Do you ever find yourself wondering how those successful bloggers seem to just somehow generate tonnes of engagement with little effort?
Are they just extremely gifted? – Maybe, but that’s only part of their success.
Blogging success is much more than just knowing how to write – there are a number of things that may go unnoticed on the surface but can truly transform your blog into an engagement magnet.
Read on to learn more about some of the best editing tips that are going to add a truck-load of power your blog posts.
This Is the Secret to a Successful Blog
If you believe that editing your blog content is just simply proofreading and grammar correcting, then you’re bitterly mistaken.
In truth, editing is mostly about removing the unnecessary fluff surrounding your article’s core message. Now many of you may think that your articles don’t contain any fluff. Think again…
An experienced editor can remove up to 25% of their content before publishing and blogging is no different; the secret to having a successful blog with engaging articles lies in the editing process.
Not a big writer? Hire an editor.
Let’s face facts; your strengths lie in the fitness industry and the service you offer your clients. Some fitness professionals are badass at giving their clients the best possible training, but when it comes down to writing content, they’re hit the wall.
If this sounds like you then don’t fear. Hiring an editor for your blog could end up being the best decision you’ve ever made.
Here’s where awesome blog editors can be found on a budget:
- Local Classifieds – do a local search on Google or check out Craigslist.
- Freelance Websites – have you ever hired on Upwork, or Digiserved?
- Fiverr – you’d be amazed what you can get for $5.
- Writing Service — you can use the help of professional writers to do the editing for your blog.
Writing your own content.
However, if you are confident in writing blog articles and believe you can edit your posts yourself, rather than outsourcing, that’s great!
Aside from proofreading for grammar and spelling, you need to learn some intermediate editing tips. Get started with these.
Tip No. 1: Remove unnecessary “padding” from your posts
What do we mean by padding? Well, padding is any phrase that begins with it is, it was, it won’t, it takes, here is, there is, or there will be. These sentences do nothing besides pad your article, toss these elements into the trash!
Examples: (cut out the words in red)
1. There are several tactics to ensure that your blog is well-written.
2. When writing a blog, you can start to create more engaging posts with powerful edits and hacks.
Now read these sentences back to yourself without the text in red. They now sound simple and straight to the point.
This tip will put you on the right path to creating strong blog posts.
Tip No. 2: Use powerful verbs
Verbs are great, but using weak verbs in your content confuse the reader and not deliver your message correctly.
Spotting a weak verb isn’t as hard as it sounds, actually. You can spot them by their impact.
Here are some examples to help…
Examples:
1. He Writes. instead of He is writing.
2. She thinks highly of herself. instead of She seems to think highly of herself.
3. They stay home. instead of They never go anywhere that could be considered worthwhile.
4. He chose the best option. instead of He had several options before he settled on this one.
Tip No. 3: Remove weak adjectives
Weak adjectives can be hard to spot by the untrained editor Look for the words “really” and “very” – this is where they often hang out (really tired, very cold).
Get rid of the weak adjectives and use a powerful synonym instead.
Examples:
1. …scorching instead of …hot.
2. …chilly. instead of …cold.
3. …emerald. instead of …green.
4. …at snail speed. instead of …slow.
Tip No. 4: Scour your sentences for fatty bits
Look at your blog post articles like your diet plan. Cutting out the excess fatty bits will benefit your blog massively.
Your readers have a short attention span; so don’t stuff their faces with more than they need. Read your content back and spot the fatty bits and burn them from your article.
Examples: (cut out the words in red)
1. Well, the truth of the situation is…
2. Each individual… Everyone…
3. …what it is that makes…
Tip No. 5: Stop using really, very, or extremely!
I get it – everybody wants to enhance their articles with descriptive words, adding more emotion to their content, but it’s actually harder to pull off than it looks.
I’ll keep this short and straight to the point; ‘really’, ‘very’, and ‘extremely’ are being overused in blog posts and it’s damaging your articles.
Instead of using one of the three descriptive traps above, switch it out for a more impactful word or simply remove the word altogether.
It will make your blogs a lot more professional.
Examples: (cut out the words in red)
1. Thursday’s homework was extremely difficult.
2. They really wanted to make the deadline.
3. So many people want to know.
Conclusion
It’s time to up your blogging game if you want to have a successful blog. These editing tips aren’t just any old tips, they’re used by professionals and will power your blog posts, just as they do theirs.
Before you hit the publish button, make sure your editor does their magic, or you take these steps:
- Remove expletives that provide unnecessary padding.
- Ensure the use of powerful verbs.
- Replace weak adjectives with impactful synonyms.
- Remove unnecessary verbiage.
- Delete the words “very,” “extremely,” and “really” where they aren’t necessary.
Following these steps will improve the readability of your posts.
So what are you waiting for? Try them out now, and see the difference.
