What are the key elements of a compelling blog post that attracts and retains attention?

First stay targeted or focused on who are the personas/audience if you want repeatability. The title should be catchy/relevant if you want new readers . Next , it is important to get to in first paragraph/lines what is in it for them : why should they care to read it? Or, what problem are you solving for them? Many blogs start to describe the product and services, their features etc and that can really go to docs/website, blog should be about what problem is being solved and how in some cases (if a technology blog) or how the solution can be effectively implemented with some common scenarios.

Purpose starts with understanding WHAT you do, WHO you serve and HOW you serve. More clear you are, the better in having content that not only educates but inspires. Stick to what you know!

It is OK - in the very beginning - to start with a broad audience in mind. And use those initial posts to get the data on what resonates and with whom. And then dial down into the niches. And then continue seeking data.

Don't just start writing a blog post without having an idea of what you're trying to achieve and to whom you're passing across your message to. Know your purpose! define it it clear terms.

Whenever I start a new blog post, the first thing I visit is my audience and specifically which persona within my audience will be looking for that blog post. It goes so much deeper than just "here's a message I want to share" and into "here's the information they are looking for." I also evaluate what that blog post is going to contribute to my blog as a whole: where does it sit? Does it fill a gap somewhere, or does it just repeat the information my audience already knows? Repetition is okay, but I prefer if it adds a new perspective. That way, no matter what, I know my audience is walking away from that blog post feeling like they have a deeper understanding of the subject as a whole.

I think it's important to remember, here in 2023, that articles need to be more than their headline. Personally, I am quite tired of getting snagged by a great one-liner that has zip to do with the actual meat of the article. Make it catchy, but also make sure it's relevant.

This cannot be a bait and switch. Using AI tools is OK but double check to make sure that the headline actually reflects what the blog post is about! It cannot be using a trendy or controversial topic to generate views!

Love coschedule! Use it for SEO friendliness and to make sure the headline is powerful and emotional. Headlines have to spark interest so thinking in terms of SEO helps a lot

With reducing attention spans, you have lesser than 30 seconds to catch the attention of your reader. And the only way you can do it is through your headline and the introduction. Your headline should have the ability to stop the user from scrolling. It should directly address the problem you are trying to solve. Complement your headline with a meaty blog post loaded with information and you have a dedicated reader for life..

A hook is good. If the hook can be followed up with substance. A story with a twist. A trending topic with a not so well known fact.

The biggest hook for your readers is to answer their question. People sometimes tell me that you have 1-2 seconds to earn a reader's trust on your site, but that's not true. Once they clicked on that link, they already trust your site. You have 1-2 seconds to prove them right. I like to start my blog posts with a little bit of an anecdote that shares my experience with the blog post, but I make sure I lead off with the answer they want right away. I don't make them read through the entire blog post to get their answer.

People sometimes ask me how long their blog posts should be. I know there are some guidelines and statistics about the blog posts that rank tend to have XXX words and things like that, but there really isn't a best length. The way I like to tell my clients is "use as many words as you need, and not one word more." Essentially, make sure you have a complete blog post, with all the relevant information it needs to deliver your message. Then go back, cut the fluff, and make sure it's concise. If your content is engaging and continues to deliver answers, people will read the whole thing.

By adding resources related to the blog topic to help the readers learn more, you will do a great service to them. It conveys to the readers that you value other bloggers perspective and don't try to lock the readers to just your perspectives. It will make your readers feel wanting to follow you and subscribe to read your blogs regularly.

I still fall victim to reading what I think I wrote instead of seeing the letters on the actual screen, only to hit publish too early and find all those embarrassing typos after the fact. It has nothing to do with writing or spelling ability and everything to do with confirmation bias and just the fact that we think we know what we wrote. It's even easier to make a mistake when you're writing on a subject you know well because your fingers just fly across the keyboard as if on autopilot. Definitely take some time to give your eyes a break and come back to proofread your blog post, or hire a proofreader, before you hit that publish button. It will save you the embarrassment of having to fix it later.

Ensure your blog has some visual elements, such as pictures or arts and videos. A quick video that summarizes the blog topic will help the readers on the go to get a quick glimpse. And that helps them to bookmark and read your full blog later.