How To Write A How-To Blog Post

Guest post by Blog Manager Robbi Hess

If you’re like many people who read blog posts, it’s likely
because you want to learn something, right? In
a world crammed full of work,
life, spending time with family and pets, giving your time to a blogger and her
blog post is a gift. If you like to walk away from a blog post having learned
something or if you write blog posts and want your readers to walk away having
learned something, writing a great how-to article is the way to go.

Here are seven steps to penning a great how-to article for your
next pet blog post:

1. Choose a topic that you’re passionate about
   and one in which you have a deep understanding. If you’re uninterested
   with the topic, it will show through in your words and if you are unsure
   of the topic, your reader will walk away more confused than enlightened.
2. Choose a headline that lets your reader know
   exactly what he will learn, for example: How To Travel Cross Country With
   Your Cat, or Seven Steps To Make Your Blogs Sing.
3. Start your how to piece with an overview.
   Explain to the reader why you’re writing the how to and what your
   expertise. Explain who will benefit from the topic and how.
4. If your how to requires planning and
   preparation (How To Give Your Dog A Bath) explain what supplies are
   needed, how much time will be necessary, and any tools necessary. If your
   how to article will require your reader to have prior knowledge, you can
   either direct them to an article you’ve written previously or explain
   where they can get the prerequisite knowledge.
5. Pen your how to with the assumption that while
   your reader is eager to learn what you’re writing, she has no prior
   knowledge. What is obvious to you may not be obvious to the reader. For
   example, if you’re a master chef and are writing a How To Make The Perfect
   Biscuit blog post, assume that your reader will need exact measurements
   rather than “a pinch of salt” or a “pre-warmed oven.”
6. Use photos or videos, if possible, to
   illustrate your points. Write the how to in simple language and break the
   entire how to into easy to read bullet points or numbered steps.
7. Wrap up your how to blog post with a summary
   paragraph. Invite comments and success stories from your readers. Keep the
   comments open to those readers who may not have been successful at
   implementing your how to knowledge.

 What expertise do you posses that would lend itself to a how to pet blog
post?