Are you like me? You do a fantastic job for your clients and then let your own stuff (like blogging for yourself) slide? ProBlogger and Divine Write have teamed up with a terrific new tool for bloggers that want to improve: a scorecard.
One of my goals last year was to become a better blogger. When I made that goal, I failed to be specific as you’re normally supposed to be when setting goals. The result? I have become a better blogger in that I now blog much more often than I used to. However, I tend to forget about finicky little details such as:
- Adding tags and categories (though they don’t necessarily improve blog writing, they do help for SEO and organization)
- Using keyword phrases in titles and headings
- Formatting for readers who like to scan for tidbits and tips (blog and online readers like lists such as this one)
It’s funny because I know better. When I write for my clients, I pay attention to these details. So, I have a new goal: Improve blog writing by scoring blog posts in over 60 different areas. A few weeks ago, I purchased ProBlogger’s The Copywriting Scorecard for Bloggers which really drove home the importance of better blogging as well as provides a detailed scorecard designed to improve blog posts.
My Experience Using ProBlogger’s Blog Writing Advice
It’s rare for me to print out an eBook, scribble notes in it, and read it several times but that’s what I did with this one. I love workbooks that make you think and then prompt you to act. The first blog post I did using the scorecard scored a 75 out of a possible 100.
I lost points for several reasons:
- I should have told a story
- I should have indicated that I understood the reader’s situation
- I should have linked using active language
After that initial score, I went back and looked at all areas where I lost points and changed the post. End result: a better post and a score of 96 out of 100. I don’t really agree on some of the scoring points such as using sentence case for subheadings and I’m not one who uses metaphors a lot, so I left some parts alone. I liked the changes and I think the blog post (it’s on a different blog than this one) is much better for all of ProBlogger’s tips.
Improve Blog Traffic and Interactivity
The eBook goes beyond how to improve blog writing, too. It covers SEO as well as writing. In addition, it discusses making your blog more interactive for readers. For example, have you ever wondered why your blog readers don’t comment? Same here. And so did the eBook’s authors Darren Rowse and Glenn Murray. Their discovery makes sense: Have you asked people to comment? Duh! It’s like asking for the sale in sales (Can I schedule that for you today?).
Recommendation: Improve Blog Writing Along with Me
I found this eBook to be extraordinarily useful and recommend it wholeheartedly. For about $30, I received the motivation and information I need and a nifty little scorecard to quantify my efforts. I know this eBook will improve my blog writing and am so impressed that not only did I sign up to be an affiliate, I plan on buying ProBlogger’s other eBook (31 Days to a Better Blog) in a few days. By the way, on this blog post, my initial draft scored a 77; this version right now is a 91.
So if you’re like me and want to improve blog writing or want a blogging system that can lead to a more consistent style and better traffic, purchase the Copywriting Scorecard for Bloggers. I’d love a blogging buddy to take turns scoring each other’s blog posts as well.
Have you used the Scorecard for Bloggers to improve your blog writing? Share your experiences in the comments section below.
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