Crafting a blog post can be tedious, with endless notes and ideas that never make it onto the page. But how can you revolutionize the process and make blog post creation more effortless, easier, and effective? Well, that’s where a well-planned outline, you can streamline your thoughts, focus on what’s important, and produce content that reads well.
This post will explore how the blog outlining process can help you stay organized, refine your ideas, and bring your creative vision to life.
What Is a Blog Post Outline?
A blog post outline acts as a road map for a blog. The system specifies the points you want to make, the structure you want to use for your content (list, long-form, etc.), and the format. Blog outlines can help you stay organized and simplify your writing process while staying on course.
The following components should be present in a solid outline:
- What is the subject of your writing?
- Your perspective: What are your thoughts on that subject?
- Your framework: What specific arguments will you present to support your position?
Although some authors prefer to compose headlines after completing their posts, you may include working titles. This makes sure that the headline you choose suits the finished piece.
Importance of Blog Post Outline
A well-structured outline is the foundation of a successful blog post – and it can make all the difference between a piece that falls flat and one that captivates your readers. It not only helps you stay organized and focused, but it also helps you identify gaps in your content and ensure that your post covers all the essential points.
Further, an outline helps to prioritize information, eliminates redundant or irrelevant content, and serves as a reference during revisions and editing.
When Should You Write A Blog Post Outline?
Every time you produce a piece of content, it’s usually always a good idea to start with an outline, but they are instrumental when:
- You’re penning a lengthy blog entry (approximately 2,000 words or more).
- You’re writing on a challenging subject requiring significant research to be adequately covered.
The goal is to make your ideas more precise so that you can make your writing more straightforward and create better material rapidly. There are instances where it might not be required to outline, but the objective is not to follow guidelines blindly.
How to Write a Blog Post Outline
Writing a blog post outline may seem daunting, but it’s simple. The following steps will help you get started:
Brainstorming Ideas
This involves employing the right tools to create creative and engaging content that will capture your reader’s attention.
Start by considering questions for your target audience. Consider subjects relevant to their interests, difficulties, and need for solutions. Once identified potential topics, research them further to get more ideas. You can use online resources such as blogs, forums, and industry publications to gain insight into the current trends in the area.
Next, evaluate ways to make your post stand out from similar posts published online. Brainstorm different formats, such as interviews or case studies that could bring an exciting twist to the topic. Look for unique angles or perspectives that could help differentiate your content from others in the same space.
Finally, leverage storytelling and data-driven insights in your post so it resonates with readers. Storytelling could include adding personal anecdotes or using visuals like charts and graphs when appropriate to illustrate critical points within the article more effectively than words alone allow.
For example, if a statistic is involved, try adding a chart/graph to visualize this information instead of just mentioning it within text form only. Doing this will help keep readers engaged throughout the entire piece while providing valuable takeaways they can apply immediately in their workflows.
Brainstorming ideas is an essential part of any successful copywriting project. By taking the time to brainstorm, you can develop creative solutions that will set your work apart from others. Let’s research our topic to find the best sources and data for our copywriting project.
Research
Research is an essential part of copywriting. It helps to ensure that your content is accurate, up-to-date, and relevant. Before you begin your research process, you should brainstorm ideas about the topic.
Keyword research is done at this stage as well. It involves exploring and analyzing popular terms related to your topic to determine which keywords to target with your content.
When conducting keyword research, one must consider the intent behind a user’s query. Doing so can help you narrow down the list of potential keywords and focus on those benefits for your website.
Once you have some ideas written down, look for other blog posts or articles related to the topic and see what information they contain. This will give you an idea of what content should be included in your post and any new angles or perspectives that could make it stand out from similar pieces already published online.
Finally, double-check all facts before publishing; accuracy is critical when creating content. Researching the latest trends and technologies in copywriting can help you stay ahead of the curve, so taking advantage of all available resources is crucial.
Structure Your Content
An outline structure is a way of organizing the main points and ideas in a written work. It helps to keep your writing focused on the topic at hand while also providing readers with an easy-to-follow guide for understanding what you are trying to say. An outline can be as simple or complex as needed, depending on the material’s length and complexity.
Distinguish the main details, conclusions, or arguments of each point
Each subsection should cover several topics. On average, it’s best to aim for 2-3, but occasionally you can go with more. For example, larger or more detailed subheadings would be the perfect place to include a bulleted list. You can also frequently introduce a few topics you don’t plan to discuss, which could be the foundation for a valid internal link.
Insert Data Where Necessary
When writing your blog post, it’s essential to figure out the data that will support your arguments. There are two common approaches to this.
The approach you choose depends on your ideation process. Some people start with data that they find exciting and build their articles around it. Others begin with a topic or keyword they find interesting and then look for data and sources to support it.
At this stage, you’ll start filling in the details in your outline. If you conclude, you’ll include steps leading up to it. If you state something as a fact, you have data sources. The goal is to make your post as well-supported as possible through first-hand data anecdotes, anecdotes, charts/graphs, or case studies.
Sections should be balanced.
Even with your best efforts, a point you wish to express occasionally doesn’t fit. Determine whether anything is unnecessary and can be omitted or whether it is essential and needs to be enlarged. Cut it if it’s a fanciful conclusion; it won’t hurt anything. If the decision is something you genuinely want to write about, you can put it away and write about it in another blog post later.
When you write blog entries, it can be challenging to keep the word count manageable. You may have to cut out some of your ideas because your outline ended up longer than expected. While it’s easy to write more when word count is not a concern, your audience might only be interested in reading part of the post. Many people need help producing longer blog posts, which could mean you must include more points to expand your ideas.
Think about how each “part” of a post will typically be between 100 and 300 words long, depending on how in-depth you go. For instance, each of these phases contains between 100 and 200 words. Four hundred words or so might be considered a lengthier section overall, but if you let them go on for too long, you might think about dividing them up more and adding another subheading.
Sometimes, breaking up a large part into smaller, easier-to-read sections is the best course.
Rearrange your points for logical flow.
Now it’s time for you to review your outline and decide if it needs any changes. If it’s not quite what you want it to be, return to the above steps and start again.
“Remember that these “steps” are not always a set process. The first six steps overlap and mix. A strict, step-by-step approach needs to be followed. Instead, an outline is created and built upon as the process progresses, making adjustments and revisions as necessary. This approach may be less structured than others, but it has worked well.”
Writing Content
Writing content is one of the essential parts of copywriting. It requires creativity, research, and a knack for storytelling to make your words come alive. When writing content for each section of the blog post, use facts and statistics where appropriate and quotes from experts or other sources if needed.
Be sure to link back to any sources used so readers can easily find more information if desired. Add personal anecdotes throughout the piece when relevant – this helps bring a human element into your work, making it more relatable and engaging for readers.
Finally, remember to proofread once everything is written – minor typos or grammar mistakes can take away the elegance of an otherwise excellent piece of writing.
Editing & Proofreading
The process of editing and proofreading is essential for any copywriter. Editing involves checking for grammar, spelling, punctuation, syntax, and structure. Once all these elements are corrected and improved, you can start proofreading.
Proofreading is a more detailed process than editing, requiring you to look at every single word in your text with a critical eye. It’s essential to check for consistency in tone of voice throughout the piece and make sure there are no typos or factual inaccuracies present. Additionally, pay attention to formatting issues such as line breaks and font size so readers can easily read your work online.
Tips For Successful Editing & Proofreading:
1) Take time away from the document before beginning – Taking time away from your writing allows you to come back with fresh eyes, which will help you spot mistakes easier than if you had just finished writing it moments ago.
2) Read aloud – Reading aloud helps catch errors like misused words or incorrect punctuation that are overlooked when reading silently.
3) Use grammar tools – Many tools, such as Grammarly or the Hemingway App, are available online, which can help detect errors quickly and easily without going through each sentence manually.
Blog Post Outline Template
Here are some template examples
Fill In The Blanks Template from HubSpot
This is a decent example of an introductory blog post template, but it’s brief and much like a template. It can produce something passable in the 500–1,000 word range, but you should expand it for a worthwhile contemporary blog post.
Content Rule’s Homework Sheet
This PDF document from Content Rules features a worksheet-like template. It lists each blog post component in order and asks you to fill in the appropriate information using a few straightforward instructions.
Writers Write’s Post Template
This design presents the components of a blog post in an appealing structure and arrangement, much like an infographic. It can assist you with layouts and the organization of a post’s various components.
Writing a blog outline is vital in creating content that resonates with your audience. It helps you to brainstorm ideas, research topics, and create an effective structure for your post. By writing a blog outline before diving into content creation, you can ensure that your copywriting is of the highest quality.
