How to Write a Blog Post – The Ultimate Guide

Blogging is a battle.

A war to get your ideas the attention they deserve.

Your enemy? The dizzying array of online distractions that devour your readers.

This battle is not for the faint of heart.

There are so many learning curves. Plugins you’ll need to install. Social networks you’ll need to employ. Marketing techniques you’ll need to try.

But none of that stuff matters if you’re drowning your ideas in amateur writing. You might as well lay your sword down in defeat. Readers don’t have time for amateurs.

So before you venture any further down the blogging rabbit hole, you better make sure you know how to write like a pro.

Skip that step, and nothing can save you. Your battle is lost.

The good news is, writing effective blog posts is a skill you can learn. And it’s one you must learn.

You have powerful ideas that can transform readers’ lives. Those ideas are worth fighting for.

So when you’re ready to enter the arena, arm yourself with this guide and fight the good fight.

Your readers are counting on you.

Table of Contents

• Step 1: Craft a Headline That Readers Can’t Resist
• Step 2: Write an Introduction That Grabs and Seduces
• Step 3: Deliver Advice That’s Easy to Consume and Impossible to Ignore
• Step 4: Close with a Motivational Bang
• Step 5: Polish Your Post So It’s Smoother Than a Slip ‘n Slide

 

Step 1: Craft a Headline That Readers Can’t Resist

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Want to know one of the biggest mistakes bloggers make?

Writing the post before the headline.

Without a headline, they have no roadmap to follow. And so their post goes in multiple directions, leaving readers feeling dizzy, confused and disoriented.

And then they try to create a headline that embraces all that madness. Bloggers, have mercy!

If you want to write a blog post full of clarity, conciseness and conviction, spend some time crafting a quality headline that sets a clear destination, lures readers in and leaves them eager for your advice.

Your headline will be your map, your writing navigation system, letting you know which literary roads to choose and which to avoid so that readers reach the intended destination as easily and efficiently as possible.

Follow these rules to craft your killer headline:

Rule #1: Pick a Mouth-Watering Topic

Want your blog post to get opened?

Then your headline must promise readers the very answer to whatever is tormenting them. The thing that keeps them up at night.

Your headline should not promise them a trip to the moon and back — readers are way too swift for such shenanigans. Keep the benefit specific and narrow, and readers will feel compelled to click and get the solution to what’s bugging them.

How do you find out what’s bugging your readers? Research.

• Review comments on your posts and on posts of other sites in your niche.
• Send your subscribers surveys asking them what their greatest struggles are.
• Use tools like BuzzSumo to find out what the most popular posts in your niche are (which gives insight into your target readers’ needs).
• Read the reviews of books in your niche on Amazon (you’ll find a gold mine of feedback to explore).

You have one responsibility as a blogger — yup, just one. And that is to serve your audience. The better you know them, the better you serve.

Before you know it, you’ll know them so intimately they’ll feel like you’re reading their minds, and your headlines will reflect that.

Example:

Let’s say you’re in the self-improvement space and you wrote the headline below:

• How to Create an Amazing Life

This headline is so broad it’s unlikely to draw readers in. No one loses sleep over “wanting to create an amazing life.” They lose sleep over specific aspects of their lives that have left them unfulfilled.

So you are better off narrowing in on something specific that’s bugging your readers, such as:

• How to Boldly Pursue Your Dreams Even if You’re Scared and Insecure

Narrowing in on something specific makes readers feel like you have the answers they’re looking for.

 

Rule #2: Steal from the Pros

Okay, you’ve done your research and you know exactly what your readers need. Now it’s time to turn your topic into into a killer headline.

The easiest way to master the art of writing headlines? Steal.

Not in the unethical way. In the smart and efficient way.

Decades of copywriting and advertising research have revealed the types of headlines that have proven to be successful. The types of headlines that zap readers out of their info-overload comas and compel them to open. Why mess with that research?

If you want your headlines to grab readers, stick with what works.

No, your headlines don’t need to sound like they came straight from BuzzFeed. They can reflect your voice and style.

But until you’re as skilled a writer as Jon Morrow, let the proven templates be your guide (how do you think he got so good at writing headlines?).

Blogging is hard enough, so if you have templates at your fingertips, why not use them?

You can download Jon’s free 52 Headline Hacks, where you’ll find more template options than you’ll ever need.

The easiest templates to start with? “How to” headlines and list post headlines. They are classics and they work. In fact, 75% of Smart Blogger’s most popular posts use these formats.

Examples:

Here are a number of Smart Blogger headlines that follow the “how to” and list post templates.

“How to” Headlines:

• How to Be Unforgettable
• How to Be Smart in a World of Dumb Bloggers
• How to Make Money Blogging: How This Blog Makes $100K per Month

List Post Headlines:

• 20 Rules for Writing So Crystal Clear Even Your Dumbest Relative Will Understand
• 20 Ways to Be Just Another Mediocre Blogger Nobody Gives a Crap About
• Writer’s Block: 27 Ways to Crush It Forever

Rule #3: Engage Your Senses

Vague headlines leave readers feeling empty. Tangible headlines leave them feeling understood.

How to you create tangible headlines? Put yourself in the shoes of your reader.

How do they feel? What do they see, taste or smell? What do they hear?

Engage all of your senses. The more your headline gives voice to their exact experience, the more they’ll feel like your post was written for them.

Example:

Let’s say you blog about health and wellness and you wrote a headline called:

• 5 Steps to Take When a Migraine Hits

This headline follows a proven list post formula, and it narrows in on something that’s bugging readers. All in all it’s not too bad, but it could be even more concrete.

To step it up a notch, put yourselves in the shoes of your readers. Think about exactly what they’re experiencing.

Perhaps that would lead you to the following:

• 5 Ways to Soothe Pounding and Blinding Migraines

Rule #4: Tease, Don’t Satisfy

A common mistake you may not even realize you’re making?

Giving away too much in your headlines.

Your headlines should lure readers in like a literary temptress. They should catch readers’ attention and invoke their curiosity, not give a solution.

Give a solution in your headline and readers feel no need to go any further — they’re bored by the very thought of your post.

When this happens, not only do you lose but your readers lose as well, as they trade the richness of your post’s advice for the quick fix offered by the headline.

Example:

Let’s say you blog about personal finance and you write the headline below:

• How to Save for Retirement by Creating a Monthly Budget

Sadly, readers will see this and think they’ve got all the advice they need — if they want to save for retirement, they must create a monthly budget. No need to read more.

On the other hand, a possible revision could be:

• How to Save for Retirement When You’re Living Paycheck to Paycheck

For anyone living paycheck to paycheck, this headline would pique their curiosity. Nothing is given away, it speaks to an audience with a very specific problem, and it promises a solution they’d love to get their hands on.

Rule #5: Honor the Headline Commandment

When it comes to headlines, there is only one commandment you can never break:

“Thou shalt not deceive.”

This may seem obvious, but writers inadvertently do it all the time. How?

They over-promise.

Big no-no. The content of your post must fully deliver on exactly what the headline promises.

If the post only delivers part of the solution, readers will feel misled and lose their trust in you.

Let’s never do that to them, yes?

Examples:

Let’s say you write a post called:

• How to Live a Happy and Peaceful Life

But then the post only talks about following your dreams, which is really only one aspect of living a happy and peaceful life. Even though you didn’t intentionally deceive them, readers will feel shortchanged.

Another example — perhaps you write a post called:

• 5 Killer Ways to Attract New Clients to Your Coaching Business

But then the fifth way contains no useful advice and instead leads to a sales page to get the solution … no bueno.

Rule #6: Trim the Fat

Want to overwhelm readers right from the start?

Fill your headline with weak and flabby words.

What are weak and flabby words? Empty, unnecessary words that add no real value. Instead, they create clunky phrasing and leave readers scratching their heads in confusion.

The mistake many bloggers make is writing headlines the way they speak. While that’s okay when you write the post (to a certain extent), when you write headlines that way it waters them down.

You want your headlines to be as ruthlessly concise and powerful as possible. So chop out weak words and throw in power words (if appropriate).

Examples:

Let’s say you draft the following headline:

• How to Find It In Your Heart to Forgive Someone Even if They’ve Hurt You Really Badly

There are just so many words! We can cut them down as follows:

• How to Forgive Someone Who Hurt You Badly

We can then add some power to it:

• How to Forgive a Soul-Crushing Betrayal

Another Example:

How to Stop Being Overly Doubtful of Yourself So You Can Finally Begin to Pursue Your Wildest Dreams

My head is spinning. This can be cut down to:

• How to Stop Doubting Yourself and Pursue Your Wildest Dreams

We could even make it more tangible and powerful:

• How to End Paralyzing Doubts and Conquer Your Wildest Dreams

Rule #7: Don’t Be a Smarty-Pants

Your headline should make sense to all readers no matter where they’re coming from or in what context they’re approaching your post.

They shouldn’t have to guess what the benefit is. After all, you’re supposed to be reading their minds, not the other way around.

So you’ll want to avoid using metaphors (unless their meaning is painfully obvious), jargon, rhymes, made-up terms or anything that tries to be overly clever or complicated when drafting your headlines.

Examples:

How to Be Happy Without Acting Sappy

A headline like this tries to be too clever — readers don’t give two hoots about not acting sappy, obviously. Don’t prioritize cute tactics like rhyming over delivering clear benefits in your headlines.

How to Raise a Child That Is the Apple of Your Eye

A headline like this is also trying to be too clever. “Apple of Your Eye” is a common metaphor readers are likely familiar with, but there’s no concrete benefit being offered here. A headline must always contain a strong benefit, not a cute phrase.

How to Follow the Path of Glory to Your Success

No clue what this means … and I just wrote it. If there isn’t a singular and clear interpretation of what the headline’s benefit is, it’s trying too hard. So save the metaphors for the actual post where they will (hopefully) make more sense.

How to Stop Treating Love Like a Captive Animal

Perhaps you effectively explain in the post how people treat love like a captive animal, and it may make for a great analogy, but readers scanning headlines will have no clue why they should stop to read this, and so they likely won’t.

Rule #8: Rock Your Style

The more consistent you are with your audience, the more trust they’ll feel for you.

If you generally keep your headlines pretty simple and then suddenly write one jam-packed with power words, your readers will feel confused.

The more you write, the more of a style you’ll develop. Once you determine what that style is, use it consistently (or make slow and gradual changes to it if necessary) so your audience learns and trusts your brand.

Example:

If most of your headlines read like this:

• How to Live With Courage
• How to Overcome Social Anxiety
• How to Confidently Embrace Uncertainty

Then you might not want to suddenly write a headline that reads:

• How to Brazenly Squash the Agonizing Anxiety That Is Plaguing Your Life

Your readers will think your blog got hacked!

Bonus Tip

When writing a headline, try crafting 5–10 different versions of the same headline. The more you play with the words, the better you will get at creating clear, concise and curiosity-invoking headlines that readers cannot resist.

 

Step 2: Write an Introduction That Grabs and Seduces

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You’ve lured readers in with your headline. Now you’ve got to keep them.

No easy task, my friend.

Readers are fickle. Known to take a quick glance and then vanish from your online sanctuary, lickety-split!

You must fight to keep them there, and the way you craft your introduction plays a huge role in their browsing commitment.

Follow these rules to craft an introduction that captivates your readers:

Rule #1: Slip into Their Shoes

A common mistake that reeks of amateur blogging?

Trying to sound too academic in your blog openings.

You know, those posts that start like this:

“Research has proven that 92% of people fail to achieve their goals because they are unable to create and stick to habits that support those goals …”

Don’t get me wrong — as a lawyer, I value solid research. But in the blogging context, this approach bores readers. If you want to captivate instead of bore, you must make readers feel like you’re reading their minds.

A powerful way to achieve this?

Empathy. Step into their shoes and write from their perspective. Show them you understand exactly what they’re going through.

After all, you likely struggled with the very topic you’re writing about and learned how to overcome it. We teach what we most wanted to learn, right?

Jon Morrow is the founder and master of this approach, and you’d be wise to follow in his footsteps.

So show readers that you “get it.” You’re not some corporate slog, you’re in it with them, fighting the good fight and sharing the tools that brought you to the other side.

Example:

As writers, we all share the deep longing to embrace our calling and express our ideas, but we also share the fears that so often sabotage those longings — the fear that we don’t have what it takes, that we’ll crash and burn, and that our dreams are just that — dreams.

In his introduction, Jon addresses all those longings and fears and immediately makes you feel like he gets you so intimately, it’s almost creepy.

Creepy, but effective.

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Note: You don’t need to open like this in every post. There are certainly other approaches, like telling a powerful story. But if you’re working on mastering your craft and getting the most impact for time invested, an empathetic opening is an approach you’ll want to use frequently.

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Rule #2: Get into Character

If you want to captivate readers, you must trigger their emotions.

So as you sit down to write, think of the feelings you want them to experience:

Fear, anger, sadness, hope, joy, disgust, shame, comfort, love, courage, and so on.

Then get into character and feel them yourself as you write, and your words will read with undeniable authenticity.

When Lin-Manuel Miranda wrote the heartbreaking lyrics in Hamilton that have left tears on the faces of millions, it was his eyes that first shed tears as he put his pen to paper.

So play with your emotions. Map out the emotional journey you’re taking readers on, and infuse those feelings into your writing. Feel what you want your audience to feel and your words will exude those emotions.

This tip applies to your whole post, but in no place is triggering your audience’s emotions more important than your introduction.

You feel me?

Example:

I wrote an emotional post about my two little girls which addressed how delicate their emotions are, as well as my own vulnerabilities and my longing to give them the patience, presence and love they deserve.

I felt that longing intensely and definitely shed some tears as I wrote the introduction. The feedback I got from readers was that they felt the same intensity, and even cried as well. When we write, our feelings seep into our words.

Rule #3: Lure Readers Down the Page

Want readers to commit to your post?

Accelerate their experience. Lure them down the page.

The faster they get pulled down, the more committed they’ll feel.

Too many bumps in the road early on, and off track they go, never to return.

Here are three copywriting tips to use in your intros to lure readers down the page:

#1. Open with a short sentence or question.

Kind of like how I opened both this post and this section

This is how all of Smart Blogger’s posts open, and for good reason. It’s a copywriting technique proven to pull readers in.

Start a post with a long clunky paragraph and they’ll feel exhausted just looking at it.

#2. Take a knife to your words.

Slash as many words as possible.

If the first draft of your introduction is 200 words, try cutting it down to 100. The more you practice this, the more efficient your writing becomes.

And when you write efficiently, your words have power. That power will grab your readers.

#3. Set the rhythm.

All writing has a pace and rhythm.

You want your introduction’s pace and beat to be somewhat quick. You can slow things down later.

How do you achieve this?

• Use short sentences. Even sentence fragments (totally okay).
• Make your paragraphs no more than one to three sentences long.
• Use delayed transitions to weave sentences together.
• Make each sentence and paragraph lure readers into the one that follows.
• Read the post out loud to check the flow. Are things moving forward smoothly or stalling?

The best writers, like the best music composers, take readers on a journey. Fast and slow, loud and soft, urgency and ease.

The more you pay attention to this, the more rhythm you’ll infuse into your words.

Example:

Shane Arthur sends readers’ eyes flying down the page by using crisp sentences and short paragraphs to create a fast rhythm:

“You’re not stupid.

You know what writing is truly about.

It’s a never-ending battle for your readers’ attention.

Every sentence is a link in a taut chain that connects your headline to your conclusion.

And you are just one weak sentence away from losing your reader forever.”

He then appropriately slows things down in the section that follows with longer sentences. A masterful composition!

Rule #4: Make Them Beg

Want readers begging for your solutions?

Add a little fear to your opening.

What are readers worried about? What will happen if they don’t solve the problem the post is addressing? What is the worst-case scenario?

Bring those fears to the surface. Expose them.

By doing so, not only will readers feel a camaraderie with you (because you understand their fears, so clearly you’ve tip-toed through the dark side yourself), but they’ll feel more eager than ever for the solution you present.

We all have fears. We think we need to hide them, but the more we give voice to them, the easier they are to set free.

Do that for your readers.

Example:

In his introduction, Glen Long brilliantly taps into the fear of failure all writers experience by addressing the dream of making a living as a writer and then quickly smothering that dream with the doubts that creep up at the mere thought of it:

“So, who knows? Maybe the doubters are right. Maybe you are naive to think you could earn a living doing something you love, instead of something you just tolerate.”

The fear of failure is painful, yes. But giving voice to it is validating and makes readers eager for the solutions that will set that fear free.

Rule #5: Hint at the Promised Land

Finally, as you wrap up your intro, hint at the promised land.

The place readers will get to when they master your methods. The destination your post promises to take them.

But whatever you do, do not give it all away. Just one sentence that says too much satisfies your readers enough to send them clicking away.

Why? Because readers bore easily. You must keep them on their toes. And the point of an introduction is not to give answers, it’s to set the stage for all the hearty advice your post will provide.

Example:

In the introduction to Meera Kothand’s post, she addressed a problem all new bloggers face: How do you get to know your audience when you don’t have one yet? She goes on to talk about the big mistake many of them make (making assumptions) and why that’s ineffective. Then, she uses the simplest phrase to hint at a solution.

“That kind of guessing is like throwing darts blindfolded and hoping you hit the bull’s eye.

Sometimes it works. Usually, it doesn’t.

Fortunately, there’s another way…”

Bonus Tip

When writing an introduction, try drafting two completely different versions approached from different angles and triggering different emotions. Doing so will highlight the techniques and emotions that work best for both your audience and the content of your post.

 

Step 3: Deliver Advice That’s Easy to Consume and Impossible to Ignore

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Okay, you’re doing great.

You got readers to click on your headline, you lured them down the page with your intro, and now it’s time to deliver on all that you’ve promised.

If you want readers to love you and look forward to every post you write, you’ll over-deliver.

If you want them to take a quick look and vanish for good, you’ll under-deliver.

The choice is yours.

Use the guide below to deliver valuable and easy-to-consume advice:

Rule #1: Add Pitstops

Subheads — use them.

Why? Because readers are scanners.

They have no choice. There’s a behemoth amount of content at their fingertips, and not all of it is good.

And so they scan (as do you, I’m sure).

Subheads are your chance to prove to readers that your content holds value. To keep luring them back into your post, when their instinct is to leave.

Blogging is a battle, remember?

Keep these four tips in mind when drafting your subheads:

#1: Add One Every Few Paragraphs

Sprinkle subheads throughout your post.

Why? Because they gently guide readers along the route your post is heading, making their experience feel clear, easy and enjoyable.

And never forget, your blog posts are all about your readers’ experience.

If readers see too much text when they’re scanning without enough pit stops, they’ll feel overwhelmed. It’s like getting on a bus tour and being told there will be no bathroom breaks … oh, the anxiety!

Example:

Every single post on Smart Blogger. That’s how important this is.

#2: Avoid the 3 Subhead Blunders That Make Readers Bounce

Subheads have the same function as headlines; they must make readers curious so they keep reading. So you should follow similar rules when drafting them and a avoid the following common blunders:

1. The Pain Label Subhead:  In case it bears repeating, never bore your readers. Labels are boring. Treat your subheads like mini-headlines and make sure they invoke curiosity.
2. The Spoiler Subhead: Don’t give away too much in your subhead. If you do, readers will feel no compulsion to read the rest of your text.
3. The Cryptic Subhead: Don’t try to be too clever. Readers don’t like to play guessing games. Adding curiosity should never come at the expense of clarity.

Example:

Let’s say you’re writing a post about the impact sleep has on anxiety levels and you include the following subheads:

• The Importance of Sleep
• Creating a Steady Sleeping Routine Will Reduce Anxiety
• Refuse the Roast and Catch More Z’s

See how the first subhead is way too plain, the second gives too much away, and the third, well, it probably made no sense to you, right?

The subheads below would do a better job at grabbing readers:

• The Easiest Way to Reduce Daily Anxiety
• How to Beat Anxiety Without Resorting to Medication
• The One Thing You Must Avoid to Sleep Better

#3: Compare Each to Your Main Headline

Each subhead should clearly deliver on the overall headline of your post.

Again, if you’re viewing subheads as pit stops, they must all lead to the ultimate destination — what was promised by your headline.

If the subheads get off track and move away from that destination, readers are left feeling lost and confused.

In that case, either the subheads need to change or the headline needs rethinking.

Example:

Say you’re writing a post called “How to Silence Your Nagging Inner Critic” and you include the following subheads:

• Observe Your Thoughts
• Prove Yourself Wrong
• Ask Yourself This Powerful Question
• Bravely Quit Your Day Job

The fourth subhead’s sudden twist in topic is jarring. It does not deliver on the overall headline, which had nothing to do with your day job.

Perhaps you intended all along for the post to be about not letting doubts stop you from following your dreams and quitting your day job, but readers scanning subheads will not understand that. They will simply feel confused.

#4: Follow a Format

If you are listing various “ways,” “steps,” “methods,” “signs,” etc., to achieve what the headline of the post promises, keep the format consistent.

If you don’t, the post comes across as unpolished. Bloggers overlook this all the time, but it’s easy to fix once you’re aware of it.

If you separate your subheads from the post and list them back to back, you can see if any stray from the course.

Example:

Say your post is called “12 Ways to Cure Insomnia” and you have a subhead for each of the 12 ways. You’ll want those subheads to follow a consistent format.

Let’s say your first few subheads read as follows:

1. Exercise Every Morning
2. Avoid Caffeine Like the Plague
3. Wake Up at the Same Time Everyday
4. There is Nothing More Sleep-Inducing Than Nighttime Meditation

Something there feel a little off?

The first three  subheads start with an action verb instructing readers what to do. They are also fairly consistent in length.

But then the fourth subhead suddenly changes the format and breaks the flow. It doesn’t start with a verb and it’s much longer than the others. This inconsistency may seem fairly innocent, but it’s distracting to readers.

Rule #2: Unleash the Unexpected

Let’s face it, readers today are info-holics. We all are.

So tired old advice isn’t going to cut it. Your post must be unique, bold and eye-opening. Maybe even epic.

My advice? List your main points and see if you can add a unique perspective, experience or twist to them. Something readers aren’t expecting.

What belief systems have you learned to challenge? What do you know that most people don’t? How can you shed new light on an old problem? What methods do you use that others won’t know about?

You don’t want to go overboard just for the sake of adding shock value. Your advice must be authentic and truly helpful. But regurgitating old advice doesn’t challenge you as a writer, nor does it enlighten your audience.

So pour your readers a little espresso for their info-hangover by delivering the unexpected.

Example:

Countless articles have been written about blogging, but how many have called you out for being dumb or told you to replace your friends?!

Jon does just that by knocking you over the head with some hard truth bombs about what it takes to make it as a blogger.

Rule #3: Follow a Formula

Notice how this post follows a pretty consistent formula?

Each section is relatively similar in length. Each subhead starts with a verb. Each section ends with an example.

The more consistency you weave into your posts, the better the reader’s experience.

Let’s say you write a list post covering five steps to achieve something. If the first step is 500 words, the second and third steps are 100 words, the fourth step is 200 words and the fifth step is 400 words, it looks sloppy. As though you didn’t bother to edit it before hitting publish.

Your readers deserve the best, and minor details like this matter as they affect the fluidity of their experience.

Want to go even more pro? Look at the the beginning, middle and end of each section you write, and create a guiding formula. Perhaps you start each section with a bold statement or personal experience. Then you flesh out your advice in the middle. And then you end each section with a one-sentence call to action.

The more formulas you add to your posts, the easier they are to write and the more they look like polished works of art.

Example:

In his post on getting traffic from Twitter, Brian Honigman uses hashtags for each subhead, each section is consistent in length, and each includes a graphic. Readers know exactly what to expect from each section, making for a fluid reading experience.

Rule #4: Be Ridiculously Generous

Many bloggers worry about giving away too much in their posts. After all, they want readers to sign up for their paid coaching calls or products.

So they hold back, barely skimming the surface of their advice.

Truthfully, if you’re not generous with your readers in your posts, they won’t get a good impression of your paid products.

Don’t hold back on your readers. Fully work through the problem with them. Give them complete solutions and powerful advice. Wow them with your generosity and they will stick around as loyal readers and customers.

Example:

Want to learn everything there is to know about affiliate marketing?

Holy smokes. At 10,000 words, that insanely generous post by Leanne Regalla is basically a textbook on the subject, and reader comments praise it as such. (Let’s all bookmark this one, yes?)

A post of this magnitude is quite an undertaking, but don’t let it scare you. You can also wow your audience with your generosity and thoughtfulness in a 1,000-word post.

Rule #5: Start and End Strong

Just as your introduction and conclusion should grab readers, you want the main body of your post to start and end strong as well.

Of course, every section should have valuable content, but if you’re offering five ways to achieve something, save your absolute best tips for the first and fifth ways. The first way will grab your readers’ attention, and the fifth way will leave them feeling fully satisfied.

On the other hand, if each tip successively decreases in value, readers will feel like your post is deflating. And their excitement will deflate with it.

Let’s leave readers feeling pumped when they finish your post.

Example:

Linda Formichelli gives ten crafty ways to write 1,000 words per hour. While all ten ways are excellent, I’d argue that the first (about writing under the pressure of a full bladder) and last (about gambling with your reputation) are the most bold and attention-grabbing (bathroom break, anyone?).

Bonus Tip

Before writing the main sections of your post, flesh out an outline to nail your points down. The clearer and more simplified your outline is, the more clarity and conviction your post will have.

 

Step 4: Close with a Motivational Bang

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We’re almost at the finish line! It’s time to close your post with a bang.

This is where you rally behind your readers. Show them that you believe in them.

Make them believe they can achieve the goal promised by your headline (because after reading your generous advice, they certainly can).

Follow these rules when crafting your motivational conclusion:

Rule #1: Give Your Readers a Pep Talk

Motivate your readers.

Show them how far they’ve come, what they’re capable of, and what life will look like once they’ve implemented your advice.

Give them the pep talk you longed for when you were struggling with the topic your post presents.

Empower them by raising your expectations of them. They can’t just read your post and pretend it never happened — they must take action. Immediately.

Make them see that no matter what they’ve experienced or how hard they’ve struggled, their time is now.

Example:

In this post’s conclusion, Jon uses all he’s had to overcome in life to show readers that they have no excuses: no matter hard things get, they can accomplish anything they set their minds to. He encourages readers by letting them know that he believes in them and then he raises his expectations of them by telling them they need to get started … “right freaking now.”

By the time you’re done reading the conclusion, you feel like you can conquer just about anything!

Rule #2: Avoid New Information

A common mistake many bloggers make?

Suddenly inserting new information or tips in their conclusions.

It’s like reaching the last ten minutes of a spellbinding movie. You’re on pins and needles waiting to see how it ends, and suddenly a new character is introduced. What the … ?!

It’s jarring. Don’t do that to your readers.

Example:

In his conclusion, Robert van Tongeren motivates you to repurpose old blog posts by comparing them to epic musical classics; if they  disappeared into obscurity simply because they’re old, we’d all be at a great loss.

Imagine if in the midst of such a conclusion, Robert quickly threw in one more way to repurpose content, or one small caveat to his post’s advice, or one more general tip to keep in mind?

It would throw the whole closing off and leave readers feeling ruffled instead of jamming to Bohemian Rhapsody.

Bonus Tip

When writing your conclusion, put yourself back in the shoes of your readers. What will their lives be like if they accomplish the advice in your post? How will they feel? The more you can hone in on your readers’ point of view, the more you can motivate them to take action.

 

Step 5: Polish Your Post So It’s Smoother Than a Slip ‘n Slide

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Phew! You’ve written your post. Next up?

Take a well-deserved break. Step away for a day or more so you can come back to it with fresh eyes.

Once you’re ready, it’s time to do some editing. I know, the mind reels that there’s more work to do!

But editing your post is essential. If your post doesn’t provide a smooth reading experience, your reader will lose attention and bail. To prevent that, you must ensure your post is clear and concise from the first word to the last.

And both those milestones  are achieved through editing.

Use this checklist when you’re ready to edit your post:

• Take a Knife to It. Slash all unnecessary words, sentences, paragraphs, stories, etc. Include only what is absolutely essential to convey your message. Nothing more.
• Motivate, Don’t Lecture. Tweak any statements that hint of being the condescending professor. Make readers feel like you’re on their side and dedicated to their success (because you are).
• Add Emotion. Infuse your writing with passion, energy and enthusiasm. If you’re bored by your topic, readers will be too.
• Make it Easy on the Eye. Break up any large paragraphs (2–5 sentences maximum is your goal) and run-on sentences.
• Break it Down. Clarify overly complicated wording. If you can’t say it simply, don’t write it. You don’t want to confuse your readers.
• Speak Their Language. Add examples or metaphors to make complex ideas feel more tangible and easier to digest.
• Check Yourself. Remove any contradictory statements or repetitive ideas (trust me, they’re there).
• Don’t Yo-Yo. Ensure each sentence, paragraph and section drives the post forward toward the destination promised by the headline (no side routes or backtracking).
• Be Smooth. Make each sentence and paragraph flow seamlessly into the next. Each sentence should be completely dependent on the ones before and after it or the transitions will feel choppy.
• Avoid Sharp Turns. Adjust any abrupt changes in topic. They’re jarring to readers.
• Keep It Real. Don’t mimic styles that don’t come naturally to you. The more you write, the more you’ll find your authentic writing voice.
• Add Highlights. Use bold and italics to add stress where appropriate (but do so sparingly).
• Shoot Bullets. Use bullet points to group related ideas and make them more digestible.
• Spark the Senses. Be specific and concrete (describe things readers can see, feel, hear, smell or taste). Avoid abstract statements.
• Be Firm. Avoid words like “might,” “may,” “possibly” and “perhaps” when delivering your advice.
• Respect Nature. Put things in their natural order (e.g., past to present, young to old, small to large, breakfast to dinner, etc.).
• Be Consistent. Make sure all points in a list belong to the same category; a list of steps should only list steps, a list of things should only list things, etc. This might sound like common sense, but this rule gets broken often.
• Don’t Be Lazy. Ensure all the necessary information is contained within the post itself. (External links should only provide supplemental information. A reader shouldn’t have to click a link to comprehend your post.)
• Kill the Weak. Eliminate weak and flabby words. Replace weak verbs (e.g., “she went”) with more concrete, visceral verbs (“she walked”), replace passive voice (e.g., “he was pushing”) with active voice (e.g., “he pushed”) and replace weak adjectives (e.g., “good”) with strong adjectives (e.g., “wonderful”).
• Feel the Beat. Be mindful of the pace and rhythm of each section. Speed things up or add some punch with crisp, short sentences. Slow things down with longer explanations. Good writing uses both.
• Do the Obvious. Fix any spelling or grammar mistakes (check out tools like Grammarly and Hemingway App).
• Be Honest. Give credit where due.

 

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Editing Resources: For additional details on these self-editing tips, check out these posts:

• 20 Rules for Writing So Crystal Clear Even Your Dumbest Relative Will Understand
• 7 Simple Edits That Make Your Writing 100% More Powerful
• The Wild and Crazy Guide to Writing Sentences

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Bonus Tip

A great way to self-edit your posts is to read them out loud. Doing so will help you catch many of the issues listed above, particularly things like overly complicated wording, run-on sentences and choppy rhythm.

 

Win the Battle for Your Reader’s Attention

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The battle for readers’ attention is not easy.

But even scarier is the battle you’ll face within yourself. Resistance, fear, procrastination … they will all try to slaughter your progress.

It’s up to you to keep writing. To keep stepping into the arena. To keep bringing your words to the front line.

It’s okay to feel intimidated. Every writer does.

But if you’re called to write, you can’t let that stop you.

Let this guide fuel your courage. It doesn’t demand perfection, it simply supplies you with a writing arsenal to draw from, so writing like a pro is never out of reach.

Master your weapons, piece by piece, and soon the blogging arena won’t feel so scary. Your confidence will strengthen. Your technique will sharpen. And your artistry will shine.

The world needs your bold ideas and brave words. Always remember that.

About the Author: Liz Longacre, Esq. worked as an instructor in Jon’s guest blogging course for two years editing the posts of hundreds of students. She now writes to empower her readers at StrongSensitiveSouls.com while raising her two little girls. Download her free Checklist for Writing Blog Posts that Emotionally Engage Your Audience.

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https://smartblogger.com/how-to-write-a-blog-post/

My Reflections After Attending Social Media Marketing World

My wife asked me not to post that I was going to Social Media Marketing World last week.

She wasn’t comfortable with my social media friends knowing that she was home alone with the kids.

At first, I was disappointed.

Listen to the Episode

I was going to be in San Diego at a SOCIAL MEDIA conference without posting about it on social media.

Then, I accepted it. It was what it was. Yes, I would miss out on some of the benefits of being at an event, but I would survive.

But something different happened – I didn’t actually miss out. In fact, I got more out of the conference.

The People at Social Media Marketing World 2017 Photo Credit: SMMW Facebook Page

What I accomplished

The beauty of being at the conference without trying to share it with the world is that I was able to be present.

As a result, I was able to :

• Connect with a few bloggers in a much deeper way than I would otherwise
• Record 26 video interviews
• Do some long-term strategic planning for my business

I can confidently say that this has been my most productive conference to date.

My Reflections:

When thinking back on my experience, there are a few things that stand out.

I'd like to share some of my reflections with you…

Being present is better than trying to be everywhere else.

This is something I touched on in my last podcast episode.

While at the conference, I had many different experiences.

Photo Credit: Jennifer Cole's Facebook page

Many of the attendees were trying to share the experience with everyone else.

Since I decided not to, I was able to embrace the moment.

I focused on the conversations I was having while eating instead of sharing pictures of my food..

I was able to look into the eyes of the people I spoke to and show them that what they were saying was important to me.

Instead of making videos at the parties, I was able to enjoy my dance.

Planning and goal-setting makes a HUGE difference.

Photo Credits (Top – Bottom): Wendy Marrow Grubbs, Denis Wakeman, Amanda Robinson, Kelly Baader, @premierexmedia, Natchi Lazarus, Bucky Beeman, Ai Addyson-Zhang

I've attended many conferences to date.

This was my most productive conference. Why? Because I had two very specific goals.

One goal was to record a bunch of interviews. My second goal was to connect deeply with a few specific individuals.

I accomplished both, and that will be big for my business.

Going deep is better than casting a wide net (for me).

There's one thing I've come to know about myself. I value relationships.

But not any kind of relationship. It's not just about knowing a bunch of people.

From left to right:  Andy Traub, Erik Fisher, Jeff Sieh, Leslie Samuel, Juan Felix and Jennifer Cole Photo Credits: Erik Fisher's Facebook Page

It's about getting to know a few people very well. My goal wasn't to walk away with tons of new relationships.

It was to nurture a few key relationships in a deep way, and that paid off.

It's important to have a vision.

I'm impressed by Michael Stelzner's vision for Social Media Examiner.

Leslie at SMMW2017 Photo Credit: SMMW Facebook Page

Their vision statement is “All we serve is quality and we serve all with excellence”.

But it's not just a vision statement that is displayed on a wall somewhere. It's a commitment they've made to their audience.

It's a commitment that's reinforced in all meetings and in all they do.

This was tangible in all aspects of the conference and makes me want to strive to do the same thing in my business.

Pay attention to the details that align with your vision.

I know what you're thinking – this is obvious from the last point.

But what really impressed me is how this was emphasized even in the little things.

Here's an example . . .

One of the main focuses of the conference is on the importance of networking.

They had toothbrushes and toothpaste in all restrooms to help to make the verbal networking experience a pleasant one.

If that's not attention to detail, I don't know what else is.

It's essential to build a team.

SMMW 2017 Team Photo credit: Mike Stelzner's Facebook page

Social Media Marketing World is a HUGE event. An event of that caliber needs a strong team.

There were hundreds of people working to make the event a success.

As I build my blog, I want to focus more on building a strong, cohesive team.

Visuals are more important than ever.

Visual are important

41% of marketers claim visuals are the most important form of content, more than blogging, videos and podcasting.

That's a huge deal.

I have gotten much better at focusing on visuals (as you can tell by this post). But I want to make it even more of a priority as I move forward.

Video, video, video (especially live).

There's a lot happening in the online video space, and especially with live video.

Video is something I enjoy doing and is an area that I want to spend more time on.

I've already been dabbling with live video, but you can expect to see more coming from me soon.

Message Bots

Messenger bots are the next big thing.

As much as I love my email list and still see it as one of my most valuable assets, open rates are declining over time.

However, messenger bots are still very new and the open rates are astonishing. It’s something I’ve been experimenting with and will continue to do so.

As I learn, I will share with you.

Question for you

Of these nine points of reflection, which do you resonate with most? Let me know in the comments below.

Infographic

The post My Reflections After Attending Social Media Marketing World appeared first on Become A Blogger by Leslie Samuel.

from
http://www.becomeablogger.com/24562/reflections-smmw/

Be careful who you listen to ON THE INTERNET

When you use the web to market your business, there’s no shortage of people who will give you unsolicited advice.

And man, sometimes this advice is HORRIBLE.

I run Facebook ads regularly. One guy wrote, “DONT OPT IN! Yes he will give you free content, but he will also try and sell you stuff!”

Lol?

So I put together a tongue in cheek comic strip – you might have remembered my first one about business cards – that tells you how I feel about the whole entire thing.

And then, what I’d like to hear from you:

What’s one of the worst pieces of unsolicited advice you received from someone on the internet?

Leave a comment.

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http://feeds.socialtriggers.com/~r/SocialTriggers/~3/l0_DsrKQzsI/

There are 2 types of passion: One is good. The other is very bad.

There are 2 types of passion: One is good. The other is very bad.

I invited Adam Alter, NYT best-selling author, and professor at NYU, to explain the difference.

I find myself walking the line between these “good” and “bad” passions. Especially when it comes to my business.

You may notice the same thing.

So, here’s what I’d like to hear from you…

Leave a quick comment sharing your personal experience with each type of passion. Also, if you know someone who may struggle with the same issue, can you do me a favor? Share it.

Also, here’s what else you can expect from this 30 minute interview:

* There are two types of passion. One is good. The other is very bad. Find out which one you have and why.

* Two simple ways to break bad habits: distract and replace. Adam walks you through each example in the video.

* Why you should read Adam Alter’s new book Irresistible.

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http://feeds.socialtriggers.com/~r/SocialTriggers/~3/x9HT7rbDv3E/

7 Ways You Can Repurpose Your Old Blog Posts to Get More Traffic

Note from Glen: I’m delighted to introduce Smart Blogger’s new Associate Editor, Robert van Tongeren. Robert’s been behind the scenes for a couple of years now, most recently as the lead instructor and editor for our Guest Blogging program. But this month he’s taking over editorial responsibilities on the blog – congratulations Robert! I’ll be focusing on running the business, freeing Jon up for more writing and of course plotting our path to world domination.

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As a blogger, you’re in the business of sharing ideas.

You have to consistently come up with new ideas and turn those ideas into blog posts that dazzle your readers. And you want to keep those readers happy and engaged, so you work your butt off to publish new posts on a regular basis.

But if you’ve been blogging for a while, you should have a treasure trove of ideas buried deep in your archives. The longer you’ve been blogging, the deeper your archives go, and the more gems are buried there.

Most bloggers are so focused on delivering new ideas that they neglect to help their readers discover the old ones, and many of those oldies are still relevant today. Many of them just haven’t been discovered by your newer followers yet.

So why not dust them off, and put them front and center again? Why not repurpose those old gems for a brand-new audience?

Below, you’ll find some ways to do just that.

#1. Produce a Bunch of Spin-Offs

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Back in the 90s, when I was a young teenager — you know, zit-infested, hormones raging and desperate to uncover the secret code with which to talk to girls — one of my favorite TV shows was Buffy the Vampire Slayer. (It was awesome.)

When Buffy ended its third season, the producers did something that allowed me to spend even more of my precious youth in my favorite fictional universe. They took one character and gave him his own show, Angel.

In other words, they took an idea from Buffy and created a new show around it. See where I’m going with this?

You can do the same with your list posts. You can take a single idea from one of them and expand it into a whole new post.

For example, let’s take Glen Long’s post, 20 Rules for Writing So Crystal Clear Even Your Dumbest Relative Will Understand.

The first three points in that post are:

• You must clearly define your audience before writing.
• You must be able to define the topic in one simple sentence, or it’s too complex or unfocused.
• You must make a clear connection between the headline and the introduction.

 
Do you think these could make good topics for a blog post?

You’ll find that not all list points in a post will have enough substance to create a full article around. Sometimes they come up short — but other times you can still come up with a good post idea after some quick brainstorming.

For instance, I’m not sure if you can devote a full article to the third point in that list, but you could certainly devote a blog post to writing intros, or one about the necessity for your blog post to fulfill the promise in the headline.

And that’s not the only option you have for spinning off a post. Another way is to simply take a blog post and explore the topic from a different angle.

For example, we could take Glen’s article about writing clearly and turn it into:

10 Blogging Mistakes That Leave Your Readers Dumbfounded

 
And then you just turn the points from the original article on their heads:

• You’re writing without a clear picture of your audience.
• Your topic is too unfocused.
• You’re not connecting your introduction to your headline.

See how easy that is?

These spin-offs are a breeze to create, and you can then pitch them to other blogs as guest posts. Easy peasy.

#2. Showcase Your Masterpieces

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Okay, you’re obviously an incredibly talented writer and — I know, I know — every post you write is a masterpiece.

But let’s be honest, every brilliant artist has pieces that stand out more than the rest.

DaVinci had his Mona Lisa, and Michelangelo (the artist, not to be confused with the ninja turtle) had his statue of David. Like them, you have stand-out pieces that are a notch or more better than the rest.

But once you’ve been publishing content for a while, some of your best posts will get buried in the archives.

Wouldn’t you want to put these front and center, so they’re easy to find for new visitors? When someone is new to your site, wouldn’t you want them to find your masterpieces first? I mean, that would make one helluva first impression, right?  

So give them a little nudge in the right direction. Create a page dedicated to showcasing your best work.

See Smart Blogger’s Start Here page linked in the menu bar? You can find 30 pieces of this blog’s cornerstone content all compiled in one place, so they’re easy to find. You can spend days reading up on these alone.

Another good example is Fizzle’s Best of page, which similarly lists all its most popular content.

Note also how these pages don’t just give visitors a long list of links. Nope, the page segments the links into separate lists in a number of categories. This doesn’t just look nicer — it also makes it easier for readers to find the posts that will interest them most.

Creating a “start here” or “best of” page puts your best posts in an easy-to-find spot, so your readers can spend hours devouring them one by one.

#3. Put Your Old Posts in a New Jacket

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This may come as a huge shock, but did you know a huge number of people just don’t like reading that much?

They might make time to read a bite-sized Buzzfeed post now and then, but if you presented them with Harry Potter or The Lord of the Rings, they’d ask you for the audiobook or let you know they’ve already seen the movie.

What that means is there’s a huge number of people who might not be that into your written content, but would love it if they could listen to it or watch it. That means there’s a big audience out there that you’re probably not tapping into yet.

You can reach that audience by presenting your old blog posts in a new format.

You can use content from a pre-existing blog post and turn it into a podcast, video, infographic or slideshow. That not only allows you to give your old content a fresh spin, but you can publish it on various websites with a link back to your site, delivering thousands more eyeballs to your content.

Now, I get it. The prospect of dabbling with video or audio is daunting — I hate listening to my recorded voice. Ugh!

But no worries if this seems miles out of your comfort zone because you don’t have to do it all yourself. You can hire people to repurpose your blog posts for you.

For instance, you can hire a voice actor on Fiverr to narrate your blog post, and boom — you have your podcast episode. Likewise, you can find someone on Fiverr to turn your post into a PowerPoint presentation, and boom — you have your slide show. Then you can combine the audio of your podcast with your slides, and boom — you have your video.

And you can then publish these variations of your content on various platforms dedicated to hosting people’s infographics, videos, podcasts, and slideshows.

The following are just a quick bunch of examples:

• YouTube (Video)
• Vimeo (Video)
• Visual.ly (Infographics)
• Daily Info Graphic (Infographics)
• Amazing Info Graphics (Infographics)
• iTunes (Podcasts)
• Podomatic (Podcasts)
• Digital Podcast (Podcasts)
• Slide Share (Slide shows)
• Slide World (Slide shows)

 
And on top of these platforms, you can also get other bloggers to feature your infographics or videos on their websites.

All of this combined can you get you a ton of new exposure, and you can reach a whole new audience who prefer watching videos or listening to audio over reading blogs.

#4. Pass Your Posts Around

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Another way to get a surge of traffic from old blog posts is to simply republish them on other sites with a bigger audience than yours.

Whoa, hey now, wait a minute! Won’t Google slap you with a duplicate content penalty for that?

Nope, that’s just a particularly popular myth in the blogging world. Matt Cutts himself has verified that there is no penalty for duplicate content unless it’s particularly spammy or keyword-stuffed.

So, in other words, don’t worry about it.

But still, even if there’s no penalty, don’t all the big blogs ask for original content only?

Well, not exactly. One popular venue for republishing content is Medium. If you’ve already read our guide to publishing on Medium, you know it can be an incredible source of traffic. Just take Benjamin Hardy, who went from zero to 50,000 subscribers by republishing on Medium.

But Medium is certainly not the only site that allows republished content.

Other sites that do include:

• Business Insider
• Entrepreneur
• Fast Company
• Vox
• Mashable
• LifeHacker
• The Good Men Project
• Elephant Journal

 
See? You don’t need to create original content to get featured on large publications. Some of them will take articles that you’ve already published on your blog. They tend to be picky, but you’d be a fool not to give it a shot.

#5. Give Your Posts a New Lick of Paint

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When you’ve been driving your car for a while, and the paint job starts to suffer, do you take it to the junkyard and buy a new one?

I think not. You just give it a new paint job and keep driving it.

Likewise, you can re-use many of the posts in your archive after giving them a little paint job.

Take Backlinko’s Brian Dean, who once received an email from a reader who used his techniques to rise to the #1 spot in Google. Brian could have created a brand-spankin’ new post to share this reader’s case study, but instead, he chose to add it to an existing post.

He not only added the case study, but he updated the images and added a few additional tips. The result — after re-promoting the post — was a 111.37% increase in traffic to that page.

You don’t always need to create brand-new content to meet your publication quota. Sometimes you can grab an old post and give it a new lick of paint. Change the publication date, and it will appear on your front page once more.

And you don’t need a case study to add to your page, either. You can refresh it many other ways.

For example, you could:

• Add new images, screenshots, graphs, or other types of visual content
• Remove and/or replace any outdated information (including visual)
• Create a content upgrade that adds new value to the post
• Re-format the post to make it look nicer
• Improve the general readability
• Add fresh examples
• Add new information or tips
• Remove “best practices” that have stopped being best practices
• Give it a new and improved headline

 

Sometimes a post won’t even need an update (though you should always check before re-posting it). Sometimes you have a classic post that’s still highly relevant today and you can re-post it without changing anything.

Because if your blog has grown from 500 to 5,000 subscribers since you first published that post, that’s 4,500 subscribers who may never have seen it and may still love to read it.

That’s an easy way to lighten your workload for a week.

#6. Draw the Kindle Crowd

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Many bloggers publish ebooks on Kindle to make some sweet passive income, but publishing on Kindle can also be a great source of traffic. Some Kindle readers are just waiting for you to lure them to your site.

And if you have several posts on a specific topic, you have enough (or close to enough) material for an ebook.

Honestly, you don’t need as much material as you might think — just 10,000 words is plenty for an ebook, which should be about 4-6 posts. You’ll need to connect the chapters, add an introduction and conclusion, and possibly rewrite some parts, but with those 4-6 posts, you have most of your book already written.

But before you get ahead of yourself and publish your book all willy-nilly, you should do some prep work to ensure your launch is a success.

Here are some quick tips:

• Assemble a support team: Ask your subscribers whether they want to join your team and get a free copy of your new book. Ask them to read the book and provide feedback. If necessary, edit your book to include any changes your team suggests.
• Publish your ebook on Kindle and set the price to $0: You want to set the price to $0 so your team won’t have to pay to download the book.
• Ask your team for reviews: Make sure you ask them to download the book before they leave their review. This is critical because when they don’t, their reviews won’t be tagged as verified.
• Promote your book: When you have a good number of reviews (20 is enough, but the more, the merrier), promote your ebook using promoters of free Kindle books like Book Marketing Tools, Freebooksy, and Bknights on Fiverr. These come with a price tag, but they can send thousands of readers your way.
• Create content upgrades: The whole idea is to get your book readers back to your site, right? So incentivize them to do so by linking to a landing page that offers supplemental material in exchange for their email. Think cheat sheets, checklists, resource lists, worksheets, templates, swipe files, or any other kind of bonus content. (If you have an upsell, you can, of course, direct them there as well.)

 
Once your promotion closes, you might raise the price of your ebook and boost your income, or you can leave it free and keep using it to draw traffic to your site.

In any case, during your promotion, you can expect a surge of traffic.

#7. Set up a Throwback Sequence

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A few years ago, I got the opportunity to work on the Spanish island of Mallorca for six months. Having grown up in the always-rainy Netherlands, I grabbed this opportunity so hard, that I made it cry crocodile tears.

The problem? I had a year-and-a-half-old blog with a growing audience. I could spend all my time in Mallorca working, or I could choose to abandon it for a little while.

Forgive me, but I chose the latter. I sent my existing subscribers a note that I wouldn’t be around for a while. I figured I’d lose a few along the way, but it was worth the risk. At the same time, though, I didn’t want my first impression on new readers (who subscribed while I was gone) to be, “Hey, see you in six months!”

So I set up an autoresponder that would periodically send them one of my older blog posts. That way, by the time I got back, they’d have received word from me on a steady basis.

And when I got back, I realized this wasn’t a half-bad idea. I realized this was a hands-off way to consistently send traffic to my older content. Once you’ve installed your autoresponder, it will promote your posts on autopilot.

So I just kept it running. To this day, every new subscriber receives a link to an old blog post every so often.

I like to call this a throwback sequence.

We all know how effective email marketing is, so why not use it to promote your older posts as well? You can set it to trigger at sign-up and install it to send a monthly or bi-weekly email.

Your only job it to update it on occasion. Since the throwback sequence can run for a year (or years), you can just keep adding posts as you publish them.

Just ensure that when you add a new post, you add a provision for it not to send to subscribers who signed up before its publication date, or it will send your posts to subscribers who have already read it.

Keep Your Classics Alive

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Imagine if you had never heard musical classics like Bohemian Rhapsody, Thriller or Hotel California simply because you weren’t around when they were first released.

That would suck, right? Because they’re amazing songs that sound just as epic today as they did back then. They don’t stop being valuable just because they’re not brand new.

And it’s the same for your blog posts. Many of those you debuted months or even years ago are still valuable today, so give them the attention they deserve. Help new audiences uncover the treasure trove of ideas buried in your archives.

Update and re-post them. Write some spin-offs. Set up a throwback sequence. Step out of your comfort zone and put them in a new format. Whatever you do, don’t let them disappear into obscurity.

Keep playing those golden oldies. Because people out there still want to hear them.

About the Author: Robert van Tongeren is the Associate Editor of Smart Blogger who helps our writers get their posts in tip-top shape. When he’s off-duty, he also runs a blog that helps guys dress a little sharper at Restart Your Style. And in his spare time, he loves to travel, watch Game of Thrones and is official BFF’s with his 6-year-old niece (she made him a certificate.) You can find him on Twitter.

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https://smartblogger.com/repurposing-content/

This is the ONLY thing that separates those who succeed and those who fail

That lego song, “Everything is awesome,” always made me laugh.

Everything is NOT awesome.

Last week we scheduled a video shoot for today. And of course, everything that could go wrong… went wrong.

I share the full story this new video.

This is my first new YouTube video in more than a year.

(I can’t believe it’s been that long, but I’ll share more about why I stopped doing YouTube videos… and why I’m bringing them back… soon).

And inside it I share the big difference between those who succeed and those who fail.

Even though I reference business, this really applies to anyone who’s looking to pursue any goal whatsoever.

Watch it.

And do me a favor:

If you’re happy that I’m creating YouTube videos again, leave a quick comment sharing a time when everything that could go wrong for you… went wrong… and how you perserved anyway.

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http://feeds.socialtriggers.com/~r/SocialTriggers/~3/83JpuF4zCuQ/

How to Stream to Facebook Live Like a Pro

Whenever I go live on Facebook, I always get messages from people asking me about what I do when I go live, what tools I use…

Today we’re going to focus on and dissect Facebook live.

Why Facebook Live?

Why is Facebook Live something that can help your business?

1. Live video is a great way for you to provide value to your audience. It can also help you grow your audience.

2. It’s also a great way to connect with your audience. If I publish a blog post, all the interaction comes after the fact. Live video is, well, LIVE! We can have a real-time dialogue, and that brings things to a whole new level in terms of connecting with your audience.

3. It’s a great way to get reach on Facebook. In the past, you could post something to your Facebook page, and most of your followers would see it. That’s no longer the case.

But one of the benefits of Facebook Live is that Facebook is prioritizing live video. They’re increasing exposure for people doing live videos, so more of your followers will see it.

How Do I Go Live?

Well, there’s a super easy way to do it:

FB Live

Just pull out your smartphone, log in, give your video a title, and go live. You can walk around, stream what you’re doing, and create a pretty decent video.

This is part of the reason Facebook Live is taking off so quickly: it’s EASY.

But what if you want to step it up a little bit, and do things the professional way? There are a whole bunch of things that you can do. I’m going to walk you through some of your options.

The Software

Last year, Facebook opened up their API. Since then, developers have been able to create software that will allow you to do cool stuff when you go live.

There are a couple of options: one free, and one not at all free.

OBS Studio is an open source program, and it’s 100% free. It allows you to do what I’m doing right now. You can create different scenes for your live video, add banners and logos, or bring in pre-recorded video.

The only thing is that OBS can be a little bit tricky to use. So I created a series of OBS Tutorials for you! There’s a whole lot you can do with OBS if you get the right training. Go over to http://www.becomeablogger.com/obs/ to find out more.

The program that I’m using to stream today is called Wirecast.

What’s awesome about Wirecast is that I can have multiple layers, and I can select the things that I want you to see. I absolutely love Wirecast, but it’s much more expensive. The version that I have cost about $495.

Wirecast does all the same things that OBS does, but it does them much easier and faster. In OBS, you have to create separate scenes for everything. In Wirecast, I just click on the things that I want you to see. If I want a lower third, I just click on my lower third. If I want my logo, I just click. Easy!

However, I don’t recommend that anyone start out with Wirecast. Why spend all that money when you’re still figuring things out? Go for OBS at first, and then decide if it’s worth it to upgrade.

Equipment Options

I spoke a lot about equipment last week, but I want to just run through a couple of things here, too.

Video Equipment

First up: the Logitech C920 Webcam. This is gonna be WAY better than your built-in webcam.

This guy combined with some lighting makes you look so much more professional than a built-in webcam alone.

Next, we gotta talk about audio. You want your audio to be good. People will tolerate crappy video, but they will not tolerate crappy audio. The C920 actually has microphones built in, so you can use those at a bare minimum.

But if you want something even better, I’d go for the Audio Technica ATR2100 USB. It’s the perfect microphone for anyone looking for a more professional sound. You need to use a stand with it, but it does a great job.

Say you have a DSLR or Camcorder, and you want to connect it to your computer. You’ll need the Blackmagic Design UltraStudio MiniRecorder. It turns regular camera into a super high-quality webcam. The one that I have is Thunderbolt to HDMI, so it only works with Mac computers, but there’s a different version that will connect via USB.

Let’s talk lighting. The soft box lights that I have were bought on eBay for like $100. I couldn’t even tell you the brand.

But if I were buying lights today, I would buy LEDs. They’re easier to travel with, they don’t get hot, and they don’t take up as much space.

Lighting

A ring light is a great option: it’s just one light, and your camera goes in the middle of the ring. I haven’t tried one yet, but I’m looking into getting one.

A really important lighting tip: make sure that the lights are in front of you. If the lights are behind you, the camera will lower its exposure and you’ll look really, really, dark. This is true if you’re just using natural light, too. Put the window in front of you, not behind you.

One last piece of equipment: a Bluetooth keyboard. In OBS and Wirecast, you can set up keyboard shortcuts for all your different elements. I can quickly and easily switch between cameras, or bring up a bottom third, or whatever I want.

You can even get a Bluetooth number pad that just has the numbers, which is all you need for shortcuts.

Scheduling your Live Streams

People are always asking me how I set up a scheduled live video. Facebook actually allows you to schedule a live stream up to a week in advance, and then you have a URL that you can use to promote the stream.

Click on Publishing Tools

You’ll need a Facebook page that you personally manage. Once you have that, go to the “Publishing Tools” tab at the top of the page. Then go to your Video Library.

Then, click on the “+ Live” button, and it will give you all the information you need to set up a live video. You get the option to go live immediately, or to schedule your live stream.

You can also schedule regular posts in the exact same way. When you write your post, click the little down arrow on the “Publish” button and choose “Schedule.”

Posts may also be scheduled out.

You can’t do this from a personal profile. It only works on a Facebook page.

In the past, it was not possible to schedule Facebook Live videos from Wirecast. But in version 7.4, the newest version, you should be able to schedule from Wirecast.

By the way, check out my affiliate link for Wirecast: http://www.becomeablogger.com/wirecast

Doing Your Facebook Live

The problem with a lot of Facebook Lives is that people just go live and start rambling.

Going Live with FB

Now, there’s nothing wrong with that in and of itself. But if you want to use Facebook Live to build an audience and build your business, you have to provide value. To provide value, you have to have a plan.

Ask yourself, why are you going live? What value are you going to provide for your audience?

In other words, what is in it for your audience?

Plan the topic in advance, and outline what you’re going to be talking about.

Have one specific goal in mind. What one thing do you want your audience to be able to do at the end of your stream?

For example, my one goal for this live stream is to help you understand your best options for live streaming so that you can use Facebook Live like a pro.

One more thing: remember that this is video. It’s a visual platform. How can you use the fact that it’s video to provide even more value to your audience? Actually show people stuff!

Your Questions

FB Live Engagements

Philip asks, “How do you deal with engagement during live video?”

You always want to ask for engagement. Ask for people to share, ask for people to comment. That’s why I start the show by asking who you are and where you’re coming from.

Once they are responding, how do you manage all that interaction? Stick to your outline and make sure that you get through all the material. If someone asks a completely unrelated question, you can take note of it and come back to it later.

Jonathan wants to know, “What software are you running for the teleprompter?”

I found it on GitHub. It’s a pretty technical process, but the short version is that I downloaded an open source live comments teleprompter, and I added it to my server and then added my own details to it.

Now that it’s set up, I can come to a URL and see your comments as they come in. I go to that URL on my iPad, and then I use the teleprompter to show me what’s on the iPad.

Malene says, “Leslie, that is a lot of moving parts. How do I keep it simple and get the job done in excellence?”

Software and Tools

If it feels overwhelming, start simple! You can stream right from your phone on a tripod. Done! Or if you want to take it just one step up from there, you can get the webcam and OBS. Build up from there. It all gets easier with practice.

Kantis asks, “What mic are you using?”

I’m using a lapel mic, which is connected to my camera. It’s a Sennheiser EW 100 G3.

Kantis also wants to know about my ear buds.

Those are my in-ear monitors. They’re Shure SE215-CL Sound Isolating Earphones with Single Dynamic MicroDriver. I like these because they wrap around my ear, and the cable goes in the back. It has a little clip that allows my to connect the two sides in the back, so that you can’t see too much of it on the video.

Gideon asks whether the new Apple AirPods would work well with live streams.

I bet they would work well! The only thing that I don’t like about the AirPods is that there would be a white thing sticking down from my ears, whereas with these I can tuck the wires away behind me.

Also, because the ones I’m using are Sound Isolating Earphones, I don’t hear much beyond what’s happening in the live stream, which I like.

Nanette says, “I noticed some people broadcast on their personal profile page instead of business page…what are the pros and cons of doing so?”

FB Insights

Personal profiles do tend to get more engagement. However, when you broadcast from your personal profile, you don’t get the same tracking insights. You only see the number of views on your personal profile, and that doesn’t tell you anything! You get to see so much more data on a business page, and that makes it worth it to go live there.

Kantis asks, “Does Wirecast work with Keynote or PowerPoint?”

Absolutely! You can share slides directly into the video.

But there’s one downside to doing webinars on Facebook Live. When someone is scrolling through Facebook, that’s exactly what they’re doing. They drop in for a few seconds, and then they move on.

The amount of time people spend on a Facebook Live video is significantly less than the amount of time spent by people who have actually registered for a webinar.

However, the benefit to doing it on Facebook is the significantly higher reach. So test it out. See how it compares to doing webinars on other platforms.

Nanette asks, “What do you think about playing a recorded video live?”

That depends. If the whole stream is a pre-recorded video clip, then I don’t really see the point of going live. But if you want to use short clips to demonstrate something, then that makes sense to me.

Resources Mentioned

• OBS Tutorial
• Wirecast
• Equipment options for taking videos live on Facebook:
  • Logitech C920 Webcam
  • Audio Technica ATR2100 USB
  • Blackmagic Design UltraStudio MiniRecorder
  • ring light
  • bluetooth keyboard

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