Crafting the Perfect Blog Post: A Comprehensive Guide for Small Business Owners

Having trouble writing a blog post? It’s frustrating to spend all day crafting the perfect post, only to see it never make it past page eight on Google, right?

Hi, I’m AJ. Over the past decade, I started, grew, and sold an SEO agency. After selling my business, I launched SBB to help young entrepreneurs. In this post, I’m sharing my complete blog writing strategy. This approach was a major factor in scaling and exiting my agency. Ready to dive in? Let’s go!

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Here are some common mistakes I’ve seen over ten years of SEO and the refined process I use today.

First, outline your post before you start writing. Your goal is to make each blog post better than what’s already out there. Here’s how:

Say we’re writing about “How to Start a Business.” Start by typing that keyword into Google and reviewing the top results. Note the H2, H3, and H4 headings from the leading articles, like those from Forbes or Nerdwallet.

For example, Forbes’ first H2 is “Determine Your Business Concept” and Business News Daily’s is “Refine Your Idea.” Combine these to create a detailed brief that covers the topic more thoroughly than any single post on the first page.

Rewrite each heading in your own words, and add any crucial steps you think are missing. With practice, identifying these headings becomes easier. After gathering all the headings, move on to PAA (People Also Ask) questions and related search queries. Incorporate these into your brief to cover all possible angles.

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Now, you’re ready to write. The introduction is crucial. A reader who feels the article was written for them is more likely to stay engaged. I use the SPEAR framework for intros:

SPEAR stands for:
– Search Intent: What’s the user’s main goal?
– Pain Points: What is your audience struggling with?
– Expertise: Why are you qualified to help them?
– Audience: Who are you targeting?
– Rapport: Build a connection; show that you’re just like them.

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Including a key takeaways section at the beginning of your post helps both readers and Google understand what’s in it for them. This section boosts the post’s scannability and the likelihood of comprehensive engagement.

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Writing the post should be straightforward if you’ve prepared a detailed brief. I use Jasper, an AI writing tool, to draft my posts. I input the brief and let the AI do most of the writing. Each post typically takes about 30 minutes to an hour, but I continuously edit to ensure accuracy and add my personal insights.

E-E-A-T (Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, Trustworthiness) is crucial for Google ranking. By adding your personal perspective, you enhance these factors.

Lastly, publish your post under your real or a pen name to build authorship and credibility. The more you write on a topic, the more Google will see you as an expert. Writing guest posts for other blogs also helps.

Creating a compelling blog post involves thorough planning, engaging intros, clear takeaways, and infusing your unique voice. AI tools can make the process easier, but your personal touch and E-E-A-T credentials will truly set your content apart.

Have any additional tips? Share them in the comments below!