So, we’re starting a regular blog rotation at Praxis Church. In anticipation, I wrote a primer on 10 tips that make for a great blog post. The following is the first draft, and I’m hoping for some feedback. Comment away.
Introduction
At Praxis Church, blogging is a key strategy for communicating our vision, values, thoughts, and ministries to our community. A simple definition of a blog would be an online post that communicates a message through some combination of words, pictures, and/or video. You can read a technical overview of a blog here.
As we gear up to launching an official blog rotation, I thought it would be appropriate to write a small primer on what makes a good blog post in the context of Praxis Church. The following are tips on how to write a great blog post that will engage our readers and further your ministry.
1. Be opinionated
It’s expected that a blog will express a strong opinion or thought. Strong opinions and thoughts generate reader interaction through comments, which furthers the possibility for an engaging conversation. Monitor the church blog, and feel free to engage our community in the comments section.
2. Clarity
Before you sit down to write, have your points thought out and logically ordered. Nothing loses a reader quicker than a lack of clarity in your writing. A blog that is written in a logical and efficient manner will increase its chance of being read.
3. Make it snappy
Most blog posts should hover around 500 words or so (you can see your word count on the bottom of most word processors). People don’t have time or patience to read much more than that online.
4. Layout is important
Reading on a computer is far more different than reading a printed document. Scanability is important. Try to order your blogs with sub-headlines, much like this document is laid out, and keep your paragraphs as lean as possible. Breaking up your post makes the blog more digestible for reading on a computer screen.
5. Bullet point lists
In the spirit of the last tip, whenever you make a list, use bullet points because:
- It makes it easier to read
- Creates better scanability
- Draws the reader’s attention
- Is a good practice
See how much better that is than: It makes it easier to read, creates better scanability, draws the reader’s attention, and is a good practice?
6. Edit your blog post
Make sure to edit your grammar and spelling. Taking the extra time and effort to ensure a well-written post will benefit our readers and show them that we care. Have someone proofread your post as well.
7. Keep it simple
While it may be fun to write in a flowery or academic style, no one wants to read that in a blog post. Keep your writing style simple and direct. Also, consider the jargon and lingo you use. Will someone who is not a Christian or a member at Praxis Church understand what you’re saying? Frame your words in the perspective of a person new to Christ and the church.
8. Make it personal
Readers respond well to stories that illustrate your points effectively and that communicate your personality and experiences. Part of our blog strategy is to provide a connection for our 1,000 plus members to get to know their ministers and ministries on a personal level. Don’t be afraid to be real and open up.
9. Write a killer headline
Believe it or not, the headline is the most important part of your blog post. It captures a person’s attention and draws them into the body of your post. Ideally, your headline should contain the elements of your entire blog in one succinct sentence. Here is a great blog post on the importance of headlines: http://www.copyblogger.com/magnetic-headlines.
10. Link, and link some more.
Whenever possible, link to other articles and content on the Internet to create an interactive community and to allow readers to gain insight into your thought process. For instance I used this, this, and this to help write this document. If you need a tutorial on using hyperlinks, here is a great resource: http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/word/HA101659291033.aspx
Final Note
Have fun! If you enjoy blogging, that will shine through in your writing.
I think this is a great list, Jake. Point #7 is probably the most difficult to maintain. There is a fine line between using too much “Christianese,” whereby losing non-Christians, and maintaining seasoned a Christian’s level of interest. I suppose the main distinction depends on who the primary target audience is. Assuming that a piece is geared toward non-Christian readership and that Christians should still be able to engage in spite of reading “dumbed-down” language, I’d say your advice is indeed prudent.
Jake… Love the site dude! This post is great too. Very good and very clear and practical points. Thanks a bunch for linking to me too. I shall return the favor my friend. I look forward to reading more good things here. Keep up the good work(s).
Looks like a good list! I especially agree with #1, #3, and #5. Personally, I scan any blog entry I think I might be interested in, and if it looks too long to read (i.e. only one big block of text), I usually just skip it! Not to mention, if the title of the blog post doesn’t look interesting (#9), I won’t even bother opening up the blog!
Top notch work chap! The blog is also quite well designed if I do say so myself.
Thanks to everyone for your feedback and props on the new site.
Craig – I’m not advocating a “dumbed-down” language as much as making sure we use wording that actually makes sense to both audiences. My classic example is calling a class “Why Christianity?” vs. “Apologetics”. Thanks for the feedback. I’ll reexamine if there is a clearer way to express that.