It’s time to get busy and write a post for this week. I’m going to lead you through it step-by step, as either a reminder or a better idea of how to get this done. The whole idea is to produce entertaining and informative articles that your customers will want to read. You’ll need a topic, a photo, a little time, and some idea how to get all of that up on your website. See if this sounds familiar.
First: Find the Topic
- A real-life example of how your product/service works for one of your customers. Here’s a quick way to show examples in action: Kubota Image Tools’ Before and After blog post.
- How your service/product solved a problem for one of your buyers
Here’s a post that solves a gift problem: American Frame Blog Post - How to use your service/product in an interesting situation (Take this article as an example of how Erickson Creative is showing how to do a post.) Here’s an article from CopyBlogger, “How to Write a Killer ‘How To’ Article That Gets Attention.”
- Something coming up with your company that would interest your visitors
Here’s an announcement from Aviary Online Aps: BlackBox Borders - Announcing a community or industry event you’re participating in or attending
Writing the Story
Now it’s time to write the story and get it to the website. I personally do that in one step – writing the story as I go via the website/WordPress post screen. Here are the steps (on WordPress) to get to the post page, and ready to type:
Login; find “Add new post,” or go to Posts in the left column and click, “Add New.”
Your Dashboard and Where to Find the Post-Making Tools
Put together a title that is short and interesting. Use some of your keywords if you can.
(WordPress will come up with the Permalink from your title (the small text under the title). If you change it later, this Permalink may need to be changed too. A word of caution: If the post has been published for a week or more, don’t change this Permalink because any sharing links you may have generated will be lost.)
Here is another CopyBlogger tip for writing headlines. One of the best tips I found in CopyBlogger author Brian Clark’s article is to write the title FIRST. Once you come up with just the right title, it will be there at the top to keep you focused on your point. It really works!
Now click into the text box and start writing using the topic you came up with. Keep in mind who you are writing/talking to and keep it conversational. Spell check (the little symbol with the ABC + checkmark). Save your Draft (button at the top right).
This seems pretty simple, doesn’t it? Just like a word processor. Refer to my screen shot if you get lost on what buttons I refer to.
I know the writing may be a chore for you. See “You have to do a Blog!” for some suggestions for topics and tips about writing for your website.
Posts Need Photos…. Let’s Insert One
A snapshot will work if it’s close up on the subject and bright enough to see what it is. If you don’t have anything, iStockphoto.com always has something that will work, as a general subject. Use the Upload/Insert symbol above the symbols bar and either upload from your computer or select from your existing photos in your WordPress Media Library via the Media button. Save a Draft and Preview.
You may need to adjust the size of the photo or move it to the right or left of the type in the post.
To make this adjustment click on the photo, then click on the slidephoto icon that appears, and the edit window opens. You can even change or add the “Alt text,” a keyword-filled description of your photo. I usually forget to do this at first, so it’s nice to be able to go back and add it easily.
Proofing, again… !
Good? Now print it out. However ugly it may print, you need this step to proof it one more time. Your eye will get a new perspective on words and sentences, reading things a little differently, you will see words, sentences or misspellings you thought you had already fixed. This is an important step to avoid those little mistakes that make you feel foolish later.
One more important step for blogs: adding the category and tags. This is the time to look over the story and pick a category or make a new one (under the Posts menu). Also, find some tags/keywords from the post writing to help readers find your post in a search. All of these should include your website keywords.
Finally, all is good: Publish!
(This may also be scheduled for the future if you want. See the “publish immediately” edit button to set that up.)
Easy-peasy. Remember, WordPress and your theme will add the new post to the top of your other page of posts and in the newest posts location on the site.
Tell me you made it all the way through and have a brand new post. If you had any trouble you need to ask about, the comments below work, or email me. What was the hardest step (bet I know)?
About Sally EricksonErickson Creative's Sally Erickson is a WordPress website builder, specializing in evaluating and improving business websites for more leads and better profits. Making better websites everyday…. connect with me on Twitter and FaceBook.
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