How to Write a Kick-Ass Blog Outline
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The document provides a comprehensive guide on writing an effective blog outline, detailing the importance of outlining, style guides, and various SEO considerations. It emphasizes efficiency, consistency, and using visual assets, while providing actionable steps and resources for creating a structured outline. Additionally, it includes best practices for editing and formatting to enhance productivity and engagement.
How to Write a Kick-Ass Blog Outline
- 1. HOW TO WRITE A KICK- ASS BLOG OUTLINE @MaddyOsma n
- 2. HELLO I am Maddy Osman I’m an SEO Content Strategist for Search Engine Journal, Sprout Social, WPMU DEV, and a bunch of other companies. You can find me at @MaddyOsman on Twitter. You can read my articles at The-Blogsmith.com/portfolio Slides Carnival provided the designs for these slides.
- 4. WHY SPEND TIME ON OUTLINING? ∎ To save time. ∎ To find focus and set intentions. ∎ To create a distraction-free drafting experience. @MaddyOsma n
- 5. THE IMPORTANCE OF A STYLE GUIDE ∎ Avoid fixing time-consuming stylistic errors. ∎ Creating consistency to build trust. ∎ Create a basis for self-editing. ∎ Most clients want you to follow one, so it helps to be used to it. @MaddyOsma n Download resources from this class for later as a handy PDF at the-blogsmith.com/kick-ass-outline
- 7. SEO CHECKLIST @MaddyOsma n Download resources from this class for later as a handy PDF at the-blogsmith.com/kick-ass-outline 500 words Target keyword used 3x+ Target keyword used in 1+ subheading Use secondary keyword 1+ times Use secondary keyword in subheading (if possible) Introduction to the topic And A short conclusion with a call to action at the end to purchase a specific product on the (tanks that get around) website 1 royalty-free feature image (with a link to the original source) - try Flickr Creative Commons 2+ internal links 2+ external links to high quality/relevant sources
- 17. BASIC IMAGE USE GUIDELINES ∎ High-resolution: no fuzziness. ∎ Legal to use. ∎ Relevant to the article. @MaddyOsma n
- 18. USING IMAGES IN YOUR OUTLINE DOCUMENT ∎ Paste it so you can see how it looks ∎ Add attribution @MaddyOsma n
- 19. LEAVE DIRECTION FOR GRAPHIC DESIGN @MaddyOsma n
- 20. FREE ∎ Librestock ∎ Pixabay ∎ Unsplash ∎ Pexels ∎ Flickr Creative Commons ∎ Giphy ∎ Youtube WHERE TO FIND VISUAL ASSETSPAID ∎ Envato Elements ∎ GraphicStock ∎ Depositphotos @MaddyOsma n
- 22. SEO CONSIDERATIONS ∎ 2+ external links per 500 words ∎ High-authority industry website: current within a year or two of publication ∎ Don’t cite a competitor (without a good reason) @MaddyOsma n
- 24. CREATING AN EXPERT SOURCE REPOSITORY FOR YOUR INDUSTRY @MaddyOsma n
- 25. AUTHORITY/SUBJECT MATTER EXPERT ∎ This is Search Engine Journal for SEO. ∎ Or, Social Media Examiner for Social Media Marketing. ∎ If unsure, check for a Domain WHAT DOES THIS ADD TO MY ARTICLE? TIMELY ∎ Some industries change fast. ∎ Look for a publish date of 1-2 years ago at most LINKING ∎ A lot of people link to them. @MaddyOsma n
- 27. OUTLINING LIKE A #BOSS ∎ Don’t write blocks of text. ∎ If you copy anything directly, mark it in red. ∎ Don’t call out the obvious/talk around a subject. ∎ Make the client the hero. ∎ Don’t assume people know something—explain it. Overexplain. @MaddyOsma n
- 28. IF YOU GET STUCK... ∎ See what other people are saying: □ Search with “topic + best practices” or “topic + how to” ∎ Find inspiration—but don’t steal! ∎ Can help you flesh out statistics, quotes, case studies. @MaddyOsma n
- 29. OUTLINE FILE ORGANIZATION ∎ Client’s name in title ∎ Create a folder for every client in Google Drive ∎ Make a copy when you’re ready to write @MaddyOsma n
- 31. SUCCESS TIPS JUST WRITE Don’t aim for perfection. DON’T OVERTHINK IT Add in a placeholder when you can’t think of the perfect word. ADOPT THE POMODORO METHOD Intense focus can skyrocket your productivity. @MaddyOsma n
- 32. ALL ABOUT EDITING DO A ONCE OVER Before submitting a document to a client, or publishing an article on your website. READ IT OUT LOUD This makes it easy to fix awkward phrasing. IS IT INTERESTING? To you? What about your target audience? @MaddyOsma n
- 33. THANKS I am Maddy Osman I’m an SEO Content Strategist for Search Engine Journal, Sprout Social, WPMU DEV, and a bunch of other companies. You can find me at @MaddyOsman on Twitter. You can read my articles at The-Blogsmith.com/portfolio SlidesCarnival provided the designs for these slides.
- 34. HOW TO WRITE A KICK- ASS BLOG OUTLINE Grab it FREE on Skillshare: https://skl.sh/2rlJnCq But make sure to use it! ∎ Only 50 codes ∎ Only valid until December 31, 2017 @MaddyOsma n
Editor's Notes
- #5: To save you time in the long run/find focus and direction Set your intentions - get everything together to provide for distraction-free drafting
- #6: stylistic mistakes are some of the most time consuming to fix - better to have someone trained to understand your content’s style. Use yours based on stylistic notes clients seem to keep having… or base it on AP Style - one of the most common styles in journalism (source? develop) How does this make things easier? More consistency and stylistic rules to check yourself. Most clients will have certain SEO and style specifics they want you to adhere to. If you, you can use these.
- #11: If the client provided a brief or any specifics on what they want, add it in for reference. The goal is to make this document as useful as possible. Add also Internal/external links listed within for SEO
- #12: You’ll probably have to add this in if you’re going to be uploading directly to their CMS, like WordPress. So knock it out during this step. Also, twitter handles of companies mentioned within the article. Even sample social copy.
- #13: I separate this section into the problem, solution, and reveal to hook the reader. The problem connects with them. The solution shows them that the article can solve their issue, and the reveal starts to hint at how
- #14: This provides the basic structure of the article, helping to provide it’s basic shape. The bullets beneath subheadings further define this structure, providing specific points to cover in your article draft/final piece. Repeat according to desired article length--I usually want to see 1 subheading for every 100-200 words to have enough content to write my final article. incorporate keywords but aim to describe the nature of the following content One per up to 300 words (yoast) I try to do 100 words Create consistent formatting - dont link in subheadings
- #15: assume 2-3 sentences per paragraph Keep bullets short - you’re not writing the article yet (but follow inspiration if you have it at this stage) Supporting Information - next slide personal stories/quotes, case studies or testimonials statistics opinion
- #16: Mirrors the introduction. Retstaes the problem and key points, then ends with a call to action. Problem (or fear/desire) Key actionable points Call to action This CTA is important, because it provides an invitation for readers to take the next step - subscribe, make a purchase, etc. You might also take this opportunity to invite the reader to leave a comment with their opinon on the topic, or tweet at you.
- #18: Feature Images + Screenshots/Examples throughout
- #19: Feature Images + Screenshots/Examples throughout
- #21: I buy DepositPhotos deals through AppSumo. Elaborate: Envato Elements (lots of great reusable stuff in a huge library - “library” describes it well Flickr CC Gifs ? Videos - impact on SEO
- #23: Tools: Soc’d and Airstory
- #24: Google Trick
- #25: https://sites.google.com/site/theblogsmithva/general-guidelines/expert-sources
- #26: Define an expert source high authority on the topic (could check to see if domain authority is over 30) basically a lot of people link to them (can look for social proof) Sources should also be timely, depending on the topic. For digital marketing, anything form 2015 is more or less already outdated
- #28: Only interesting and actionable bullet points. Like overexplaining something in an awkward way Example?? find a way to relate it to the client’s business even if it’s just a relevant CTA at the end.
- #31: Link to blogging skillshare class in resources
- #32: Just write - don’t aim for perfection. Connect your ideas from the outline into something that has more flow. Not sure the perfect word to use? Don’t waste time on synonyms - just add in a placeholder. Use the pomodoro method/tomato timer to force your focus and get as much done as possible in a short amount of time Remember that you’ll still go back in for editing - our next lesson
- #33: For your first pass of the document, aim for content over proper grammar. I usually go in a second time to focus ONLY on editing. Read over your final outline/article AT LEAST ONCE before submitting it to the client Read it once out loud to make sure what you've written makes sense. This is a great way to find awkward phrasing that is hard to catch by silent reading alone. Ask yourself is this something you would read/find interesting? If not, what can you change to make it so? Ask yourself if this is something that will resonate with the target audience of the article. If you're writing an OUTLINE - ask yourself, "Did I include enough information so that I don’t need to look for more to complete the article?" Create an editing checklist?
- #35: Social share buttons (i think I have a blog post about these) Click to tweet Optimize for pinterest