How to Write Your First Blog Post

It can be a daunting task to write your first ever blog post. Now that you have your very own blog, let's talk about the basics to kicking it off in style.

Think of your blog as a new acquaintance. What would you say to this person to introduce yourself in a way that would foster a relationship?

Keep it Short

Introductions need not be lengthy or wordy. Research shows that the average blog reader stays on one page for 96 seconds or less. People who find your site want to know who you are and why they should care. Limit your first posting to 250 words or less, and be as concise as possible.

Create a Memorable Headline

If your blog post headline doesn't grab the attention of the visitor and pique their interest, they're not likely to hang around to see what you have to say. Study blogs you enjoy reading and make a note of word choices and headlines that caught your eye.

Bad headline:"Make Good Bread."

Good headline:"5 Tips for Making the Perfect Loaf of Bread."

Make a List

Since people spend so little time checking out new blogs, make your site as readable as possible. Instead of wordy paragraphs, try making a bullet point list that sums up your objectives.

• Tell people who you are

• Explain what you'll be writing about

The Tease Can Please

Potential visitors need a reason to bookmark your site. You have to make strangers want to return and learn more about you. Once you've handled the introduction, give people a reason to come back. You can do this in many ways, including asking a question or hinting about what you'll write about next.

Bad endings:

• Talk to you tomorrow!

• More later.

• Maybe I'll write tomorrow and maybe not.

Good endings:

• Will you be here tomorrow? I will, and I'll have pictures of the new car I won!

• I'll tell you how I recovered from bankruptcy tomorrow!

• And that's why my son joined the Military. Do you have a similar story?

Help Your Audience Learn

Citing an interesting fact keeps people wanting to continue reading. Use only unheard of facts, unique data or shocking statistics. Teaching someone a lesson of value is something they remember.

Work the Close

The last few lines of your blog post are what will stick in the reader's head. Make closings powerful by tying into your first paragraph and presenting your guests with a complete thought. If applicable, ask your readers a question, which give them encouragement to return. Open the comments on your blog for discussion so that you can begin a dialogue with readers.

Now that you know how and what to do with your first ever blog post, it's time to get writing. What will you write about today?