Have you ever published something and then, the next day, given it a quick read, only to spot a blatant error? Most people who read your content online aren’t going to care if you misspell some words, but they will appreciate that you made an effort. It only takes one slip-up for your reader to decide that you haven’t put in the effort necessary to merit their time and attention. To help you avoid this, we’ve consulted an experienced editing expert, and here’s all you need to know about editing your blog posts so that you can attract and retain readers.
Make editing your blog posts easier with these tips
Blogging requires constant learning and adjusting your content to meet your readers’ preferences. That’s why learning how to edit your work is a crucial skill if you want to become a successful blogger. Your high quality won’t be enough to attract readers if it comes with plenty of mistakes.
Therefore, your primary focus should be finding ways to edit your blog posts efficiently, especially when you first start blogging. Once you gather a crowd of readers on your blog, you can focus on other ways to improve it. For instance, you can research tips for reducing bounce rates, improving your SEO, and finding different ways to entice your visitors. But before you get to that, here are tips to help you edit your blog posts like a pro.
#1 Don’t rush to edit your post
If you’re in a blogging mood or in a rush to publish a post, you might complete writing and then jump right into editing. Occasionally doing this is fine. However, it’s best to let your post sit for a while before making any changes to it. If you can get away from your post for the night, that’s great. If not, a lunch break or even a coffee break would do.
After some time away from the computer, you may find that you have a clearer head and are better able to identify errors such as typos, grammatical faults, and other little but distracting issues. Because you won’t be as immersed in the text, you’ll be able to spot places where you may improve it by making additions, deletions, or rearranging paragraphs.
#2 Take a closer look at the content
Taking a look at the blog post’s actual content is the first stage in the editing process. Here, you should evaluate the scope of your blog article and confirm if you’ve given your readers a complete picture of the subject you’re writing about. Check if the post is written in logical and straightforward order and if you’ve repeated yourself on any occasion. You want to be sure that your post offers value to your target audience.
When making your initial edit, be as harsh as possible. Take advantage of this moment to improve mediocre blog content into one your audience will adore. Also, equally importantly, the one that does well in search engine results.
#3 Don’t be afraid to seek help
Having your blog entries edited by an expert can make a huge difference. An editor can help you format your content in a way that is more engaging and user-friendly, and they can also point out the parts of your posts that are particularly great. Plus, there are plenty of free tools available online to help you. Overall, it should make editing your blog posts much easier.
#4 Check readability
One of the most important things to check is the readability of your text. Is your post easy to read and understand, and can the average person read it without trouble? Also, double-check the length of your sentences and paragraphs. Keep in mind that both human readers and search engines like concise content.
That’s especially important today that mobile phone users make up the bulk of blog readers. Your reader’s mobile phone may make what seems like a wonderful paragraph on a desktop computer into an insurmountable wall of text.
Reading your writing aloud is the gold standard for determining its readability. If you read your work aloud, you’ll notice any parts that don’t sound natural or flow well. In addition, it will emphasize lengthy passages. Reading aloud forces you to focus on what’s actually on the page instead of what you expect to see when reading silently.
#5 Don’t forget to add a call to action
A call to action is an excellent addition to any piece of writing, so kudos if you remembered to include one in your draft. In case you haven’t come across the terms before, a “call to action” is an explicit request for the reader to take some action. It may say something like, “If you liked this piece, please share it.” or “Tell us what you think in the comments.” or essentially anything else that comes to your mind. The best place for CTA is at the end of your posts. That’s when your readers will decide where to go.
#6 Keep an eye out for common errors
There are some common mistakes writers make, so when proofreading your content, you should keep a lookout for these. After all, even the most skilled authors make a few blunders in their writing from time to time.
Besides doing a spell check, you should also pay close attention to the design and layout of your post. You must ensure they adhere to the guidelines you established when you first created your blog. Also, it’s important to use the appropriate terminology. Using the right words is essential to ensuring that your content is both informative and exciting.
Good luck editing your blog posts
We hope the tips from this article made editing your blog posts much simpler and more manageable. However, if you truly want to spare yourself time and effort while getting the best results in return, consider reaching out to an editing pro. They will make sure your articles are in great shape and have everything it takes for your readers to click on that subscribe or share button.
Author’s bio: Melissa Hendricks recently graduated in journalism and worked as a content writer at moverstech.com. She loves sharing her experience and valuable writing tips. Her hobby is hiking, so she enjoys camping with her boyfriend and exploring nature.