How To Write A Blog Post That Will Rank In 2025 Using Ahrefs?
Publishing a blog post is simple—just type a few hundred words and hit publish. But is it truly a blog post if no one reads it?
Anyone can write a blog post, but writing one that attracts readers requires more than just words.
In this guide, we’ll explore how to craft blog posts that actually engage readers.
Step 1: Choose a Relevant Topic
A solid topic is one that captures the interest of readers. If you’re already familiar with your niche, brainstorming topics should be a breeze. If not, a great approach is to identify what people are actively searching for. This indicates a genuine interest in the subject matter.
Here’s how to find popular topics using Keywords Explorer:
- Visit Ahrefs’ Keywords Explorer.
- Enter a keyword related to your niche.
- Navigate to the Matching Terms report and click on the “Questions” tab.
- Browse through the list and pick 5-10 topics that intrigue you.
It’s also useful to focus on topics with potential for significant traffic. Ahrefs’ Traffic Potential metric shows the estimated amount of search traffic you could gain if you rank for a particular topic.
Step 2: Determine the Post’s Angle
With millions of blog posts published daily, your content must stand out to attract attention. A unique angle is the key to distinguishing your post from the competition.
According to Julian Shapiro, there are five main types of novelty:
- Counter-intuitive: A surprising revelation that challenges common understanding.
- Counter-narrative: Offering a perspective that contradicts conventional wisdom.
- Shock and awe: Presenting an idea so astonishing it captures immediate attention.
- Elegant articulations: Expressing an idea so beautifully it resonates with readers.
- Make someone feel seen: A post that echoes the reader’s personal experience or beliefs.
Consider these angles when deciding how to approach your topic. Whether it’s personal experience, expert interviews, or data-backed insights, make sure your angle offers something fresh.
Step 3: Create an Outline
An outline is one of the most effective tools for organizing your thoughts and avoiding writer’s block. By starting with an outline, you’re essentially filling in the blanks instead of creating content from scratch.
If you’re unsure how to begin, use templates—many blog posts follow a similar structure. For example, a list-style post often looks something like:
- Introduction
- Main Points
- Conclusion
To build your outline:
- Leverage your expertise: Your experience in a field is invaluable when outlining content.
- Conduct a content gap analysis: Look at the top-ranking pages on your topic to identify any subtopics they cover. These can serve as useful H2s or H3s for your post.
Step 4: Drafting Your Post
Once your outline is prepared, the next step is to create the first draft.
When using Google Docs, a handy feature is transforming your headings into actual headings by selecting them in the “Styles” dropdown menu. This will also make your outline visible on the side:
With this, you can follow your headings as a guide while drafting. The goal here is to focus on writing the content without overthinking. Here’s the approach:
- Don’t interrupt your flow while writing.
- Allow your ideas to flow freely—don’t self-censor.
- Resist the urge to rearrange your outline too often for a better structure.
- Avoid rewriting a sentence multiple times in an attempt to perfect it right away.
It can be tempting to refine every detail, but remember that this stage is for getting everything on paper. Editing comes later, so give yourself the freedom to write without self-judgment.
If you’re finding it difficult to start, try the Pomodoro Technique: Set a 25-minute timer, write as much as you can, and then take a 5-minute break. Repeat the cycle. Tools like the Marinara Chrome extension can help automate this process.
Pro Tip: If you’re stuck at the intro, the PAS (Problem-Agitate-Solution) method can provide a useful framework:
- Present the problem.
- Deepen the concern by exploring its impact.
- Offer a potential solution.
Step 5: Editing and Refining Your Draft
“Writing is rewriting.” – Vladimir Nabokov
While writing the first draft is important, the true magic happens during the editing process. Once your draft is complete, it’s time to improve it.
To get the best results, wait a day or two before editing. This gives you a fresh perspective by removing the emotional attachment to your work.
During the editing phase, focus on the following:
- Run your draft through grammar-checking tools like Grammarly.
- Read your draft aloud to identify awkward or clunky sentences.
- Break long sentences into smaller, more digestible parts.
- Use formatting elements such as bullet points, headings, and images to enhance readability.
- Ensure smooth transitions and flow between ideas, adding connectors where necessary.
Pay special attention to your introduction—it’s the first thing readers will see, and it will influence whether they continue reading.
Once you’ve made these adjustments, seek feedback from someone else. If you have an editor, that’s great. If not, a colleague or friend can help. An outside perspective can spot logical flaws or awkward phrasing you might overlook.
When incorporating feedback, reflect on each point. Weigh the suggestions carefully—consider how they fit with your vision for the piece. But always stay true to your style and voice. After making revisions, review your work again and refine it until it feels right.
Step 6: Crafting a Captivating Headline
“Five times as many people read the headline as read the body copy.” – David Ogilvy
The headline is a crucial part of your post. It can be the deciding factor in whether someone clicks to read more. Spend time fine-tuning it until it grabs attention.
Instead of settling for the first headline you come up with, try creating a few variations to see which one resonates best. This iterative process can help you choose the most compelling option.
Tips for Writing Engaging Headlines:
- Use impactful words that trigger emotions.
- Consider adding parentheses for extra detail or intrigue.
Step 7: Optimize for SEO
Even if SEO isn’t your primary focus, making sure your content is discoverable can boost its reach. Here are some basic SEO practices to follow:
- Ensure your title reflects the main topic of the post.
- Write an engaging meta description that encourages clicks.
- Keep your URLs short and descriptive.
- Add alt text to your images to help search engines understand them.
- Link to other relevant content, both internal and external.
SEO plugins like Yoast or RankMath for WordPress can help streamline this process.
Step 8: Publish Your Post
Once everything is polished, it’s time to publish. Upload the post to your CMS (Content Management System). If you’re using Google Docs, Wordable can make the process even easier by allowing you to transfer content directly to WordPress.
Before hitting “publish,” take a final look to make sure everything is in order, then go ahead and share it with the world!
Step 9: Promote Your Post
Simply publishing a post isn’t enough—promoting it is essential for visibility. Use the following strategies to get your content noticed:
- Share it with your personal network (friends, family, colleagues, and social media followers).
- Email those mentioned in your post to let them know they’ve been featured.
- Share in relevant online communities, such as Facebook groups, Reddit, or forums. Just be sure not to spam.
Final Thoughts
Creating a blog post that engages readers may seem daunting at first, but breaking the process into manageable steps makes it much easier.
By following these guidelines, you can write content that is both informative and captivating. Now, it’s your turn—start drafting, refining, and sharing your ideas with the world!
