How to Format Blog Post for Higher Ranking in 2024

For most of my writing career, I’ve struggled to develop the best way to format blog post.

Most readers online are presented with a lot of information at once. Even when searching for how to do something, we prefer to skim through articles instead of reading them. 

So, the question remains: how do we keep readers from bouncing from your blog post to another? 

I’ve found that quality content is not the key to winning and persuading readers to stay and read your blogs. 

It’s a good blog post format.

I’ve tried many ways to format blog post and have finally found a template that works every time!

Luckily for you, in this blog post, I’ll share my insights and cover the 9 easy steps to format your blog posts.

Let’s start by understanding what is a blog post format and why it is relevant.

What is a Blog Post Format?

A blog post format refers to the structure and presentation of your written content. 

It’s all about using the right headings, subheadings, paragraphs, lists, images, and multimedia components. The blueprint guides readers through your content, ensuring an engaging experience at a glance.

Here’s an example of a classic listicle blog post format on scannable content I wrote recently. 

The format is clear and simple. The blog title and introduction are in H1, as are many H2s and H3s. 

However, an effective blog post format resembles a well-designed map, leading your readers through your ideas, insights, and narratives. It helps them navigate your content effortlessly, allowing them to understand key points quickly and retain information more effectively.

So, it goes beyond the basic format of a blog. 

What Makes a Good Blog Post?

Before we get started on how to format a blog post, follow a Blog Post SEO Checklist so it’s optimized perfectly for SEO, and all that’s left to do is make it visually appealing through formatting! 

A well-formatted blog post is not just about aesthetics; reader experience is important to a successful content strategy.

A good blog post should also cover the following characteristics:

1. Readability 

The first and most important aspect of a blog format is its readability.

Use a lot of white space by avoiding large paragraphs and chunks of information.

The content should be easy to scan and comprehend, with a logical flow and clear structure. 

Also, most readers get intimidated when the information they seek is unclear and hidden among a jumble of words.

As part of your content audit for the format, make sure your content doesn’t look like this:

Maybe in a document, that works. But it doesn’t work on your blog post webpage. It’s hard to read, and most readers would skim over the most important information because it’s not presented well enough.

Instead, this is how I formatted this paragraph for my article on SEO copywriting tips:

It is much easier to read and highlights the most important information so readers can redirect their attention.

If you want to use a tool to analyze your content’s readability score and suggest changes, my favorites are Grammarly and Hemingway. If you wish to take it to another level, I recommend using AIOSEO’s TruSEO feature.

TruSEO instantly provides readability metrics and evaluates your content, assigning a score from 0 to 100, with 100 being the best.

It also provides tailored suggestions and insights within the WordPress post editor to help you boost your content’s readability score without leaving your content management system (CMS).

2. Engagement

As I said before, today’s challenge is to keep readers on your blog page and reduce bounce rates. 

In 2024, a good bounce rate is considered to be under or around 50%. Most professional marketers expect at least 50% of readers to click on your blog link and immediately return to the search engine results page (SERP).

Of course, the quality of your content matters here as well. If you’re putting out unique and valuable content, many readers will read through the article despite some friction in the experience. However, you will need better quality to cut.

Your blog formatting should captivate readers and encourage them to stay on the page with visual examples, colorful graphics, infographics to show statistics, or simply a step-by-step breakdown of your words. 

For example, a heatmap can show which areas of your blog page attract the most attention and analyze why to improve other areas.

It will also allow you to analyze bounce rates better and click rates to test what placement and formatting best suit your blog content.

You can use software like Hotjar or VWO to analyze and implement different styles of heatmaps on your blog pages.

3. Optimization

A well-formatted blog post will only rank if optimized for search engines, incorporating relevant keywords, meta descriptions, and on-page SEO elements. 

To ensure the success of your blog posts, you must structure them effectively and optimize them for SEO. 

On the SEO end, optimization is all about using the right keywords in the right places, having a solid internal linking strategy, and optimizing metadata, graphics, and other SEO elements like word count, LSI keywords, and more. 

As a rule of thumb, remember to always use the keywords in your headings and introduction. 

Why?

That’s because headings are the most important aspect of both blog formatting and SEO. 

Take this SEOBoost blog on local keyword research as an example: 

To stay on top of optimizing your content while writing and formatting, use this on-page SEO Checklist, which I also use!

4. Shareability

A blog post isn’t just meant to be read; it’s meant to be shared. 

The format of your blog should make it easy for readers to spread your content across various social media platforms and other channels.

This involves integrating social sharing buttons prominently within your posts, preferably at the top, bottom, and along the sides of the content.

Another important consideration here is to optimize your blog post formats for mobile devices. 

Recent Android and iOS updates allow users to select any text on a webpage and share it in several ways. 

For example, I just created a QR code for the blog post on SERPs above using the feature on my mobile device.

It allows your users to share it on social media and through chat and highlights the exact text you select to share once you open it!

Although that’s something on the user’s end, as a content marketer trying to reach a wider audience, ensure you utilize these shareability features on mobile devices and other new devices launched as technology advances.

5. Accessibility

A truly effective blog post is one that everyone can access, regardless of ability or device. 

Accessibility means ensuring that your content is easy to read and navigate for all users, including those with disabilities. 

Start using descriptive alt text for images so screen readers can convey their content to visually impaired users. 

Additionally, ensure your site uses a responsive design that adapts to different screen sizes, providing a seamless experience for mobile, tablet, and desktop users.

You can use tools like WAVE to test your site’s accessibility. 

By prioritizing accessibility, you expand your audience and demonstrate inclusivity and social responsibility, aligning with best practices and potentially improving your SEO ranking.

How to Format Blog Post: 9 Things To Do

I’ve already covered the key factors that make a good blog format.

Now, here are the 9 simple steps and elements to add to your blog post formatting and exactly how to get them right:

1. Use Headings to Format Blog Post

Headings are the signposts that guide readers through your content. They break down your blog post into digestible sections, making it easier for readers to navigate and understand the main topics covered.

Headings are the one element contributing to all aspects of a good format, such as readability, engagement, SEO optimization, and accessibility. 

When formatting headings, follow a logical hierarchy:

• Use a <h1> tag for the main title of your blog post.
• Utilize <h2> tags for primary subheadings or main sections.
• Employ <h3> tags for subsections within the primary sections.
• If necessary, you can use <h4>, <h5>, and <h6> tags for further subsections.

# This is an H1 Heading (Main Title)

## This is an H2 Heading (Primary Subheading)

### This is an H3 Heading (Secondary Subheading)

#### This is an H4 Heading (Tertiary Subheading)

Headings help your readers to skim through all sections and understand what the article is about. Most readers only scroll to the end of a blog to read the headings first and only stop on relevant sections they find relevant. 

If you want to speed up the process of creating SEO-friendly headings, SEOBoost’s Content Briefs uses AI to generate an SEO-friendly outline for the topic you’re writing on. 

It compares keywords and headings across the web and top-ranking articles and uses them to create optimized headings, content direction, and an outline for your blog post. 

It also suggests other SEO factors, such as word count, readability level, number of images per article, and keyword frequency. 

2. Write in Active Voice

Writing in an active voice is a powerful technique that can significantly improve the clarity and impact of your blog posts. 

Unlike passive voice, which can often sound convoluted and impersonal, active voice creates a sense of directness and engagement.

For example, consider these two sentences:

Passive voice: “The blog post was written by the content creator.”

Active voice: “The content creator wrote the blog post.”

The active voice sentence is more concise, direct, and engaging, making it easier for readers to comprehend and connect with your content. 

It also improves the readability and scannability of the article, so readers don’t have to read long and complex sentences to understand what you’re saying. 

I’ve already mentioned a few tools in the readability section; however, if you want to work on content optimization within one dedicated ecosystem, SEOBoost also provides a readability score. 

However, it’s also much more advanced and user-friendly because it makes suggestions for editing and allows you to write in a doc-style space within its user interface to complete the process swiftly and instantly see the readability score.

3. Write from Experience

One of the most effective ways to captivate your audience is by sharing personal experiences, anecdotes, or real-life examples. 

This approach adds a human touch to your content and helps readers deeply relate to your message.

For instance, if you’re writing a blog post about productivity tips for remote workers, you could share your struggles and successes with managing your time and staying focused while working from home. This personal touch can make your content more relatable and memorable.

It’s also a necessary part of Google’s EEAT guidelines and could be a deal breaker for your top rankings, where experience and expertise are key SEO factors that decide your place on SERPs.

4. Add Bulleted Lists

Bulleted lists are a powerful formatting tool for breaking down complex information into easily digestible chunks. 

They are particularly effective for presenting step-by-step instructions, highlighting key points, or listing related items.

Here’s an example of using bullet points in a blog post about SEO audit tools.

Bulleted lists enhance readability and make content more scannable, allowing readers to grasp the main points quickly without getting bogged down by dense paragraphs. In this case, quickly compare the features of each tool and only stop to read more information when they are interested in one.

5. Use Short Paragraphs and Sentences to Format Blog Post

As I mentioned in the readability section, large chunks of information and long paragraphs will only intimidate your readers. 

To keep your readers engaged, you must present your content in bite-sized chunks that are easy to consume.

Aim for short paragraphs, ideally no more than 3-4 sentences each. This makes your content more visually appealing and helps readers retain information more effectively.

Avoid overly complex or convoluted language that can confuse or overwhelm your readers.

Well, this blog is your biggest example of how to do this! 

6. Add Images and Other Media Elements

It’s no longer surprising that adding visuals to your blog posts can significantly improve the overall reading experience. 

Images, infographics, videos, and other multimedia elements can help break up text, reinforce key points, and make your content more engaging and memorable.

For example, the custom image I added to explain the concepts of topic clusters helps visualize the idea better, adds appeal to the blog format, and consolidates the brand image for SEOBoost. 

When using visuals, you must ensure they are relevant, high-quality, and properly attributed or licensed. Additionally, optimize your images for the web by compressing them to reduce load times and improve user experience.

Of course, managing your brand assets and creating a vault for media elements is a tough task, especially when several teams need access to them at once. 

SEOBoost’s content management feature allows you to create your media library, have infinite cloud storage for your brand assets and visuals, and even search licensed stock photos on the go to add to your blog.

7. Add Calls to Actions

A well-formatted blog post should inform, engage, and inspire action. 

Strategically placed calls to action (CTAs) can encourage readers to take the next step, whether by subscribing to your newsletter, downloading a resource, or purchasing.

CTAs can be text-based or visual elements, such as buttons or banners. They can be in-between text in the form of buttons to download resources or access an offer, or it can be a banner at the end of your blog post to promote your products or offers. 

Regardless of the format, ensure that your CTAs are clear, compelling, and aligned with the content of your blog post.

8. Link to Other Relevant Content

Linking to other relevant content on your website or external sources can enhance the overall value of your blog post. 

Internal links help readers discover more of your content, improving engagement and reducing bounce rates.

External links demonstrate your credibility and willingness to share valuable information from reputable sources, even if they are not yours.

When linking to external sources, ensure they are trustworthy and relevant to the topic at hand. Additionally, consider using descriptive anchor text that provides context for the link rather than generic phrases like “click here.”

9. Optimize and Format Blog Post for On-Page SEO

While formatting your blog post for readability and engagement is important, optimizing it for search engines is equally important, or the effort is only halfway done.

On-page SEO elements, such as meta descriptions, title tags, and keyword usage, can significantly impact your blog post’s visibility and ranking on search engine results pages (SERPs).

Here are some key on-page SEO elements to consider:

• A concise and compelling meta description can improve click-through rates from SERPs.
• Your blog post’s title should be descriptive and attention-grabbing and include your primary keyword.
• Incorporate your primary and secondary keywords throughout your content, including headings, subheadings, and body text.
• Use descriptive alt text and file names for your images to improve accessibility and SEO.
• Link to other relevant pages on your website to improve site architecture and user experience.

By optimizing your blog post for both readability and SEO, you increase your chances of attracting and retaining readers while improving your search engine rankings.

The SEOBoost content optimization and Topic Reports feature allows your writers to work their way fully into a solid on-page SEO. 

Your writers will know exactly which keywords to add, the number of internal links, comparison with top rankings, competitor articles, and whatever your content is missing with the help of AI.

Final Word on How to Format Blog Post

I’ve come to realize that formatting a blog post is a delicate balance between art and AI. It requires an understanding of user experience, content structure, and search engine optimization. 

But it also needs the right software to help.

By incorporating the 9 elements outlined in this article, you can create visually appealing, engaging, and SEO-friendly blog posts that resonate with your audience and rank higher on Google.

I strongly recommend you sign up for a 14-day free trial with SEOBoost. SEOBoost is the best centralized AI-powered tool for content marketing teams, allowing them to generate, write, edit, optimize, and collaborate on every blog post.

FAQs About Format Blog Post

How to structure a blog post?

To structure a blog post effectively, follow these steps:

• Begin with an attention-grabbing headline and introduction.
• Use clear and descriptive headings and subheadings to organize your content.
• Break down your main points into short paragraphs and incorporate visuals, lists, or multimedia elements for better readability.
• Conclude with a strong call to action and a summary of key takeaways.
• Optimize your post for on-page SEO by including relevant keywords, meta descriptions, and internal/external links.

How to format blog posts for SEO?

To format blog posts for better SEO, incorporate the following elements:

• Use descriptive and keyword-rich titles and headings.
• Optimize your meta descriptions and alt text for images.
• Break up your content with short paragraphs and scannable formatting (lists, bullets, etc.).
• Include internal and external links to relevant, high-quality sources.
• Optimize your images for faster loading times.
• Ensure your content is mobile-friendly and accessible.

How to write a perfect blog?

Writing a perfect blog post involves several key elements:

• Conduct thorough research and identify a topic that resonates with your target audience.
• Create an outline or structure to organize your thoughts and ideas.
• Write concisely, and engagingly, using active voice and personal anecdotes.
• Incorporate visuals, lists, and multimedia elements to enhance readability and engagement.
• Optimize your post for on-page SEO and include relevant keywords.
• Proofread and edit your content for accuracy, grammar, and flow.
• Promote your blog post through various channels (social media, email lists, etc.) to increase visibility and engagement.

Alina Zahid Content Writer

Alina is an SEO professional with specialized knowledge of content marketing. When she’s not busy researching and creating awesome content for SEOBoost, she can be found practicing piano, writing fiction and traveling.

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