What Have You Taught Me Lately?
Bloggers are always teaching or learning something. Blogs are filled with ways to promote a blog, to build a brand, to install a new plugin. When we get a new program, instructions come with it. Sometimes we follow them. Sometimes they work. Sometimes big parts of them seem to be missing.
How-to blogging teaches something.
A how-to post could be as simple as how to a make a sandwich or as complicated as how to turn your computer into a host server for WordPress.
People read how-to articles because they want to be learning.
Therefore: Nothing is worse than a how-to post that skipped a step.
I hate information that has holes in it.
Stomping Out Swiss Cheese Knowledge
We’ve all read that set of directions. You know the one. It gave us most of what we needed, but something was missing. It’s was like getting a kit that was missing one screw. Without that part, we can’t put final product together. In no way does this endear us to the writer.
Incomplete how-to articles offer Swiss Cheese Knowledge. I’ve got plenty of that in my head already. In a how-to article, I prefer cheddar. Use this checklist to avoid offering readers cheese that has holes.
Bloggers How-to Content Editorââ¬â¢s Checklist
- Does the post say what the article will teach?
- Does the post give a clear reason readers will want to learn it?
- Are the steps or ideas in the order they will be completed or used?
- If it’s appropriate, are the steps or ideas written as imperative sentences and numbered?
- Is each step or idea clear, concise, and understandable?
- Does the post provide detailed and complete information?
- Is the tone confident and supportive so readers new to the topic feel they have a chance at succeeding?
- Is the word choice appropriate for the audience?
- Are technical terms explained when they need to be?
- Is there a summary of what was taught?
- Does the summary predict the benefits readers will enjoy if they actually try what the article teaches?
After you write a how-to post, use this checklist. You’ll find making your how-to complete much easier using it — as easy as counting 1, 2, 3 is. Offer readers complete information on how to do what they want learn, and you can bet they’ll be back to see you for more, and then more after that.
Quality writing and quality content is the cornerstone to a quality brand. What better promotion is there than giving your readers what they’re looking for?
Will join the crusade to stomp out Swiss Cheese Knowledge?
–ME “Liz” Strauss
If you would like Liz to help you with your writing, check out the Work with Liz!! page in the sidebar.
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hei Liz,
i just revived a blog that i have initial thoughts of abandoning because i could think about any thing concrete to share. that was until the other day when a friend asked for advise on how to start a blog. I realised that there are so many people out there that have no idea on how to create a blog. So i wrote a series of article Titled :” Blogging in Bloggers – A beginner’s guide.”
It is all written in layman’s term, as i am no expert myself, with guidance to each and every step on starting a blog using Bloggers which I consider the easiest of all.
If I’m not asking for too much, maybe you can have a look see and give me some suggestions on how to further improve on it.
Thanks.
Hi Ah Pek,
I’ll come look! Email me so that I remember to do so tomorrow. I have to finish something for a deadline before I go to sleep tonight. 🙂
AH PEK ..
HART!
Ah Pek .. oop / I was going to offer a suggestion how to ‘further improve on it’ … regarding your old site renamed to “The Amatuer Blogger” ..
1) Spelling of names, people, titles and occupations. For blogs that try to name their blog or fill their text with mispellings are like spam in my eyes. And yes – mispelling is a big part of search engines – I know. But, I would be weary of someone trying to assist amateur bloggers with your Title. Just my 2 cents.
Hi Liz .. I was debating whether or not to say anything in #4 – but, didn’t erase everything – so, hence #5. Are we on tonight?
You bet we’re on for tonight!
Jason Boog did a big write up on it!
http://www.thepublishingspot.com/2006/07/feel_free_at_the_virtual_patri.html
Of course I have it on the front page too. 🙂
dear hart,
thanks for bringing to my attention about the spelling mistake. It was a genuine mistake and I had no intention of misleading any saerches to my blog. Thanks again.
Hi Ah Pek,
That was a gracious reply to a gentleman’s help.
I like the way people treat each other on this blog.
ah pek // I’m glad you aren’t mad – was just trying to help and telling you like it is .. fortunately, that’s an easy thing to fix, eh? Name change in options .. graphic in Adobe .. etc etc.