The Secrets to Writing Blog Posts That Stand Out, Rank High, and Actually Get Read

Imagine this—you’ve just spent hours (maybe even days) writing and fine-tuning your blog post. You’ve followed all the best SEO tips, and you feel like you’ve created a really solid post. But then…

A week goes by. A month. Two months. And when you check your analytics, your blog has gotten almost NO traffic!

It sucks, right? Maybe you’re thinking, “I don’t have to imagine that scenario because that’s exactly what’s happening to me right now!” If this is you, I have some game-changing tips on how to write an interesting blog post that ranks high and actually gets read by your clients.

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How to Write an Interesting Blog Post That Captures Attention & Ranks on Google

1. Choose the Right Topic

If you’ve read some of my past blog posts, then you know that understanding your audience is key to writing content that connects. But when it comes to blogging, how do you figure out exactly what topics your clients want to read? I always recommend starting by asking yourself these two questions: 

• What questions do you get asked most often by clients or poential clients? 
• What resources do you wish you had if you were in their shoes? 

Your client’s questions are a gold mine for content. If you find that you are getting the same questions on every inquiry form or client call, write a blog post about it! Not only does this save you time, but it also provides valuable information on your website, where potential clients can find it. 

Other Ways to Find Blog Topics

• Poll your audience – Use the Instagram features like a poll or question box to ask your community what topics they’re interested in.
• Check out competitors – What are they writing about? Are there any gaps in your content that you can fill?
• Use Google Trends – Find out what topics are trending and discover related topics in your niche.
• Analyze your analytics – What past posts performed well? Can you expand on them or provide additional resources related to that topic?
• Do keyword research – This will help you see what words or phrases are the most searched for and allow you to target those in your content. 

💡 Pro Tip: When performing keyword research, focus on understanding search intent (aka the purpose or reason behind a specific query). Knowing this will help you create content and position it in a way that meets your readers where they are at in their journey.

By focusing on what your audience actually wants to read, you’re already halfway there in mastering how to write an interesting blog post that engages and ranks.

2. Create a Click Worthy Headline

A strong headline is the first step in how to write an interesting blog post that stands out and drives traffic. Your headline is what gets people to click on your blog post. If your title is boring, vague, or unclear, your post won’t stand a chance—even if the content inside is gold! Let’s use this blog post as an example. Consider these two titles:

The first title is clear, conversational, and compelling—it tells you exactly what you will gain by reading the post. The second is vague and meh (at best). There is no excitement and no apparent value. Essentially, there is no incentive for someone to click through and read the post. 

How to Create Catchy Blog Titles for an Interesting Blog Post

1. Use your keyword early in the title. Every title needs a keyword! 
2. Use power words (ie – effortless, ultimate, irresistible) to evoke emotion, grab attention, or spark curiosity.
3. Add a colon, dash, or parentheses. This allows you to expand on your topic and use supplemental keywords (win, win) or simply just allows your post to stand out from the competition.
4. Use numbers if they relate to your topic (ie – 10 Breathtaking Locations for Your Washington Elopement).

💡 Pro Tip: Google your topic and see what other headlines are currently in the top positions. Use them as inspiration and brainstorm ways to make your headline different so it stands out. 

Once your blog post topic is picked out, I recommend creating a list of blog post titles. Write out as many as you can think of, but try to come up with at least 5-10 different options. Then, sort through them using the tips above and narrow down your list until you have the strongest headline possible. You can do this step before or after writing your blog post. Personally, I usually do a mix of both. I start with a rough title and then refine it once my post is written. 

If you need additional help creating a click worthy blog post title, consider using Headline Studio. This blogging tool scores your headline and provides suggestions for how to improve it.

3. Write an Engaging Introduction 

You don’t want to lose your readers before they even get halfway down the page. This not only hurts your SEO, but also makes readers less likely to engage with future posts you publish. If their first impression doesn’t hook them or provide value, they’re less like to come back for more later down the road.

6 Ideas for Creating a Strong Introduction

• Highlight a common mistake
• Open with a question
• Tell a short, relatable story
• Share an interesting fact or trend 
• Make a bold or contradictory statement 
• Paint a picture (you may notice this is the type of introduction I chose for this blog post). 

4. Give Readers the Most Important Information First

Our attention spans are getting shorter and shorter! Did you know the average adult’s online attention span is 8.25 seconds? If your post doesn’t deliver value immediately, readers will leave, which hurts your SEO. 

So, how can you keep readers engaged? Start with the juiciest tip first! Hook them right away by providing your most valuable information up front.

5. Make Your Blog Post Scannable

Most people skim blog posts rather than reading them word-for-word. This can feel frustrating—after all, you’ve just poured your time and effort into writing a really solid blog post. I get it.

However, knowing that you only have a short window of time to engage your readers will allow you to format your content for easy reading, ensuring that readers walk away with the information they need, even if they don’t read every single word.

So, how can you format your blog posts for easy reading? By creating scannable content!

How to Create Scannable Content

• Use easy-to-read fonts. If your blog post isn’t easily readable, readers will click off the page quickly. 
• Utilize subheadings. Not only does this keep your blog post organized (and optimized for SEO), but readers can easily skim sections and find what they need.
• Insert numbered lists and bullet points to break down key points and make them easier to digest.
• Add photos to break up long sections of text. This makes your post easier on the eyes and allows you to emphasize or add color to the surrounding text. 
• Keep paragraphs short (2-5 sentences max!).
• Use bold and italic text to emphasize key points and draw the reader’s eye to important information.

Breaking up your content with headings, bullet points, and images is a key part of how to write an interesting blog post that keeps readers engaged in what you have to say.

6. Optimize for SEO—But Write for People

There’s no way around it—SEO matters if you want your blog to get found. But if your writing feels robotic, no one will stick around to read it (and that’s no good for your readers, or your SEO). Here are a few ways to optimize your blog post, followed by tips for maintaining engagement with your readers. 

SEO Must-Dos

• Use keywords naturally, not just in your title, but also in your headings, body text, and image alt text.
• Write engaging meta descriptions (this is what shows up in Google under your title!). Include your keyword, plus a brief description of your topic, and a call to action (but make it interesting!). 
• Link to related content on your site to provide more value and keep readers engaged and clicking around.

Want to learn more about blogging SEO? I have an entire post with tips on how to optimize your blog for SEO, which you can check out at the link below.

7. Add Personal Stories or Examples

One of the easiest ways to make your blog posts more engaging is to weave in personal stories or real-life examples. Stories help make your content feel more authentic and help readers connect with you on a more personal level.

Ideas for Adding Personality to Your Blogs

• Share a client story related to the topic.
• Talk about a personal experience that ties into the post (ie – If you are writing a “How to Elope” guide, talk about your experience at that location, things you’ve learned, etc.).
• Use humor or include a relatable anecdote to lighten the tone.
• Showcase a behind-the-scenes moment from your work (ie – how did you achieve a certain photo or artistic element?).
• Be yourself! One of the fastest ways to lose readers is by trying to write or be like someone else. Be authentic and stay true to your style (writing, personality, or otherwise).
  • *Note – if writing doesn’t come easily for you (no matter how hard you try), consider outsourcing. We offer blogging services from copy only to full-service blogs and write in a way where your voice always shines through. Click here to get blogging off your plate today!

Your personal stories and experiences are what sets your blog post apart from the rest. Let’s be honest, there are dozens of blog posts on any given topic, so while the information you are sharing might not be anything new, your perspective and lived experiences are! Don’t just share the same information that everyone else is sharing. Look for ways to sprinkle in your point of view, whether that’s through an experience you had, a lesson you learned, or a belief you hold. 

💡 Pro Tip: People remember stories more than facts. Use storytelling to make your content more memorable!

8. Promote Your Blog Posts

Even if you’ve mastered how to write an interesting blog post, you still need to put in the effort to get it seen! One of the biggest mistakes I see wedding and elopement photographers make is not promoting their blog posts! After putting in all that effort to create a valuable blog post, don’t just assume your readers are going to read it on their own! 

Yes, a good SEO strategy will help your blog posts get seen, but it doesn’t happen overnight. If you want to maximize your blog’s potential, you need to promote your blog posts on other channels like Instagram, Pinterest, and your email newsletter. Share how this post can help your audience and encourage them to click over to your website to learn more about the topic.

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And there you have it. Eight tips for how to write an interesting blog post that stands out, ranks high, and actually gets read!

Blogging isn’t just about good writing. It’s also about knowing your audience, crafting a great headline, and formatting your content to encourage maximum engagement. 

Which tip did you find the most helpful? I’d love to hear about it in the comments!

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