You’ve set up your blog. You have your editorial calendar planned. You’re ready to write — but you’re not quite sure if your content is the very best it can be. In the content writing world, you’ll often see the term “high quality content.” It’s a term that can sound incredibly vague. Here’s what it actually means.
High quality blog: a definition
For the sake of content writing and SEO, a high quality blog is one that:
- Is informative and provides value to the reader
- Looks good and is easy to read
- Is well-written
Provide value & information
The goal of any blog is to provide information — as long as you have a clear topic and you cover all the important bases, you’re on the right track. Value goes one step further: the goal is to leave the reader with insights, tips, or action steps that they can start using in their life.
Formatting & readability
Humans are visual creatures, and we like things that are easy on the eyes. Here are the formatting techniques that make a blog easier to read:
- Avoid big blocks of text. Keep your paragraphs short and sweet — just a few sentences when possible.
- Keep sentence lengths varied. Mix up your sentence lengths. Your writing will feel off if they’re all the same. Short. And punchy. Like this. Then longer when you need to make a more nuanced point that benefits from a bit more room to breathe.
- Use statement sentences. One-liners that float between paragraphs. They stand out, much like a statement accessory.
- Add headers where appropriate. Headers break up text visually and are great for SEO. Use H2 and H3 headers to incorporate targeted keywords.
- Use transitional punctuation. Ellipses (…) and em dashes (—) create variety and a sense of intrigue that keeps readers engaged.
- Write in an active voice. “She is wearing a blue sweater” (active) is clearer and more direct than “The sweater is being worn by her” (passive).
Good writing
Content writing is more human and casual than academic or technical writing — so you can have fun with it. Make sure your content aligns with your brand voice so it feels consistent across your website, social media, and email marketing. Aim for writing that’s engaging, interesting, and has correct spelling and grammar.