{"id":100910,"date":"2017-11-22T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2017-11-21T13:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/problogger.com\/?p=100910"},"modified":"2017-11-26T16:55:43","modified_gmt":"2017-11-26T05:55:43","slug":"edit-your-blog-posts","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/problogger.com\/edit-your-blog-posts\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Edit Your Blog Posts Like a Pro"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"How<\/p>\n

It\u2019s every blogger\u2019s worst nightmare.<\/p>\n

Your latest post gets shared by a big-name blogger, and you start getting lots of traffic. Hurrah!<\/p>\n

But then someone sends you an email (or worse, leaves a comment) pointing out a <\/span>glaring mistake in the first paragraph.<\/span><\/p>\n

Mistakes can knock your reader\u2019s confidence in you. A study in the UK a few years ago suggested that\u00a0spelling mistakes might be costing businesses <\/a><\/span>millions<\/a><\/span>\u00a0of dollars<\/a><\/span>.<\/p>\n

Of course, editing isn\u2019t just about fixing typos and spelling mistakes. It\u2019s also about shaping your post so it\u2019s easy for readers to engage with. Even if your post is free of grammatical and spelling mistakes, you\u2019ll still lose readers if it takes forever to get to the point, or switches between topics too much .<\/p>\n

Perhaps you\u2019ve struggled to edit your posts effectively in the past. You may have spent hours tweaking them, only to feel the result wasn\u2019t much better than what you started with. Or maybe you think it simply takes too long.<\/p>\n

In this post, I\u2019ll explain how to create a simple checklist to help you edit<\/span>\u00a0\u2013 just like we do here at Problogger.<\/p>\n

Our Editing Process at ProBlogger<\/h2>\n

Every post we publish goes through the same streamlined editing process.<\/p>\n

Several members of the ProBlogger team write content (mainly Darren and me), and we also publish posts from our subject matter experts. This means we need a clear, step-by-step editing process that makes it easy for everyone to collaborate. and ensures all posts follow our style guide<\/a><\/span>.<\/p>\n

Part of our process is this checklist template, which we apply to every post in CoSchedule.<\/p>\n

\"How<\/p>\n

Even if you\u2019re the only person who ever writes for your blog, it still helps to have a clear editing process.<\/p>\n

Also think about where <\/span>you edit. If you\u2019re working with outside parties (e.g. guest posters or companies\/agencies providing sponsored content), you may want to use Google Docs like we do. You can collaborate with the author as you edit, and hand the post on to someone else who may be handling formatting and uploading.<\/p>\n

If it\u2019s just you, it\u2019s still important to have a self-editing process<\/a><\/span>. It could mean clearly separating your roles as \u201cwriter\u201d and \u201ceditor\u201d so you\u2019re not trying to edit as you write.<\/p>\n

I also recommend coming up with a checklist you can use again and again so you never\u00a0 have to worry about missing a crucial step when editing a post. Here\u2019s how.<\/p>\n

Creating Your Own Editing Checklist<\/h2>\n

You probably already have a process you work through when editing, whether you realise it or not. Open a blank document and type out the typical steps you go through. For instance, maybe you always add the formatting (subheadings, bold text, lists, etc.) when you edit, rather than while you\u2019re drafting.<\/p>\n

Now, see if anything is missing from your checklist. Here are some important things to include:<\/p>\n

#1: Introduction<\/h3>\n

Make sure your introduction has a hook, ideally in the very first line. <\/span>What will the reader gain from this post? Give them a clear reason to keep reading.<\/p>\n

Avoid overly long introductions. You\u2019ll lose readers when they’ve barely started on your post. One trick to try is to remove the first paragraph or two of your post entirely. Does it work just as well (or even better) without them?<\/p>\n

Further reading: <\/span>10 Tips for Opening Your Next Blog Post<\/a><\/span>, Darren Rowse<\/p>\n

#2: Subheadings<\/h3>\n

Unless your post is very short, add subheadings to break it into sections.<\/span>\u00a0This helps all your readers. Those who skim for information can quickly find the relevant parts of your post, while those who read every word won\u2019t feel lost in a sea of text.<\/p>\n

You should format subheadings by using a heading tag. Make sure the hierarchy is correct (i.e don\u2019t skip from H1 to H3). This is something we always check for here at ProBlogger.<\/p>\n

Further reading:<\/span>\u00a0How to Use Subheadings to Add Structure to Your Blog Posts<\/a><\/span>\u00a0, Darren Rowse with Ali Luke<\/p>\n

#3: Visual Breaks<\/h3>\n

Create white space in your post wherever possible.<\/span>\u00a0If you can put something into a bulleted list, do it. We also use the blockquote format to highlight key parts of a post. It gives the content more space, and makes it look more attractive.<\/p>\n

Images can also create useful breaks in your post. They\u2019re particularly useful if you\u2019re giving instructions on how to do something, because you can show readers how it should look at each step.<\/p>\n

Don\u2019t be afraid to use one-sentence (or even one-word) paragraphs. They can be tremendously powerful. Smart Blogger<\/a><\/span>\u00a0and Copyblogger<\/a><\/span>\u00a0both make great use of them in their posts.<\/p>\n

Further reading:<\/span>\u00a0How to Write a Great Paragraph<\/a><\/span>, James Chartrand<\/p>\n

#4: Extraneous Material<\/h3>\n

Delete anything that isn\u2019t relevant to your post, no matter how witty, clever, or well-written it is.<\/span>\u00a0If you can\u2019t bear to lose it completely, copy it into a \u2018snippet\u2019 file. You might be able to use it in a future post. (A great tip from Bill Harper<\/a>\u00a0who edits our posts.)<\/p>\n

If your post includes a lot of detail to get beginners up to speed (or to give experienced readers extra food for thought), consider linking to that information in other posts (yours or someone else\u2019s) instead. That way, you can give those who need more help (or want to go deeper) the information they need without everyone else getting bogged down in your post.<\/p>\n

This doesn\u2019t mean you can\u2019t write long posts. Some topics require more space to cover all the details. Just make sure every paragraph is necessary<\/span>.<\/p>\n

Further reading:<\/span>\u00a0ProBlogger FAQ: How Long Should Posts Be?<\/a><\/span>, Darren Rowse<\/p>\n

#5: Conclusion<\/h3>\n

Make sure your post has a conclusion.<\/span>\u00a0Some bloggers have a tendency to end their posts abruptly \u2013 especially if they\u2019ve written a list post. Remember, the last few lines of your post are an opportunity to leave your readers with a good impression. You can also give them a call to action, such as leaving a comment, sharing your post, or even buying your product.<\/p>\n

Like introductions, conclusions don\u2019t need to be long to be effective. But they do need to be there.<\/p>\n

Further reading:<\/span>\u00a07 Powerful Ways to End Your Next Blog Post<\/a><\/span>, Ali Luke<\/p>\n

#6: Complex Sentences, Phrases and Words<\/h3>\n

Read your post out loud. <\/span>Another great tip from Bill (that I don\u2019t have the patience to do myself). Are any of your sentences too long? (You shouldn\u2019t need to take a breath mid-way.) Are some a bit of a tongue-twister? Listen to how your writing sounds, and s<\/span>plit up or rewrite any sentences you struggle with.<\/span><\/p>\n

Look for words and phrases you can replace with simpler ones. For instance, don\u2019t say \u201cobtain\u201d when \u201cget\u201d works just as well.<\/p>\n

Further reading:<\/span>\u00a0Shorter, simpler words: Guide to concise writing<\/a><\/span>, KingCounty.gov<\/p>\n

#7: Links to Other Posts<\/h3>\n

Linking to other posts on your blog is always a good idea. <\/span>And not just for the potential search engine benefits. It also helps new readers dig more deeply into your body of work,\u00a0and increases the chances they\u2019ll stick around.<\/p>\n

As you edit, look for opportunities to include a link to a post in your archives. Consider linking to other blogs too. It shows readers that you read and research in your niche, and can be a great way to build a strong relationship with fellow bloggers.<\/p>\n

Further reading: <\/span>Why Interlinking Your Blog Posts is a Must (and Not Just For SEO)<\/a><\/span>, Daniel Vassiliou<\/p>\n

#8: Before Publication<\/h3>\n

You may want to include this step as part of your editing checklist,<\/span>\u00a0or create a separate checklist for \u2018uploading\u2019 or \u2018publishing\u2019 blog posts. (It\u2019s particularly useful if you work with a virtual assistant.)<\/p>\n

Depending on your theme, and how you like to format your posts, it might include things like:<\/p>\n