.
Shorten your paragraphs and sentences by:
- Making lone 1 constituent per sentence. Split sentences with aggregate points into aggregate sentences.
- Avoiding fluff successful your writing. Get to the point. Don’t see contented that’s irrelevant to the discussion.
- Breaking up walls of text. Break up agelong paragraphs into aggregate shorter ones with less points.
Use Semrush’s SEO Writing Assistant to cheque for and hole agelong paragraphs.
Log successful to your Semrush account, and past click “Content Marketing” > “SEO Writing Assistant” successful the near sidebar.
Select “+ Analyze caller text.”
Click “Set a caller goal” nether the “Content recommendations” settings connected the right. And capable retired your blog post’s target keywords and target audience.
Then, click “Get recommendations.”
Next, benignant oregon paste your blog station draught into the editor.
The SEO Writing Assistant volition item immoderate issues, including agelong paragraphs.
Click the highlighted substance and past “Split” to person the instrumentality hole the contented for you.
The close sidebar besides identifies agelong paragraphs—and galore different penning issues:
Make definite to reappraisal each the recommendations provided. So you tin amended your blog station formatting and the penning itself.
3. Display Important Words successful Bold
Use bold formatting to accent important ideas readers should wage other attraction to.
For instance, this Knitandnote blog station uses bold formatting to stress cardinal details for each knitting pattern.
Bolded substance looks thicker than unbolded text. So, it stands retired connected the page. And catches the reader’s eye.
To bold your text, item it successful your penning app oregon CMS. Then, click the bold icon:
And don’t usage underlines for emphasis. Because readers whitethorn mistake underlined substance for links.
4. Create Lists
Lists are a bid of points presented 1 aft another. They assistance you:
- Display aggregate related points concisely
- Present accusation successful a sequential order
- Add ocular assortment to your post
List points person a symbol—known arsenic a prefix character—in beforehand of them to people the commencement of each point.
For example, the prefix quality for the database supra is simply a achromatic ellipse (also known arsenic a bullet).
There are 2 types of lists:
Ordered Lists
Ordered lists show points successful a circumstantial order.
Their prefix characters are typically numbers oregon letters. And they show their points successful ascending bid (like from 1 to 10) to archer readers the bid successful which they should work them.
For example, if you’re sharing instructions, presenting them arsenic an ordered database helps readers recognize the sequence.
Just similar this numbered database of steps successful Mnmlscholar’s blog post:
Presenting accusation successful ordered lists besides helps readers support way of their advancement done the discussion.
For instance, this precise blog station provides 7 formatting tips. We’re presently astatine the 4th tip. So, we’re conscionable implicit halfway through.
To make an ordered list, click the ordered database icon successful your penning app oregon CMS. It looks similar a numbered list:
A archetypal numbered database constituent volition appear. Type your text, and past deed “Enter” oregon “return” connected your keyboard to adhd much points.
Your penning app oregon CMS should besides fto you alteration your ordered list’s prefix quality from numbers to letters (or vice versa).
Unordered Lists
Unordered lists show points successful nary peculiar sequence. Their points besides stock the aforesaid prefix character, similar a slug oregon dash.
This database connected The Manual’s blog station is unordered:
Present your points successful an unordered database if each constituent has adjacent importance. And the bid successful which radical work them doesn’t matter.
To make an unordered list, click the unordered database icon successful your penning app oregon CMS. It looks similar a database with slug points:
An unordered database constituent volition appear. Type your text, and past adhd much points by pressing “Enter” oregon “return” connected your keyboard.
5. Insert Visuals
Visuals picture concepts successful a graphical format. And tin assistance marque analyzable ideas easier to understand.
Visuals besides adhd colour and ocular variety. Making your contented much appealing.
Some examples of visuals are:
Images and Videos
WikiHow uses substance alongside static and animated images to explicate the process of making a insubstantial bag.
If readers find the substance instructions confusing, they tin travel the representation demonstrations instead.
Data Visualizations
Data visualizations are diagrams that correspond information successful ocular form. Like tables, charts, and graphs.
These diagrams assistance users recognize the data. And its implications.
For example, this illustration summarizes immoderate findings from our State of Search 2023 report:
This format makes it acold easier for readers to digest tons of information. And comparison the antithetic figures.
6. Add Block Quotes
Block quotes are portions of substance formatted arsenic quotes connected the page. They thin to person a peculiar design, which adds ocular interest.
Consider utilizing artifact punctuation formatting if you’re adding adept quotes to your blog post.
Just similar this Setup blog station has done:
Many CMSs tin assistance with artifact punctuation formatting.
If you’re formatting your station successful WordPress’s editor, item the substance you privation to crook into a artifact quote. Then, click the paragraph icon (¶) successful the artifact toolbar and prime “Quote.”
7. Use Call-to-Action Buttons and Banners
Format your CTAs arsenic buttons and banners. These drawback much attraction than plain CTA text.
For example, here’s a banner from our contented selling strategy guide:
We could person simply typed our CTA retired successful plain text. But it wouldn’t person been arsenic obvious. Or arsenic compelling to click.
Your CMS whitethorn person a built-in diagnostic for creating buttons.
To adhd buttons to a WordPress post, unfastened the station successful the editor. Type “/” connected your keyboard to show the artifact toolbar, and past prime “Buttons.”
Doing this volition adhd a fastener to your post.
Fill it retired with your CTA text. Next, click the substance and past click the nexus icon to supply your CTA’s URL.
Finally, usage the close sidebar settings to customize your button’s design.
To adhd a banner, make it arsenic an representation successful a graphic plan app similar Canva. Then, embed the banner into your station and nexus it to your CTA’s destination page.
Examples of Common Blog Post Types for Inspiration
Here, we’ll analyse the formatting of immoderate communal blog station types.
Listicle Posts
Listicles are articles with the main contented successful database form. Listicle writers thin to format each database point arsenic an H2 heading.
They whitethorn besides fig each heading. To assistance users show their advancement done the list.
Just similar this 10-tip listicle for redeeming h2o by WWF:
Check retired our blog station templates for a listicle blog station format template (and more).
How-To Articles
How-to articles supply accusation connected however to bash something. Writers usually contiguous the instructions arsenic numbered headings oregon lists. So readers cognize the bid successful which they should travel them.
The nonfiction whitethorn besides see supporting visuals to clarify the steps.
Ties.com’s nonfiction connected tying the Windsor knot is simply a bully example. It starts with a video that walks users done the process:
It past provides a database of step-by-step instructions. With images to illustrate.
Grab a how-to nonfiction template from our postulation of blog station templates.
Review Articles
Review articles measure the qualities of a merchandise oregon service.
To assistance readers travel the discussion, they whitethorn usage formatting elements like:
- Headings for each reappraisal criterion
- Lists of the merchandise oregon service’s features, pros, and cons
- Images and videos showing the merchandise oregon work successful action
- CTA buttons and banners that readers tin click to bargain the merchandise oregon motion up for the service
For example, Jeroen Van Nieuwenhove’s reappraisal nonfiction connected the DJI Mavic 3 Pro drone features immoderate photos helium captured utilizing the drone. And photos of the drone itself.
The nonfiction besides concisely covers the drone’s pros and cons arsenic unordered lists.
Plus, these lists are successful side-by-side colored boxes. Which makes them basal out.
Comparison Posts
Comparison posts measure 2 oregon much products oregon services against each other.
They commonly see information visualizations. To assistance readers comparison features astatine a glance.
For example, Versus uses a radar illustration to amusement however 2 earphone models comparison connected cardinal criteria:
And this array connected Elegant Themes’s station makes it casual to comparison the Wix website level against WordPress:
Expert Guides
Expert guides are in-depth informational pieces connected a subject. Their emblematic formatting elements include:
- Headings for each topic
- A array of contents showing the guide’s topics
- Visuals to exemplify concepts
- Lists of bite-sized information
- Block quotes for adept opinions and/or soundbites
For instance, MassChallenge’s seven-step usher to starting a tech institution presents each measurement arsenic a numbered heading:
It includes charts for visualizing data:
And the usher displays definite accusation arsenic succinct lists:
It besides prominently features quotes from tech leaders successful artifact quotes.
Further reading: Blog Post Examples and Best Practices to Inspire Your Writing
Take Action by Refining Your Existing Blog Posts
Before writing caller blog posts, amended existing ones first.
This mostly takes little time. So you tin get much conversions quicker.
You tin place high-priority blog posts with the On Page SEO Checker.
After mounting up your task successful the tool, scroll down the “Overview” tab to spot a database of apical pages to optimize.
Then, click the “# ideas” fastener to spot the suggestions for immoderate post.
Here’s an illustration of ideas you mightiness get:
Apply these ideas and the tips you've learned from this blog station formatting guide. Which volition assistance you to maximize traffic, engagement, and conversions.
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