Blogging.
Create meaningful blog content in a half hour with the 30-minute blog post.
Writer’s block can be overwhelming! It feels like you finally have a chance to sit down and write content for your blog …only to get a ‘bout of writing anxiety. An hour later, the screen is blank, the page is bare and you’ve nothing to show for your precious time.
If it seems like it takes for-EVER to create meaningful blog content, you’re not alone. It takes 65% more time to write one article for your blog or website news platform than it did in 2014. (Source: Hubspot.com) Seriously— whereas it used to take only 2hrs 24min to write one blog article, 2020 studies show it takes on average 3 hrs 57min to create meaningful blog content.
So how can you cut down on that time? What will let you trim the fat from your content writing, thereby making you a content creation powerhouse??? We’ve got the perfect tool for you.
We developed The 30 Minute Blog Post as a basic format to help you create meaningful blog content quickly, painlessly and effortlessly.
THE 30-MINUTE BLOG POST: WHAT IT IS
The 30-Minute Blog Post is a simple structure for you to follow when writing blog content for your brand. It is a tool for helping you get the creative juices flowin’. No joke- the 30-Minute Blog Post is a catalyst for reducing the time it takes to create content for your blog. The 30-Minute Blog Post IS a plain-Jane language guide for personal brand businesses with a basic understanding of digital marketing to create content more efficiently and effectively. It IS intended to remove one of the biggest barriers to entry in effective content marketing- having a substantial arsenal of powerful content. Yes, The 30-Minute Blog Post is your booster shot for creating more content in less time. Boo-Yah!
THE 30-MINUTE BLOG POST: WHAT IT IS NOT
The 30-Minute Blog Post is not a guarantee that you will succeed with creating meaningful blog content within a half hour. It is not a challenge, it is an instrument to facilitate faster writing. Though our team has successfully written blog articles in 30 minutes after following this basic format, your results may vary. The 30-Minute Blog Post is not intended to be the world’s foremost authority on blog-writing perfection. It is not meant to teach the marketing industry’s leading authorities on blog writing; we’re not about that life.
Now, though, let’s discuss what the purpose of a blog is in the first place.
What is the purpose of a blog—creating meaningful blog content
The purpose of a blog is to create community with your target audience, putting you at the center of authority within that community. You deliver useful information and create opportunities for dialogue for those who will use that information. Blogs, in essence, are tools for creating spheres of influence for your brand.
WHY YOU NEED A BLOG- EDUCATE YOUR TARGET AUDIENCE
Blogs are a great way to provide information to your target audience, and serve as a reference point for both dynamic (ever-changing) content and static information. Write blog content that delivers general information about your industry, products or services. Mix in some articles about current events as they relate to your industry, with your expert opinions about what this means for your clientele. How is this useful for their lifestyles? Weigh in—blogs are the perfect platform for this.
USE BLOGS TO TURN NEGATIVE GOOGLE OR YELP REVIEWS INTO REPEAT BUSINESS
I recently offered content strategy for a friend, Jenn, who owns Hand and Earth Shop, a natural gemstone and crystal boutique. Jenn had a question about how to respond to negative reviews that really should’ve been put in an email. (SayWHAT? Oh, you totally know what she’s talking about— #CancelCulture is rampantly destroying small businesses as well, with FAQs masquerading as Bad Reviews and Negative Comments).
I advised Jenn to create a blog with articles about how to tell the difference between authentic gemstones and artificial ones in order to appropriately educate the client.
While I genuinely believe most customers wish goodwill on the brands they do business with, there are the few who leave negative reviews as a means for manipulating businesses into giving free stuff. This is so not cool, but as Michelle Obama says, “When they go low, we go high.” (LOVE her!) Approach negative reviews intended as manipulation as a means for education. Validate their concern but show them why they’re wrong with the facts— provide information with credible sources proving them wrong or answering their question—and blogs are great for this.
So let’s get it! Here is The 30-Minute Blog Post format for creating meaningful content:
The 30-Minute Blog Post Format For Creating Meaningful Content
Start with a powerful introduction (10 minutes)…
Start with a short but powerful introductory paragraph. Keep it to 2-3 sentences long, italicized. Introductory paragraphs are meant to keep your reader reading past the headline. They strategically set your reader up for the content to follow. We often structure our introductory paragraphs by:
creating relatable content through anecdotes.
creating informational content through data. #facts
Keep your anecdote brief and concise, but use plan-language words (nothing too academic, wordy—avoid using, as my 6th grade teacher Ms. Talley would say, ‘million-dollar words’).
When creating informational content, state 1-2 interesting statistics and always properly cite your sources. Providing back links to your sources is not only good business as a writer, it’s good for SEO. ONLY cite facts from credible sources.
For both styles, end with a thesis-like statement that tells your audience precisely what to expect for the content that follows.
Here are two examples, one of an anecdotal introduction and one of a data-based introduction:
Creating relatable content through anecdotes.
Imagine with me, a tall glass of ice-cold water sitting on a cantina counter on a sweltering summer day. Drenched in sweat, a thirsty kid reaches up to that bar but can’t get his hands on that glass. An adult steps in and effortlessly hands the kid the glass and he wastes no time drinking the water. As a personal brand business, you are that adult, delivering satiation to your thirsty clients through your products and services. In this article, I will show you eight key ways you can deliver satisfactory service that generates repeat business every time.
Creating informational content through data.
If it seems like it takes for-EVER to create meaningful blog content, you’re not alone. It takes 65% more time to write one article for your blog or website news platform than it did in 2014. (Source: Hubspot.com) Seriously— whereas it used to take only 2hrs 24min to write one blog article, 2020 studies show it takes on average 3 hrs 57min to create meaningful blog content.
KEYWORD DENSITY- MIND YOUR ‘L”S AND “S"ES.
Long tail and short tail terms are useful for helping search engine algorithms recognize your content as relevant information for SERPs (Search Engine Return Pages). When people search for content related to what you create, you want your content showing up in those search returns.
Long tail terms are longer keyword phrases. Here are examples of long tail keyword terms we frequently use:
“effective content marketing strategies”
“how to get high-qualified leads”
“identify your target audience”
Short tail terms are shorter keyword phrases. Think 1-2 words.
“target audience”
“content marketing”
You’ll want a good mix of both in your blog content.
Then deliver the background information (5 minutes)…
In your opening paragraph after the introduction and your thesis statement, ask the Who/ What/ When/ Where or Why question to deliver overarching background information for anyone who has no idea about the topic or industry.
Start with the question word in H2 size (questions about SEO? Talk with A Digital Marketing Consultant).
“What is the purpose of a blog?”
“What is Content Marketing?”
“What is a Target Audience?”
Follow-up with the short-tail keyword most related to the topic being discussed. Then, define it in 3-4 sentences. Remember to cite your sources, if applicable. For an example of how this is done, scroll up! I totally did this exact thing in this exact post!