How to Edit a Blog
Writing blogs is something we encourage all our clients to do. It enables you to show to your potential customers that you are an expert in your field and most importantly helps you build your brand on Google.
There are 2 parts to blogging – writing and editing.
When I first started blogging I found it extremely difficult. I was never a model student at school. I would avoid doing any sort of writing if I could get away with it. To establish our brand online though, I had to learn how to produce content.
I would struggle for days trying to write something fantastic.
200-300 words was a struggle for me. I finally realised that I was trying to produce the final version of the blog straight up. I opened Google in my browser and started my research. I quickly saw how important editing was in the process and how I was trying to avoid the step completely.
Once I learnt the importance of this step it changed my writing completely.
Writing is the easy part, editing is the challenge.
Self Editing
Let the words flow and get stuff written down. Write, write, write. Make sure you try to cover all the points you want to cover in your blog, don’t worry if you miss anything.
Your first draft is going to suck, everyone’s does.
Now start editing. Read through it and make sure it reads properly. Start constructing better paragraphs and sentences. Once it looks better and reads better you need to be harsh. Are you filling the sentences with words that aren’t needed?
Put your point across and get to the point.
People don’t have the time to read every single word you write. People skim content. Make it easy for them to read quickly and find the points they are looking for.
Have someone else read your blog
A funny thing that happens is that when you have been working on a blog for a while, it makes complete sense to you, but when you have someone else read it, it doesn’t. You may not explain something fully or miss a word. Your brain just fills those bits in without you realising.
All my blogs are read by a second person before they are published.
Edit for Mobile Users
This is my number one tip for blogging and editing going ahead into 2018.
People consume more content on their phones then desktop computers. This means that we have to edit our blogs to be easier to read on a phone screen. You need to start writing shorter sentences and limit paragraphs to 4 or 5 sentences.
Another good tip for mobile readers is to add headings throughout your text so they can scan the content even quicker.
There is no secret to producing blogs, you just need to write and edit. Like anything, the more you do it the better you get at it, practice makes perfect.
If you want to try content marketing for your business and don’t know where to start, contact us here at DNA Web for a chat to see how we can help you.
Written by Dave Stansfield - 23 November 2017