Behind The Blog: FAQ About Written Content

Posted January 31, 2023 by Prairie Wife -

As someone who has been blogging for almost a decade and has created thousands of pieces of written content, I understand how overwhelming this part of blogging can be.

Over the years, I’ve received dozens of messages asking the same questions about written content. So, I thought it would be helpful to put all those FAQs in one spot!

If there is anything else you’d like to know, let me know in the comments, I’d be happy to help.

Are you interested in growing your brand? Learn more about my one-on-one brand/business consulting here.

How long should a blog post be?

As long as it takes to get your message across. A blog post has no official “must do” word count. It’s all about getting your message across. Sometimes that can be done in 350 words, and other times it takes well over 1,000. My Prairie Wife of the Week Posts are very long because they’re typed interviews. On average, I would say most posts are between 600 – 800 words but don’t get stuck on those numbers.

How long will it take to write a blog post?

I’ll need to repeat myself here… Writing a blog post takes as long as it takes to get your message across. I would say, on average, I plan to dedicate an hour per blog post. But I’ve had years of practice sitting down and creating content. When I say an hour, I mean an uninterrupted hour where no phone calls come in, I stay off my phone, and there are no other interruptions. To be safe, I always budget two hours for writing a post to allow for interruptions. Rember, part of writing a blog post includes the time spent editing it and adding pictures!

Is it okay to use stock photographs?

Yes. I use stock photographs often (for example, there are some in this post). Take the time to search for ones that don’t just fit your content but enhance it. Make sure you use pictures showcasing people of varying ages, ethnicities, and abilities. Participating in a few lifestyle photo shoots is worth your time, so you have photos featuring you that you can also use. That way, you remain the face of your brand. I use 123rf.com for my stock photographs.

Is batching content an effective way to write for a blog?

If you have time to write and can create four quality articles in one sitting, I say go for it! If you have taken the time to map out your content for the month, why not take advantage of your planning skills? That being said, make sure these batched posts don’t turn into cookie-cutter posts that sound and look almost the same. Avoid this by mixing up topics, and take a look at what you’ve created a few days before it posts to make little tweaks.

What about posts that are in a series and cover the same topic?

Series posts are a great way to dive deeply into a valuable topic for you and your readers. For series posts, I think that three is the magic number. There are exceptions to the rule, but your readers will generally stop being excited for more after three posts. Make sure you keep the titles the same and label them clearly, so readers know which posts come first. Use links to direct them to the previous posts to keep them on track, and at the end of the posts, put the link to the next one in the series.

Are guest posts okay?

Absolutely! It’s a great way to educate your readers on topics you aren’t an expert in, and as your blog grows, it can add to your blogging income. It’s essential only to accept well-written content that fits your brand and be okay with saying no to posts that don’t match your mission. Make sure you give credit where credit is due, and clearly label guest posts and sponsored posts.

Feel free to leave any questions about creating content below in the comments.

Photo Credit (first photo): Krystal Brewer Photography

Categories: This and That

Tags: , behind the blog, blogging, content creation, creating content, FAQ questions about blogging, freelance writing, how to write a blog, written content