You have the perfect idea for a blog post, but you can’t seem to write anything at your computer. Consider writing a blog post outline first to help direct your content.
Then, you won’t have to worry about writer’s block or other issues. Here are some tips to help you write an outline and why outlines are so useful.
But first, this post contains affiliate links. Read my full disclosure policy to learn more.
Use an AI Tool
I’ve only tested writing one blog post with an AI tool, but I’ve used these tools a few times to help create a blog post outline. If I don’t know where to start, I’ll prompt a tool to draft a basic outline for the post topic I want to cover.
Most of the time, I’ll edit the order of the headings, and I may omit certain headings the AI suggests. But it’s still a great way to get over a bout of writer’s block and stop staring at a blank screen.
You can use a free or paid AI tool to help create your next outline. Then, you can use your knowledge of your blog niche to adapt the AI-generated outline to fit your content better.
Check Google Search
Another thing that can help you write a blog post outline is looking at what already appears in Google search results. Click on some of the top articles, and look at their outlines.
Don’t copy those outlines verbatim. Instead, take the more general ideas of those high-ranking posts, and put those concepts into your own words.
And unless you’re writing a tutorial post where steps have to go in a specific order, switch up the order. You can also get ideas for your own tips or steps to add to create a unique blog post outline.
Review Your Inbox
A blog post is a great place to answer questions related to the main topic of the article. You can add an FAQ section near the end of the post, and you can find some questions on Google.
But another amazing place to get questions is your email inbox and social media DMs. These are great because it’s where you’ll find questions that people have for you, specifically.
You can then answer their questions in a blog post. Whenever someone else messages you with that questions, you can refer them to the published blog post for more information.
Start With a Basic Structure
One thing I like to do is to create a basic structure for the different types of articles I write frequently. For example, I follow a very similar outline for every review I write and a different structure for every comparison post.
When you have those basic structures, you can fill in the blanks with each new blog post outline. That can help you save a lot of time as you publish more articles.
You can create a Google Doc with each of your outline structures. Or you could simply reference your most recent post, such as the newest review, to get an idea of how to outline your next one.
Consider Affiliate Links
If you use affiliate marketing to monetize your blog, keep that in mind when writing a blog post outline. I like to include one or two affiliate links in each of my blog posts.
That way, each article has the opportunity to make me money. Consider ways you can naturally incorporate your different affiliate links into your blog posts.
You may want to add an extra heading, for example. That way, you won’t have to force the links to fit in the content, and you won’t have to twist your writing to make the affiliate links work.
Don’t Forget Internal Links
Internal links are links that go to other blog posts or pages on the same domain. Almost all affiliate links are external links, which means they lead people away from your site.
If you want to use SEO, you need to use both types of links in your content. Be sure to consider any similar topics you’ve already written about on your blog.
Then, you can make note of any internal links you want to include and in what sections. I don’t always do this as I sometimes add the links as I write, but it can help to have a plan for links before you start to write.
List Any Media to Include
One of my other blogs has a heavy product review/buying guide focus. So it’s not uncommon for me to want to include photos or videos in the content on that site.
If I know I need to take a unique photo for a blog post, I’ll try to include that in the blog post outline. Then, as I go through and write the post, I’ll remember to take the photo and upload it to the article.
You may not always have an excuse to include media. But if you do, it’s a great way to break up long blocks of text, so it can help engage your readers.
Why You Need a Blog Post Outline
Knowing how to write a blog post outline is vital if you want to build a successful blog. Consider some of my favorite reasons in favor of using an outline.
Fight Off Writer’s Block
When it comes to my own blogs, I often write the outline a day or more before I write the actual post. Having an outline ready to go makes it a lot easier to sit down and create the content.
You won’t have to worry about writer’s block, so you don’t have to stare at a blinking cursor all day. Of course, writer’s block can make it hard to write a blog post outline, but that’s where AI tools can come in handy.
Save Time
Even if you don’t currently have any issues with writer’s block, starting with an outline can save you time. You won’t have to wonder about what to write next.
When you’re ready to sit down and write, you’ll have the structure ready and waiting. Then, you can just start typing and let the words flow onto the screen.
Cover the Topic in Detail
And you can make sure that you cover the topic in detail and not leave out any essential details. That way, you can provide as much value as possible to your readers.
Covering a topic in detail can also be a great hack to reach the top of search results. If the top results all miss some important step, you may have an easier time out-ranking those posts.
Final Thoughts
You should write a blog post outline for every article you want to publish. That way, you can keep from missing any essential steps or information.
And if you want to learn how to write your entire blog post for SEO, enroll in the SEO Content Writing Course.