If you are looking for ways to create a blog that is rich in content and full of engaging and interactive photos and stories, then there are several different to do this. We will go offer some general tips here, but for a more in-depth guide it is recommended you follow a step-by-step tutorial like the guide to creating a blog for beginners from Blog Starter. Creating a content-rich blog will not only keep your visitors happy, but they are also much more likely to visit your site in the future. A good starting point is to think about what you would like to see when you visit somebody else’s blog? Are you more inclined to visit sites that have plenty of photography and images? Or do you prefer a decent mix of text and interactive content, such as videos, photos, and polls?
Finding the perfect balance between content and text is no easy task, but when you know what to do things will quickly fall into place. Think of your blog as your own personal storyboard, where you get to share everything you love with like-minded people. So, if you’re ready to discover how to build the perfect content-rich blog with lots of photos and stories then let’s begin.
The Homepage Is Your Book Cover
Think of the home page as being the cover of your book, and your book is your blog. It should be visually appealing from the get-go and allow people to understand what your blog is about without needing to search any further. You should aim to select a cover photo that represents what your blog is about. Your home page sets the tone for the entire blog, so work on your color scheme to be as enticing and memorable as possible.
Below your cover image, you should provide a brief introduction to your site and what it’s about. You should aim for around 200 to 300 words, keep it brief and to-the-point. Highlight the main things that your blog it’s all about, remember a picture can tell a thousand words, so select your images carefully. If you have a blog about fashion and lifestyle it would make no sense to feature images of tractors. Everything should tie together nicely, so ensure that your photos match the content that you are writing about.
Ensure that you have an easy-to-navigate menu system at the top of your page. It is also a good idea to integrate social media share buttons, as this is a great way to help your sight engage more visitors and go viral. Try to keep things as clean and neat as possible, as there is nothing worse than a messy homepage. After all, your homepage sets the tone for the entire site, and if it is messy or disorganized then people are less likely to visit other pages. You should always ensure that you preview what you have written before you publish it, this helps you guarantee that the layout is perfect and that what you have written makes sense.
A Picture Tells a Thousand Words
As noted above, a picture can tell a story of its own. You should always make sure that the images you use are relevant to what your blog is about, or what it is you’re talking about. People love images, so providing plenty of visual stimuli can help keep visitors engaged. If you don’t have access to your own photographs or images to use on your website or blog, you can use stock photography. There are plenty of websites online where you can get free access to professional and high-quality stock images.
One of the best stock image websites to use is Pixabay. While images are important, your words are what will bring them to life. If you have a picture of a cute dog wearing a Christmas outfit, there would be no point in talking about how to grow potatoes. The two just do not go together well. Think of the words that you’re writing as your story, and the photos you choose to use as the pictures that show you what’s happening or what you mean.
Think of Each Blog Post as a New Chapter in Your Story
You should try to connect all of your blog posts together, this helps take the reader on a journey through your site that connects easily. If you use a site such as WordPress to publish your blog, then you should always set a featured image for your post. The featured image should relate to what you have written about and let the reader know what they’re about to read without having to read any texts at all. You should always use internal links to connect each page together, as this allows the reader to skip to the information that they most want to read about.
When writing, you should aim to have one image for each paragraph that you produce. These do not have to be full-sized images, but simple visual stimuli that help reinforce the story that you are telling. The best way to engage visitors with the content you have produced is to follow a left-right-left image. This means that for the first paragraph you wrap the text around the image to the left, the second paragraph, the text is wrapped around the image to the right third the third paragraph the text is wrapped around the image to the left again, and so forth until you finish your post.
Write Your Posts in The First Person
People can connect on a deeper level if they feel like you are talking directly to them. By this, you should choose to use first-person pronouns such as I, you and we. If you are trying to share your story of a trip to Venice with those who are looking for information because they are going to visit there soon, then you are going to better interact with them by using statements such as “I recommend” and “you will love” instead of “some people find” or “that person loves.” This is because people appreciate experience with a personal touch, and like it when they feel like they are being personally spoken to.
Using a passive voice is also a good idea, as it comes across as friendly and personable. Try to remember to take as much photography when visiting places, especially if you intend to write about them. While you can choose to use stock photography, using your own unique and individual photos will fit better with the story that you are writing. Video is also an amazing way to make your site content-rich, and you can upload your video files do a hosting site such as YouTube or Dailymotion. These can then be embedded into your blog post to truly bring your stories to life.
Choose Your Font and Writing Styles Carefully
You may think that it looks cute to write your blog post using the comic font or a romantic script font. Remember, the many people are viewing your blog on handheld mobile devices, which can make certain fonts difficult to read. If your text is difficult to read, then you are much more likely to lose your visitors attention, which is not what you want. You should also keep syntax in mind.
Syntax basically means the structure of your content. Aim to keep paragraphs to around five or six sentences long at a maximum. Each paragraph should be evenly spaced, and images should be added that fit in with the context. People are naturally drawn to symmetry, so creating a visually pleasing blog post will help keep your visitors engaged. Symmetry also makes your blog look professional and well-thought-out. If you place too much information in one block text, then you are much less likely to engage your visitors.
The Bottom Line
Remember the following to guarantee that you create a blog that is rich in content and engaging for your visitors.
- Select new and fresh images that fit the context of your site.
- Write about what you know and do it well.
- Consider those using mobile devices as well as a home PC.
- Avoid clutter, keep things clean, clear, and simple.
- Begin each blog post with the relevant information to engage your visitors.
- Don’t be afraid to use video to bring your stories to life.
- Always write as if you were talking to people you already know.
So there you have it, some quick and easy ways to create a blog site that is rich in content, well laid-out, and engaging for your visitors. Remembering the simple rules will help you create a blog that people enjoy visiting, and will guarantee that they return time and again.