How to Write a Blog Post – The 7-Step Workflow

One of the hardest parts of writing a blog post is knowing where to start and how to structure your posts. Before even starting to think about how to approach this, you need to understand a few essential elements.

• A genuine relationship starts with you.
• Make your posts as helpful and useful as possible.
• Be positive.
• Encourage discussion and comments.
• Accept criticism with grace.
• Build relationships in other channels.

Your goal with a blog post is to capture the readers attention within the first 3-4 sentences.  Most times, if you have captured their attention in the first section, they will read through the entire article.  Because of this, it is key to develop a strong hook.

The 7-Step Workflow

Before proceeding to the structure & setup instructions below, you will want to work through the seven step workflow to ensure you are ready to construct your article. Like any part of the production process, pre-production is by far the most important part.  The first thing you will want to do is DEVELOP A FLOWCHART using the seven steps below.

1. Topic - Determine what topic you are going to feature.  Establish a thesis.  Don't be took general.  Be specific.
2. Approach - Determine how you are going to approach the content.  Think fresh and edgy.  Establish a unique voice.
3. Main talking points - Break down your topic and determine you main talking points.
4. Samples - Relate the main talking points using metaphors.
5. Real world examples - Use real world examples to illustrate your point.
6. Instructions - Include a clear set of instructions to implement your topic.
7. Conclusion - Redefine the main topic/thesis.

Structure & Setup Instructions

Headline

The headline gets read more then anything else on your website because it is what is seen at the forefront of your posts.  Keep it concise and direct and ensure that it accurately captures the essence of the post.  Make sure it is a catchy title that will capture the attention of the reader feels compelled to read the post.

Introduction - Key Insight

The main intent of the introduction is to 'hook' your reader.  You will want to not only inform the reader what the article is about but also include your thesis statement.

Sub-Head  - The Promise

The Sub-heading is the most important part of your article.  It is the line that will inform the viewer what they will gain from the article - which is the goal. The best way to approach this is to give them a promise - to tell them what they will benefit from by reading the post.

Content - Connect Emotionally

The fist section should engage the reader and entice an emotional response to the content.  When this happens, they are more than likely to pay attention and take action.

The Soundbite - Back-up Your Position

Research is extremely important in writing.  Use this section to back-up the content you are trying to get across.  Refer to others who share you similar vision that will aid in proving your main thesis.

Sub-Head - The Proposal

At this point, you have hooked the reader and told them what they will learn in your article as well as layout the importance of your message.  This section is where you will layout the steps the reader should take to implement what they have learned.  Use step by step instructions to help them through the process.

Content - The How-to Section

In this section, you will want to give the reader practical, easy to implement solutions.  These solutions should give the viewer results that they can implement into their business.

Call to Action - Buy or Subscribe

If you have managed to keep the audience engaged until this point, you will then want to close out your article with a call to action.If you have any questions or ways to improve the process, please comment below.