Dogs have been a huge part of your life since childhood. Perhaps you have shown them; maybe you have taken lots of classes related to care and training. You are familiar with most breeds and have a huge amount of knowledge and expertise.
You have also made the decision to start a dog training blog for two purposes. One, you want to show your expertise, building your reputation as an expert on dogs, and, two, you see the possibility of monetizing that blog and earning extra money to pay for your college expenses.
The problem is, you are new to the world of blogging – not the setting up – that is easy. It’s a matter of the type of writing that will attract readers, keep them engaged and interested, and grow a following. Blog writing is unlike any other type of writing you have done before.
So, here are some tips that will help you craft the type of writing that will make your blog a success.
Brainstorm Compelling Topics
Without plenty of topics, you can’t have a blog. Of course, you will continue to come up with topics as you go along, but right now, you need several, to begin with. There are online resources to find the most current “chatter” on your topic.
Read Other Popular Blogs
There is a reason for their popularity, and it’s not only the topics. It’s the type of writing the authors create and how they structure their articles. Identify what caught your attention and why you were motivated to read an entire article. These details will help you find the structure and writing style you will need.
- Follow These “Rules”
- Begin with a killer title – one that captures immediate attention and curiosity. Using numbers in titles is always good. That number tells your readers that they will get X number of tips, ideas, reasons, etc. Here’s an example post using a number that will arouse curiosity among those who are selling a home.
- Make your first sentence and intro just as captivating – state a surprising stat; tell an anecdote; quote a famous person. These are the things that journalists do when they want to capture reader interest. You may want to read some newspaper articles to see how it is done.
- Organize your content in sub-topics and introduce each sub-topic with a bold heading. This allows the reader to “snack” on what interests them most. Check out this post about traveling with a dog, and you will see how content should be divided by headings.
- Use numbered or bullet-pointed lists. Again, this allows for easy reading, especially for someone on the go and on a mobile device. source
- Identify the most popular keywords: Your main keyword should go in your title. A few others should be placed throughout the article. Don’t go overboard with keywords, or Google will penalize you for “stuffing.”
- Always encourage sharing: Make it simple for readers to share your articles on their social media platforms. And give opportunities for them to ask questions or engage in a discussion at the end of each article.
Composition Tips
Remember this: a blog post is meant to educate, entertain, or inspire. Most bloggers use a combination of these purposes in order to keep readers’ interest. You should too. Invite readers to submit their funny or inspiring stories and photos. You can feature these in the articles you write. Readers love stories!
Remember this: Blog posts should be written at about the 7th-8th grade reading level. They will be nothing like the writing you did for school or even for that college admissions essay you wrote. TopSecretCopywriting has a copywriting department and is a good resource to review your articles and provide a grammar check as well.
Now, for a few specific composition tips:
- Sentences should be short and simple
- Tone should be casual as if you are talking to a friend
- Avoid sophisticated vocabulary and “jargon.” There are a lot of terms in dog training that you know well. Your readers may not, and it’s frustrating for them to try and figure out the meanings. If it’s too frustrating, they won’t be back. Use a free tool to check reading level – there are plenty out there.
Making the Transition
The bulk of your writing has been in an academic environment. A blog environment is totally different. And it will take you time to make the transition and write the type of articles that will keep reader’s interest. Take these tips to heart and just start writing. You’ll continue to improve – probably faster than you think!
Photo credit: source
https://unsplash.com/photos/vkKzl4KsKv8
Love our content? Share it with a friend or link it to social media. Like short clips of cute household pets? Training tips? Follow us on instagram @nydognanny or on YouTube at nydognanny. Have some news you needs to get to dog and cat parents stat? Email info@newyorkdognanny.com with your article pitch.
