Almost anyone can write a blog these days. Given that so many blogs are nowadays available online, it has become paramount for bloggers to become more creative and knowledgeable in their fields of interest. If you want to keep your audience hooked to your blogs, you need to learn how to format your blogs effectively. Your blogs will also greatly benefit if you learn HTML skills.
What is HTML?
HTML stands for HyperText Markup Language. The name may sound strange and complicated, but do not despair; you do not need to become an expert programmer. You will, however, need to learn some basics of the language to get the edge over other bloggers.
HTML is a programming language used in the creation of applications and web pages. It consists of elements that describe the structure of a web page. HTML elements inform the browser on how to display content correctly. These elements, combined with CSS (Cascading Style Sheets), help you create a unique style for your blog.
Basic HTML Essentials
When incorporating HTML to style your content, you must use the necessary opening and closing tags denoted by < and >, respectively. HTML documents start by indicating the type of document and HTML, e.g., <!DOCTYPE html>, and end with </html>. The content of your blog (referred to as body) is denoted as <body> to mark the beginning of the content blog, and </body> to mark the end of the content. Headings are denoted by <h1> (referring to heading 1) and <p> for paragraphs. Below is a simple example of a blog post HTML:
<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
<body>
<h1>Learn How to Format Your Blog Posts and Basic HTML</h1>
<h2>What is HTML</h2>
<p>
</body>
</html>
As shown above, creating HTML code for blog post is not as complicated as most people imagine. As with learning a new language, you will need to be patient and observant of the rules and regulations. With continuous practice, however, you will become a pro in no time.
Formatting Your WordPress Blog Posts
Learning HTML for blog posts by itself will be pointless if you do not have the basic knowledge of how to make your content enjoyable to your readers. Here we’ll cover some of the fundamental must-haves when it comes to blog formatting.
- Breaking up your paragraphs
To become a great writer, you need to know how to break your content into sensible sections. It is common for readers to get tired of reading when the paragraphs seem too long. An adequate length should range from three to five lines.
- Breaking up your sentences
Try to shorten your sentences while still ensuring a good flow of the content. Long sentences often tend to make the reader feel lost. If a reader has to re-read your sentences more than once, they may end up getting tired and possibly discard your blog altogether.
- Adding graphics and imagery to your blog
Another creative way of keeping your readers interested is by using images and animated GIFs in your blog. Such content is most likely to spark a clearer understanding of your blog by the reader.
- Using bullet points and numbers
When you use bullet points and numbers to list down the takeaways, you make it easier for your readers to recall your advice later. Your bullet points should also be short and precise.
- Using block quotations
When you include inverted commas and brackets in your text, you notify your reader that you are either giving extra information about something or giving an informal description of something. For instance: Mechanical keyboards make a “clicky” noise when typing.
- Using typographical emphasis
Bold and italics come in handy when you want to highlight or emphasize a point. However, use these emphasis tools sparingly, or they’ll become redundant.
- Editing and re-editing
You should ensure that you read and re-read your blog before posting it. Taking breaks between your editing sessions allows you to get rid of all grammatical errors effectively. Editing also ensures that your content is clear, concise, and accurately reflects the topic of discussion.
Final Thoughts
A good blogger should be able to adapt to the changing times and always be trying to get ahead. Taking the time to create blog post HTML, as well as improving your writing techniques, will directly enhance your writing. Once you get started, you will realize the big difference, and you will be happier for it. At TextRoyal, we provide all our blog posts in HTML format so our clients can simply copy-paste the content into WordPress or any other platforms they may be using.
