How to Write a Blog Post
Quick Tip!
Blog posts now appear on digitalcorps.bsu.edu. Talk to the Comm Team Lead and Riley to set up an account on the site so you can post your blog.
Helpful Staff for this Topic
Each semester, Comm Team members are required to write two to three blog posts. Blog posts build the Digital Corps brand, tell unique stories, and provide writing opportunities to use in portfolios. When you brainstorm an idea for a post, make sure it fits into one of the following categories:
- Workplace Community – This category details unique aspects of Corps office culture.
- Self-Improvement – This category focuses on self-motivated learning and examples of student, staff, and alumni success.
- Tech Tools – This category provides information on the Corps’ innovative use of technology.
- About Us – This category informs the Digital Corps audience about Corps teams, projects, and events.
- Work and Travel – This category highlights students who have taken their knowledge and expertise beyond the Corps.
When writing a blog post, you should follow these best practices:
Research
Good blogs contain a lot of external research. Look at what other industry professionals say about your topic, and try to find outside media that relates to it. If you’re not sure how to incorporate outside sources into your blog, try researching different studies that industry professionals have done regarding your topic. If you can, try interviewing an industry professional, like members of Ball State’s IT department or professors who specialize in your topic.
Interview members of the Corps who are well-versed in your topic to gain quality insights. Include graphics, statistics, quotes, and links to additional information to add legitimacy to your blog. For information about research, check out this Reference Guide about how to conduct an interview.
Outlining
A solid outline can make or break the success of a blog. As you gather ideas, be sure to make notes and start planning the structure of your blog. Think about distinct sections, where quotes should go, and how to organize your content for the best flow.
Voice
Voice is essential for engaging readers and appropriately representing the Corps brand. You should reference the Digital Corps voice article to learn more about how to embody Corps values in your writing. Before you begin writing, think about your tone and how to be informative as well as entertaining.
Titles
Your title should catch your readers’ attention, invoke their curiosity, and lure them in. To brainstorm a good title, start with a working title to help you find a direction to begin writing your post. Write your content, go back to your working title, and then rewrite it a few times. Once you have three titles you like, pick the one that best entices readers to dive in without giving away too much.
Quick Tip!
A snappy title makes for a better blog! Play with some alliteration, or even a pun.
Support Scanning
When reading online, people want quick solutions to their problems. If they can’t find that solution within the first 10 seconds of scanning your blog, they will click out of it and move on. What does it mean to support scanning? Break up your content. Use subheads, bullets, and link out to other sources when you can. When you break up the content, your blog feels more digestible and less like an academic paper.
Use Visuals
Blogs need more than just words. Another great way to support scanning is to incorporate various types of media into your content. Photos, videos, infographics, code snippets, and even gifs are great media options to add. They can also help break up content and spice up your blog.
Accessibility
It’s important to make your content accessible to everyone. Inclusivity is key for digital media creation, and blogs are no exception. When writing, your link text should be relevant, your images should have captions, and you should use alt-text whenever possible. Additionally, try to refrain from using too much slang and/or jargon. Keep it simple.
Your Conclusion
When you write a conclusion, think about your readers. How do you want them to feel? Most readers are going to scan your blog for the most important points. Your conclusion should tell your readers what to do next and motivate them to take action. Do we want them to share this blog on their social media? Do we want to send them to a project website? Whatever the call to action is, make sure you include it in your conclusion.
Publishing
To publish your blog, go to the Digital Corps WordPress account and sign in with your credentials. Once you’re logged in, click New Post to paste in and properly format your blog. Click the Plus Buttons to add content blocks, and click existing blocks to select the desired formatting options.
Consider this list while formatting:
- Title—H1 heading
- Section Headers—H2 headings
- Distinguish quotes from body copy
- Format images and include captions
- Create clear hyperlinks that open in a new tab
- Avoid “click here” language
When you post your blog on the Digital Corps website, double-check all settings in the document sidebar on the right before publishing:
- Your blog needs to be Categorized.
- Include Tags that are relevant to your content so your blog is more searchable.
- Always add a Featured Image.
- Your blog Excerpt will show up on Google search results. Include a quick synopsis of what your blog is about, and make sure it is enticing!
Quick Tip!
If you feel like you need more blog writing practice, talk with the Comm Team Lead and look back over Comm Team Training. The videos and articles within the blog writing week are great resources to refer to when you start writing a blog.
