How do you decide what makes a solid blog post?
I’m on day two of a 90 day blogging challenge with my good friend Jason Scott Montoya, and after writing my first entry yesterday I ran it through ChatGPT to see what it thought of my work. ChatGPT was a harsh critic and told me I needed a lot of help. I’m good at taking constructive feedback but I got a little salty with how it didn’t feel I did well anywhere. I wanted to know what was missing in a concise way so naturally I asked it for a rundown of a good blog structure. Then I thought, wait a minute, what if I asked it to write a blog post on how to write a great blog post. And here we are. I’ll be critiquing ChatGPT’s blog post while also learning how to make my blog posts better. The actual learning is in bold, so skip the other content if you just want to know what AI thinks about blogging.
Key: Chat GPT in regular text. Jim’s commentary in italics.
Title: Mastering the Art of Blogging: A Comprehensive Guide to Writing Great Blog Articles
Jim: Woah ChatGPT! That is a big claim there. Are we really sure that this blog article is going to be comprehensive? Will there be enough here to make someone a master? That remains to be seen my friend. On the plus side, this is pretty eye catching and probably great for my SEO. Thanks.
Introduction: In the digital age, blogging has become a powerful tool for sharing knowledge, building a brand, and connecting with a global audience. But what makes a blog post truly great? In this article, we’ll explore the essential elements that go into crafting a compelling and effective blog post.
Jim: While I think your beginning of “In the digital age” is a bit overused and corny, I do agree that having this introduction does prep me for what we will be covering so I give you points for that.
Body:
1. Title: Your title is the first thing readers see. Make it catchy, relevant, and keyword-rich to attract attention and improve SEO. For example, “10 Tips for Writing Engaging Blog Posts” is both informative and enticing.
Hmm… you seem to be contradicting yourself here CG. Can I call you CG? I’m going to anyway. You see you told me in the title that this was comprehensive but now you are calling it “10 Tips” why de-escalate within the post? Did you lose confidence? Anyway, I’m not changing the title now, wordpress has already created the Permalink URL as untanglednarrative.com/mastering-the-art-of-blogging-a-comprehensive-guide-to-writing-great-blog-articles” which is the longest Blog URL I have ever made by quite a few words.
2. Introduction: Start with a hook to grab your readers’ attention. It could be a thought-provoking question, a surprising fact, or a relatable anecdote. Briefly outline what the post will cover and why it’s important. For instance, “Ever wondered why some blog posts go viral while others get lost in the shuffle? It all comes down to a few key elements…”
Are there only a few key elements or are there ten? Is this post comprehensive or is it just three things that will make you go viral? What do you want to be CG?
3. Subheadings: Break your content into sections using clear and descriptive subheadings. This not only improves readability but also helps with SEO. Each section should address a specific point or step in your guide.
Yeah this makes sense. Thanks.
4. Main Points: Elaborate on your main ideas or steps with detailed explanations. Use examples or stories to illustrate your points. For instance, “When writing a blog post, it’s crucial to understand your audience. Are you writing for beginners or experts? Tailor your content to their level of knowledge.”
I’m starting to think that this blog post you have written does not follow the advice of the blog post you have written. This seems like good advice but you don’t use the advice in the blog post. You good CG?
5. Visuals: Incorporate images, infographics, or videos to complement your text and make your post more engaging. Visual aids can help explain complex concepts and break up long blocks of text.
Here is a visual. You didn’t describe what you wanted here CG so I’m just going to assume it is this diagram.
6. Quotes/Expert Opinions: Enhance your credibility by including quotes or insights from industry experts. This can provide additional authority and value to your content.
Why aren’t there any quotes for credibility in your blog post CG? I mean, have you even read your own blog post about how to write a blog post? Geeeez.
Actionable Advice: Provide practical tips or steps that your readers can implement. Use bullet points or numbered lists for clarity. For example:
- Research your topic thoroughly before writing.
- Use short paragraphs and simple language for better readability.
- Edit and proofread your post before publishing.
Well I can’t argue with any of that. I’m assuming that because you have been fed all of the information in the world, that probably counts as doing your research.
Engagement: Encourage readers to interact with your content by asking questions or prompting them to share their experiences in the comments section. For example, “What strategies have you found most effective in your blogging journey? Share your thoughts in the comments below!”
Oohhh that is a smart idea. Why didn’t you do that in your blog post CG?
Conclusion: Summarize the main points of your post, reiterate the importance of the topic, and include a call-to-action. For instance, “By following these tips, you can create blog posts that engage and inform your readers. Don’t forget to subscribe to our newsletter for more blogging tips and insights!”
Ah so the goal has shifted again to engaging and informing readers. Ok well keep moving the target and I’m sure the arrow will hit eventually.
By following this structure and incorporating these elements, you can create blog posts that are not only informative and engaging but also optimized for search engines and enjoyable for your readers. Happy blogging!
Well congrats CG, you gave people some basic pointers on how to write a blog. I am sure noooooobody that reads this is going to feel they have been over promised and under delivered.
I hope you enjoyed a blog post of me being salty at ChatGPT. I promise never to do this again.
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