Having the perfect layout is a critical thing when it comes to creating a blog post. Avoiding clutter and packing in the text will help the post’s readability and keep the pacing of the text in good order. Knowing where to insert key images can also keep the reader’s interest in the post.
It’s also worth bringing up the worst kept secret in layout design for a blog post: Writers are already using the perfect layout for their blogs, they just don’t know how to use it properly.
Remember, this isn’t about your blog’s curb appeal that HubSpot posts about in their 17 of the Best Examples of Beautiful Blog Design article, though that also helps. Instead, it’s more of fixing your blog to make the most of a perfect layout.
Follow The Same Template For Your Posts
The layout is the one thing that you shouldn’t make any revolutionary changes to with every blog post. This is because no matter how hard you try, your layout will always look best when organized the same way. That, and you lose brand consistency between posts with every change that you make.
The basic layout is as simple as your third-grade English teacher made it out to be: title, introduction, body, conclusion but with a couple of extra steps. The body can be as long as it needs to be and cover as many relevant things as you want it to. Templates are easy to get online too if you want some more rigidity.
Now for more of the fine-tuning optimization things for your perfect layout.
Put An Excerpt Statement Before Your Introduction
Keeping the reader reading is as easy as 1 – 2 – 3, or in this case, title – excerpt – introduction. Think of this excerpt as your blog’s subtitle. The title offers a problem that you didn’t know you had and the subtitle tells you why you have that problem. The overview of the solution comes in the introduction.
A reader won’t go for the solution unless they can relate to the possibility of a problem, so this excerpt in your layout keeps them going by providing something more relatable than being told they’re wrong. Once they get to the introduction and the body, then they see for themselves how to make their adjustments.
Use On-Topic And On-Brand Images
Pictures give your post “pop”. You should shoot for at least one in your blog post. For consistency, they should also be in the same places in each post.
Have a strong header image right below the title or introductory excerpt for your post to give a visual of what you’re going to be talking about. At the bottom, if you want another tie-in to your post, have a more personally marketable image that you could share on social media. Use Canva or another design tool to add your own branded flare to the image.
If your post is lengthier than normal, place an image near the middle of the post to give the reader a break from the text. As always, make sure the image is on topic. You don’t want a picture of apples if you’re writing about oranges.
Remember A Call To Action
This is an absolutely necessary part of every blog post that will ever be written and is part of what makes the perfect layout functional. The call to action can either be tied into the conclusion or under its own separate section at the end.
It’s the part of the post that encourages the reader to think about what they read and to tell them that you have more of the answers that they’re looking for.
Readers often click into a post, read what they need to from it, and never come back. The call to action might get them to sign up for your mailing list or take them to another post that can help them out.
Highlight Yourself At The End
This is another big thing that some blogs won’t include in their perfect layout.
The post’s byline will give the reader your name, but there’s nothing wrong with giving them a face to the name at the end of your post. This makes the writing a bit more relatable to the reader as well as lets them know a bit more about you and why you’re proud of writing to that audience.
Conclusion
The perfect layout has a beginning, middle and end but it’s making the most of that general layout that makes it perfect. So make sure to follow these steps to make sure you’re making the most out of your perfect layout:
- Follow the same template for your posts
- Put an excerpt statement before your introduction
- Use on-topic and on-brand images
- Remember a call to action
- Highlight yourself at the end
We’ve created a free handy guide for How To Set Up The Perfect Blog Post that you can print out and reference whenever you sit down to write your next blog post.
Just started publishing your blog posts? Start sharing them! In 5 Quick Tips To Promote Your Blog Posts Online, we share some quick tips to promote your blog posts through social media and newsletters.
