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Self-Editing For Pet Blog Post Success
Guest post by Blog Manager Robbi Hess
when your righting blog posts. The point is to self-edit before you hit “publish.”
There are several items you will want to edit – the words themselves (as the
mistakes in the first sentence point to!), your titles and even your intro
paragraphs. These tweaks can help you gain more Google love and even greater
relevance with your readers.
Take the time to
self edit in these particular areas before you publish your pet blog post:
- How compelling is your title? Have you used keywords? Do you
have a title that is relevant to your blog post content? Consider this title: “How
To Wash a Cat” sure, it tells you what the article is about but not much more
than that, now consider this: “Five Ways to Wash a Cat And Not Get Scratched.” Specificity
matters. - Hook the reader with your first sentence… with your first words.
Fiction writers understand the need to hook the editor and eventually the
reader with a well-honed first sentence. Bloggers need to hone that skill. - Be a go-to expert for your readers. What resources can you
include? What pet blogging experts can you tap into to enhance your blog post information?
What information can you share with your readers that has been posted by
experts in the field? - Know your audience. I’ve written about knowing your audience
before, but it bears repeating. Your readers are accustomed to your particular style, your writing voice/persona – humorous, straightforward, first person or third person point of view,
question style, etc. If your readers are responding to your style, stick with
it. If you find that you get more comments or shares of your blog posts when
you write a how to or a personal essay, you may want to lean more toward that
style of prose. - Online readers are different than offline readers. If a reader
picks up a magazine, he or she may be planning to settle in for a leisurely
read. A blog reader is likely looking for a “quick fix” of information. When
you consider that many readers may be checking your blog post from their smart
phone, brevity and short, easy to read paragraphs are key to keeping their interest.
Numbered lists, bullet points and subheads lead to readability.
How diligent are
you in your self-editing?
I find the “After the Deadline” WordPress plugin a helpful editing tool. It makes some bad suggestions. But because it stops and gives me one more chance to edit before a post publishes, I’ve caught things I otherwise miss.
Now if only I could get it for my blog comments. 🙂
Tools like Microsoft editing aren’t always 100% helpful — lol especially in my first sentence! but like you say, they highlight info and “make” you go back and re-read.
I always read my posts out loud a few times. Since I write everything in the voice of my sarcastic kitty, it helps me to “hear” whether I’ve got the voice right. And I really think she enjoys me reading it to her. ; )
~Glogirly
I take a lot of time editing my blogs, but get in a too much of a hurry when I am commenting. I am trying to take more time with my comments!
Very good points, Robbi!
applause!! I particularly LOVED this “Online readers are different than offline readers. If a reader picks up a magazine, he or she may be planning to settle in for a leisurely read. A blog reader is likely looking for a “quick fix” of information. When you consider that many readers may be checking your blog post from their smart phone, brevity and short, easy to read paragraphs are key to keeping their interest. Numbered lists, bullet points and subheads lead to readability.”
I always say that online readers are looking for a “quick fix”….not a book or a magazine
It is so true about online reading vs. offline reading. I know, because I do it myself.
I try to edit my post now on the next day. I write the post one day and then come back to it the next day and read it like it was my first time reading it.
I seem to find more things that need tending this way.
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It’s no secret that the publishing and film industries are getting tougher, with more submissions competing for fewer spots. By this your content will be viral and the bar has been raised, and first-time writers whose work would have been accepted a few short years ago might now be turned away at the door.