The hardest part about blogging is getting started. When people ask me about getting started blogging, I tell them blogging and writing is like a muscle, something that builds up over time with exercise. I have to admit, sometimes when I go back and look at the first blog posts I ever wrote, I cringe. I cringe a lot!
That’s why I’m writing this blog. Today we are going to talk about how to write an article, and the format you should use. This is going to be a very basic how to write an article format that can be applied to any type of blog, and every type of niche. There is also some room for changing things around in this format to make it work for you.
Now, let’s dive in!
How to Write an Article Format
Really, any article breaks down into the following format:
- Introduction. Telling the reader what you are going to tell them about.
- Body. The things you are telling the reader about.
- Conclusion. Remind the reader what you just told them about.
Every blog post should have these three elements, no matter what kind of blog post you are writing.
Let’s take the example of a list post.
The introduction is your opportunity to convince the reader that your list is worth their time beyond all other lists out there. You are telling your reader why your list is the best list.
The conclusion of your article is your ability to reiterate one more time why you have the best list out there, hopefully your reader will book mark it or Pin it and come back to read it again!
Article Introduction
The article introduction is very important, since it will decide if your reader is going to read your article or go find something else.
You should tell your reader what you are going to tell them about, and hook them!
Don’t give all your secrets away at the beginning though! Make them read on!
Tips For Writing Your Introduction
Here are some tips for writing your introduction.
- Be Interesting.
- Be concise.
- Put your Pin after your introduction if you are using Pinterest.
I want to let you in on another secret tip when it comes to writing an introduction for your blog. You don’t have to write the introduction first! You can leave it until last, or really write it whenever you want, as long as you write it before you publish your post.
Speaking of publishing your post, don’t forget to do these 5 things before you hit that publish button!
Article Body or Article Content
This is the meat of your blog post or article, and where you will be putting most of your information. It will be the longest part of your article, and may be either really easy to write if you are on a roll, or may require a ton of research depending on what you are writing on.
The format of your body is also important. You should have an idea of what you are going to write about going in.
Now, let’s look at a couple of different types of blog posts, and what would be in the body of the post.
You can find these ideas and a couple of others in my easy sample blog format guide.
How to Article Format
When it comes to a how to article, the how to simply goes in the body. This is probably the most straight forward blog post you can write.
List Post Format
Just like a how to post, this is simple. Your list goes in the body of your format.
Other Post Formats
Now I want to talk about a couple of other post formats. Think of posts like:
- Comparison Posts
- Review Posts
- Informational Posts
Three are lots of other blog post types out there that aren’t defined as clearly as a how to post or a list post, so I am lumping them all in here.
Those can be difficult, since it is easy to ramble and get off track, especially if you are trying to write a really long article.
We are going to talk about a basic format that you can modify as you need to, to meet whatever post length you are going for.
First, let’s put down the one major rule.
Cover at least three topics in the body of your article.
You can cover more topics but never less.
Let’s take a look at how that plays out.
If you are writing an informational post about a single topic, talk about three different aspects of it.
If you are writing a review of a product, talk about three different features of it.
If you are comparing items, compare them on three different levels.
Example Body Content
No one wants to read a boring article about a subject. Let’s use the example of a bicycle repair kit.
If I am writing an informational article about bicycle repair kits I may cover why you need a bicycle repair kit, what is included in a bicycle repair kit, and different types of bicycle repair kits (a kit for a road bicycle vs a mountain bicycle for example).
If I am writing a review article of a bicycle repair kit, I can talk about what comes in the bicycle repair kit, the weight of the bicycle repair kit, and the how much a bicycle repair kit can cost. In a review article, I can talk about what I also think of each of these things (for example, this bicycle repair kit is too heavy or too expensive for what it comes with).
If I am writing a comparison article of different bicycle repair kits, I can use the same things I would in a review post, like what is included, the weight, and the price. Then I should compare them together and make a recommendation based on a number of criteria.
If I want to make my article longer, I just need to keep adding to the list beyond three talking points.
Article Conclusion
The article conclusion is one last time to remind your reader why your article is so good, and make your final impression. This can be important in different ways depending on what type of article you are writing.
The one thing to keep in mind is a call to action. You may want your reader to do something after they have read your content, like share it on social media, click a link, download something, or leave a comment. This will depend on what type of article you have written.
You may also just want to reiterate the important content in your article, or what you were really trying to tell your reader about.
This basic how to write an article format can be used for any type of blog post for any niche. It is meant to be tweaked depending on what you are writing about, and how many words you are trying to write. It is a solid starting point for any blog post you are looking to conquer.