Effective Blog Writing Styles
Your blogging goal is to consistently deliver compelling and informative content that contains solutions to the problems of your readers. Now that people read your content, you need to give it a distinctive voice as well.
When it comes to blogging styles, there are many different approaches and each style comes with its own unique set of rules. One of the first rules of blogging (and it is a rule that applies to all styles) is that your content should always be fresh. Another critical element is the originality and work that goes into each of your blog posts.
When it comes to blogging, the most successful articles are the ones with fascinating topics and excellent writing. The blog should be interesting to the niche audience as well as to the audience around the world. If the writing quality is not good, people won’t waste their time reading more than the first few words. The online competition is so stiff that the last thing you want to do is turn people off because your communication skills are not up to par.
There are many different blogging styles that can be used, depending on what you want to achieve from others reading what you are putting out there.
- Brand blogging: A blog about your brand and products and/or services. This type of blog will offer an informative look at the brand and should include positive features that are a part of your offerings.
- Link blogging: This is a compilation of a group of links to other websites, blogs or other useful online content. You are offering it as a resource list that leads back to one of your blog postings.
- Video blogging: Video blogging is an extremely effective marketing tool. If you create a video and post it online in a blog posting, you will find that there will be a large number of people who are interested. Videos are very effective because they are aesthetically appealing and because they appeal to people who don’t have the time to sit down and read and who also prefer a visual medium by which to learn new information.
- Photo blogging: If you have the type of business where photographs effectively tell your story, this is a wonderful blogging approach. You may want to include a small amount of copy (in the form of captions). However, you may find those to be unnecessary, depending on what you are trying to express.
- List blogging: List blogging is a style that is used by many bloggers. If you do an online search on almost any subject, it is a guarantee that some of your results will include articles that discuss the “top…” number of something. People find that interesting and useful.
- Survey blogging: Readers love to answer questions that you put out there on subjects that are of interest to them. The reason that this is such an effective approach is that you are communicating with them that their opinions are valuable to you and your business.
- Event blogging: After you have attended an event, you can blog about your opinions and thoughts about the event. There are many different events about which you can blog, for example, conferences, seminars, and conferences. Other people, who were not able to attend the event, greatly appreciate your information. It makes them feel less like they have missed out.
- Insight blogging: Blog postings that share ideas, thoughts, and the discussion of trends in a particular niche are very interesting to readers. This type of blogging is more formal and perhaps less “fun” than other types. However, it is considered valuable and will generally carry the discussion quite far.
- Response blogging: This is blogging that is a direct response to a question or a challenge of some kind that another blogger has posted. Many times, the original source of the challenge was reaching out for help because he or she was in the middle of a crisis. Your response will be much appreciated and will often compel other people to jump in on the discussion.
- Meme blogging: In this type of blogging, you start a discussion by responding to a question and reaching out to other bloggers to respond to the same question on their blogs in whichever way they choose. This promotes interesting and exciting discussions that will continue (potentially indefinitely).
- Review blogging: Review blogging is a blog where you, as a subject matter expert, give your opinion on a new product and/or service. Other people love to give their opinions on new products and/or services also. Before you know it, you will have a long string of valuable comments.
- Guest blogging: This is a blog that you write with the specific objective of having it posted on someone else’s blog. This type of blog generally promotes a great deal of discussion and the writer and the person doing the posting both stand to benefit.
- Interview blogging: Interview blogging is very effective and very interesting. You can either publish an audio or video interview or you can publish the transcript from the interview.
Conclusion
The most important thing to remember when it comes to choosing a blogging style is that the tone of the style matches the content that is being offered. Your blog style should express your passion for your topic of choice. Also, remember that it is extremely important that the writing itself be flawless. You should think of your blogging style and your branding as one and the same.
We are pleased to provide you with the insightful comments contained herein. Please contact us at CompuKol Communications for further discussion on how we might be able to assist you and your team.
Via LinkedIn Groups
Group: Web 2.0
Discussion: Effective Blog Writing Styles
A conversational writing style, I've found, works most effective on blogs. A dose of humor and wit also helps break up the monotony of what might be a bland topic. If you are able to open up, use your personality, and write creatively, not always in a stuffy business style, you'll get some immediate fans. Of course, it depends on the nature of your blog, your business, and the topics you cover, Finding your voice may take a while, but stick with it and it will come.
Posted by Jason Martin
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Group: The Breakfast Club – NJ
Discussion: Effective Blog Writing Styles
I really enjoyed that article. Thank you for posting. As someone looking into starting a blog, it was really informative and definitely help me realize what is necessary to have a successful blog.
Posted by Terri Huggins
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Group: Search Engine Watch
Discussion: Effective Blog Writing Styles
Not just a distinctive voice but a content that will make your readers feel that they are holding the product or they have tried the service already.
Posted by Joy de Guzman
This is a wonderful post! I didn't realize there were so many different styles to blogging. I'm not sure what category my blog would fit into and I would enjoy your opinion; my thought was "insight" might be closest. I try to give my viewers insight as to what I know and what I've learned – stemming from wanting to educate. Thoughts?
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Group: Social Media Marketing Mavens
Discussion: Effective Blog Writing Styles
Thanks for listing out the kinds of blogging that can be done.
I think that "Fresh" content doesn't necessarily mean an idea that people haven't seen before, but can be a fresh perspective on an idea that's been talked about. There may be a piece of the discussion that's not been looked at or you may have a view that's opposite of the majority's.
If folks are not confident about their writing ability, I'd suggest sticking with List or Link (including "carnival") styles, photo or video. Some people are better on camera or with one than with writing. If you're new to interviewing, I'd be careful with that one – bad questions (or ones too often asked) can lead to bad interviews and those are painful to watch or read.
Posted by Robyn McIntyre
Carolyn, excellent Idea Trigger for bloggers AND companies, who are considering adding blogs to add activity to otherwise static websites.
I also like Terri's comments about finding the right "conversational" style as well as the "format" style.
Wish I could add something, but I think you've covered it all. Great job!
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Group: Medical Marketing & Communications Group
Discussion: Effective Blog Writing Styles
I'm still trying to find time to determine the best way to start one and would love to learn more about the best tools and ways to introduce a blog successfully!
Posted by Jan Underhill
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Group: Linked To New Jersey
Discussion: Effective Blog Writing Styles
Thanks for this!
I seem to do a combination of these, often not the same combo. I like to mix it up – seems to make the content more engaging for the reader (and me!).
Appreciate the post.
Posted by Wendy Scharfman
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Group: The Content Wrangler Community
Discussion: Effective Blog Writing Styles
Thank you Carolyn for your information.Even though I have used a lot of styles in blogging, I was not ware of the classification
Posted by meenakshi venkatraman
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Group: Freelance Editing Network
Discussion: Effective Blog Writing Styles
I like the emphasis on "compelling and informative content that contains solutions to the problems of your readers." I don't have a blog yet, but if I start one it may be less self-concerned thanks to your comment.
Posted by Christopher Blackburn
A lot of what I post on FB fits into one or another of these categories. But not everything, and I believe the things left out are appropriate blog-style categories too. Nevertheless, this is an interesting starting point.
Via LinkedIn Groups
Group: Search Engine Watch
Discussion: Effective Blog Writing Styles
Nice compilation of all the different blog post types. Quite helpful!
Posted by Kayden Kelly
I can't believe how timely this helpful article is. I started creating a blog this week. You have encouraged me to continue developing it, so people can get to know me, and I can learn about them. I'm simply introducing myself, trying to be natural, and share my thoughts and passions. My future posts will have more informative content, as you have stressed. I recognize that I am using a combination of the blogging styles you described, in the material I have drafted so far.
The technical part is hard for me, as I am new to computers, in the last year or so. But with your advice, and the many available tutorials, I know I will be able to create a blog that enables me to sell online, and grow my business.
Thank you so much! Linda
I really like it when folks get together and share opinions.
Great blog, stick with it!