Famous Bloggers

How To Blog and Start a Business

Home » The Famous Blog » One Simple Change You Can Make To Improve Your Blog Post In Under 5 Minutes

One Simple Change You Can Make To Improve Your Blog Post In Under 5 Minutes

- by

Improve Your Blog

Have you ever been to see a movie at the cinema, and been enthralled all the way through, only to find that the ending ruins the entire experience?

No matter how great a film is, it’s always the crescendo at the end that stays with you when you walk out from the darkness, and if the last few moments let you down, you’re not able to give the film overall a good rating.

I always feel a bit let down with any film, book or article that really promises great things, and then fizzles out at the end like a damp squib.

The best films (for example the Shawshank Redemption, or the Sixth Sense) have superb twists at the end that make you feel uplifted, surprised and generally glad that you spent some of your valuable time watching them. Even Titanic, which we all know doesn’t end well, still keeps us enthralled up to the last moments, showing that you don’t even have to have an element of surprise to make a great ending.

You Want People to Remember Your Blog Post

How come, then, when endings are so obviously important to readers, movie-goers or play-watchers, do so many blog posts seem to let us down in the last few paragraphs?

All posts start out pretty promising, but the best ones grow in tempo and finish up leaving you enthused, inspired and hopefully about to change your behaviour in some way.

As blog writers, we have a certain responsibility to our readers to make sure that they are left with something valuable after they have visited our sites and spent some time with us.

Our posts need to be informative and engaging, but above all they need to pack some sort of punch at the end.

Either a call to action (Now you’ve read this, come and buy something!), or a pithy bit of wisdom that leaves our customers feeling pleased that they bothered to drop by.

One of the most fundamental errors we blog writers can make is to set out writing about something, only to lose interest half way through and finish the article with some pointless rambling, because we feel the need to fill up some page space.

We may think that writing about a certain topic is a great idea, but if we don’t do enough research, we won’t be able to fill the page with engaging copy. Because of this, it’s important to plan out your post carefully with a firm beginning, a sustainable middle, and an even better ending.

How To Inspire Your Readers…

The call to action at the end of each post is a great way of inspiring your reader.

Ask them to comment about what they have read. Share your own opinion.

Consider popping something a little newsworthy or controversial in your last paragraph, or link through to something relevant to persuade your reader to spend a little more time with you.

Remember at all times that the last paragraph of your blog post is the one that will stay with your reader long after the rest of the post has faded away.

I’m feeling a lot of pressure right now to practice what I preach here.

So, what are your views on the best way to wrap up your articles?

How do you sign off and get your readers to take action?

Let’s finish with a quote from Orson Scott Card:

“The opposite of the happy ending is not actually the sad ending–the sad ending is sometimes the happy ending. The opposite of the happy ending is actually the unsatisfying ending.”

Image : improve

About

Andrew is a full-time Internet Marketing Specialist and blogger from the UK. At his blog he shares all his knowledge and experience on how to make a blog .

Reader Interactions

Related Posts

{ 32 Responses }

  1. Zach says:
    I really should improve the endings to my blog posts. I usually end up sharing all my good content in the body of the post, and don't have much left for the conclusion. I think I should probably start trying to engage my audience by using a call to action at the end of my posts. Hopefully it will promote some conversation on my site.
    • Andrew says:
      Zach, You 'think' you should start trying to engage your audience. No think about it...just start now! Andrew
      • Zach says:
        Haha right you are Andrew. As we speak I'm going through many of my posts and adding a call to action to the end. I'm hoping it will get some discussion going on some of my posts!
  2. Nick Stamoulis says:
    When it comes to a blog post people tend to browse. They'll probably read the intro paragraph, skim the middle, and read the closing. If you don't have a strong closing the blog post won't really leave any kind of impression on the reader.
    • Andrew says:
      Nick What do you suggest to make a strong closing? Andrew
  3. Aditya says:
    Hi Andrew, I am totally agree with what you have said in this post. "End Is the new Beginning" to have a new start.Conveying a message or asking for the feedback in the end will help in engaging well with the readers
  4. Frank Steiner says:
    Great article. I will spend 2 hours this weekend to update old articles and put a call to action.
    • Andrew says:
      Frank, Good idea...and while your are updating old articles...add some internal links from them to newer posts! Andrew
  5. Nancy says:
    I couldn't agree with you more about the call to action near the end. Even if it's a call to action to read another article on the site I find it keeps readers longer on the site and I think it adds a better impression overall.
    • Andrew says:
      Nancy As long as the quality of the blog post they are reading is high then yes, they could be inclined to read another. If not...then they won't. Your Bounce Rate would give some indication. Andrew
  6. TrafficColeman says:
    Yo Andrew Gaining that readers attention is a must because once they hit that backspace then you may never see them again. So reach deep down and bring out your best material and gain another long term reader. "Black Seo Guy "Signing Off"
    • Andrew says:
      Hope all is well! What you say is true...easy to say...harder to do! I believe many bloggers THINK they do provide great quality content...but they don't! Andrew
  7. Diva says:
    Well I'm just starting out again, but I'll definitely try to be as engaging as possible to readers. Here's hoping they don't get bored with me half way!
  8. Andrew says:
    I hope it works - let us know how you get on! Andrew
  9. Liam says:
    I agree with you thoughts here. And to make you readers inspire is quite challenging.
  10. Chris says:
    Hi Andrew, call to action at the end of the post is great idea. But sometimes, on the beginning of the post, I also "prepare" readers for it saying something like "At the end of the post I'll ask you for (...). Thanks for sharing, Chris
    • Andrew says:
      Chris, I wonder by 'preparing' your readers at the beginning of the post puts any off. Have you tested? I suppose it depends on what you ask them! "At thend end of this post I'll ask for a $10 donation!" Andrew
  11. Alan Tay says:
    I am already starting to finish all my post with a question to my readers. By doing so, I think it gives a direction to what my readers should do next rather they just wonder away without leaving anything or try to comment on something totally useless and unrelated. By the way Andrew, I like the way you point out the quote from Orson Scott Card where the opposite of happy ending is not sad ending and it really make a lot sense there ;)
    • Andrew says:
      Alan, I assume by asking a question...it is making a difference to the number of comments you get? I think I shall do more with quotes. They can be inspiring. Andrew
  12. Ryan Biddulph says:
    Hi Andrew, Make a lasting impression. Readers act on your final call to action most of the time. Do you want a comment? Ask for it. Do you want readers to sign up for your free giveaway? Ask for this. Do you want social shares? Ask for them. Above all make your CALL OBVIOUS! Use bold type. Make text larger. Scream it out loud...within reason of course ;) Most readers are scanners and will miss your final call unless you make it stand out. Definitely go on the aggressive side...better to annoy a few readers - who have their own issues - than to not get anybody upset but stay broke. Thanks! RB
    • Jonathan Smith says:
      I actually wrote a similar post but the topic is getting more comments. In my post it says to ask for comments but in a sneaky way like asking for their opinion and engaging the reader. I engage my readers in every single post I write. You have to so that your blog will be more inviting and if you aren't looking for an inviting blog then what are you after? Great post...
      • Andrew says:
        Jonathan I don't think that is a sneaky tactic...it's a sensible one! How do you engage with your commenters? Andrew
        • Jonathan Smith says:
          I ask questions and put my personality to my posts as well as asking a questions at the end of the post. I want their opinion about an article so I ask for it. I don't really mean "Sneaky" as in hiding the fact I want their response I mean a way of doing it without being so desperate and begging for comments. You are right though it is a sensible tactic and I think more bloggers should add that to their technique.
          • Andrew says:
            Jonathan I was thinking more around 'asking questions' within the comments - that helps with engaging with commenters. Andrew
    • Mairaj Pirzada says:
      Hey Ryan (master commenting), All is what, we need to ask for the things that we want from our readers through Call to Action! But, most are unaware of it's effective use. I've ElegantThemes Shortcodes plugin, that I use to add Call to Action lines and for some other things. That works amazing for me! Author (Andrew) has shared only ONE but ROCKING tip, that I wasn't doing.. Quote idea is Great. I'll try them out.. Anyway, you aren't less! Thanks! Thumbs UP!
      • Andrew says:
        Mairaj I don't use the 'quotes' option very often. I tend to stick with 'asking for opinions'. Perhaps more quotes - what do you think? Andrew
        • Mairaj Pirzada says:
          I do the same friend.. I've never used to add any quote at the end of any of my blog posts. But, I'll try it and will ask for the feedback about that quote at Facebook! Hope it'll be Amazing idea.
    • Andrew says:
      RB, Great advice as always. I often write my call to action in a different color. I shall try a bigger font and see if it makes a difference. We have to test these things! Andrew
  13. Allie says:
    Andrew, I love "the last paragraph of your blog post is the one that will stay with your reader". Isn't that the truth? The reader will remember whether you just killed the post, asked them to do something or read something scathing. You helped me to write my next post ending for sure. I have been thinking of ways to spice things up around my blog and great endings would do just the trick.~Allie
    • Andrew says:
      Allie I'm glad the post helped. What will be the ending for your next post? Andrew
  14. Liz says:
    Hey Andrew, This is such a valued point. I think we do forget how important the last paragraph of our content is. We like to start out with a bang, but we fizzle at the end. But you make an important point about how our posts should grow in tempo and finish with a loud crescendo, to put it musically ;-) Especially when you think about how that's what your readers will remember most. Great post, Liz :-)
    • Andrew says:
      Thanks, Liz. It's hard to do in every post but that must be our aim...right? Have you ever not posted an article because it's just not good enough or have you published it anyway? Andrew