This Is How Professional Bloggers Edit Their Posts
If you’ve read a blog post, you know it takes more than just good content to write a great one. Writing an engaging blog post requires creativity and careful editing.
However, as a newbie blogger, it can be daunting to know how to write and edit your blog posts to create engaging, informative, and worth-reading content. If you’re like most people, you probably hit the “publish” button as soon as you finish writing your post—without giving much thought to editing.
Professional bloggers, on the other hand, know that editing is the key to creating great blog posts. And in this world of online content, the difference between a good blog post and a great one can be a few good edits.
No matter how good you are at writing, it’s important to take the time to edit your posts and make sure they meet the standards of quality content. As a chief content editor of an online magazine IRL, here are my top tips for editing blog posts like a pro.
Tip #1: Take A Break between Drafting & Editing
The best way to edit your posts is to take a break between drafting and editing. Taking a break in between drafts allows you to come back with fresh eyes, giving you space and perspective on what needs improvement or elimination from your post. It also helps give your creative juices time to flow, and when you return, you will be able to better identify any weak spots in your writing and opportunities for improvement.
Many bloggers/writers have the tendency to edit while they write, but this can be a big mistake. Editing while writing can slow down your creative flow, and you may miss out on some great ideas or thoughts that could have been added to the post. Instead, focus on getting all your ideas out first and then take a break to edit later.
Well, that’s actually why the world needs a writer AND an editor, right?
Tip #2: Read out Loud
As many professional bloggers will tell you, reading your post out loud is the best way to spot typos or grammar errors. Reading out loud forces you to slow down and pay attention to each word, making it much easier to catch any mistakes or awkward phrasing that may be present in your post.
Not only does this ensure that all of the technical details are taken care of, but it also gives you an opportunity to improve the flow of the article by ensuring that all transitions are smooth and natural sounding. Reading out loud will also help you to identify any sections that are boring, redundant, or irrelevant and make necessary adjustments.
It may feel a bit silly at first, especially if you’re not used to it, but trust me — reading aloud is the best way to ensure that your post is top-notch. This simple step will help you eliminate any typos or grammatical errors that may have been missed if you had just skimmed through the text quickly. The more times you read it aloud, the better chance of catching any inaccuracies before you hit publish!
Tip #3: Get Feedback from Others
No matter how good of an editor you are, there is always someone else who can give useful feedback about your work. Whether it’s a friend or family member who knows something about blogging or someone who works in the same industry as you, getting an outsider’s opinion can be invaluable in improving your blog posts.
Getting feedback from others also helps identify any areas where further research is needed or additional information can help add value to the post. Plus, having someone else read your work can help ensure that all of your points are clear and easy to understand! Sometimes, your writing can be understood in a totally different way without your intention. Therefore, it’s always good to double-check with someone else.
No matter what kind of blog post you are writing, input from others can help make it even better and more effective. So don’t be afraid to ask for feedback—it can make a world of difference in the quality of your content!
Tip #4: Use An Editing App or Software
If you’re looking for a faster solution for editing your blog posts, consider using an editing app or software such as Grammarly or Hemingway. These apps can detect misspellings, typos, grammatical errors, run-on sentences, etc., allowing you to quickly identify potential issues in the text before publishing it online.
Additionally, these apps are great tools for improving the overall clarity of your writing by providing helpful suggestions on how certain phrases can be reworded more effectively or concisely.
For my editing (both at work and for my blogs), I personally use Grammarly, and it has been a lifesaver for quickly spotting any potential issues in my writing. But here, you have to remember not to rely entirely on any software or app while editing. Make sure to read through the post yourself and double-check afterward. At the end of the day, they are just apps using AI and other advanced technology to help you. You are the one who knows your content best and can make the most informed decisions.
Tip #5: Edit with Ogilvy In Mind
David Ogilvy was an advertising executive known for his creative campaigns and memorable slogans—but he also had some great advice when it came to writing copy for ads and other materials. He famously said, “On average, five times as many people read the headline as read the body copy. When you have written your headline, you have spent eighty cents out of your dollar.”
And my gosh, this advice is just as relevant for bloggers today!
Before publishing any post, make sure to spend some time crafting a catchy headline that will draw readers in and encourage them to click. This could be a clever play on words, an intriguing question, or something that simply summarizes the key points of your blog post.
Whatever you do, make sure it grabs attention! Nobody has all the time to read every blog post unless your headline makes them do.
My Thoughts
I always refer to myself as a magazine editor by day and a blog editor by night, and I cannot stress enough the importance of editing your blog posts. Not only does it ensure that you are putting out quality content, but it also helps you refine your writing and make sure all of your points are clear and easy for readers to understand.
Next time you write a blog post, make sure to take the time to edit it like a pro—your readers will thank you for it, your blog will thank you for it, and in the next few months, you will thank yourself for it, too!