Blogging 101: Setting out a Blog Post

22 June 2015

How To Set Out a Blog Post & Other Settings behind the scenes

As per usual I like to have all my Blogging 101 posts, centered more around design and layout aspects, rather than anything related to what to write. This post today is going to be focused formatting, layout and design of your actual blog post. There will be some things specific to Blogger but the majority of this will be relevant for everyone. 

The Blog Post Title 

Naming your blog post is very important, it gives your readers a glimpse into what the post is about before they even click on it to read. It's pretty critical that your title is actually relevant to what your post is about. 

Not just because you don't want to trick your readers, but because a vague and irrelevant post title means no one really knows what they are about to read. Your loyal followers will most definitely still read the post anyway, just because they like you. But you're less likely to draw in new readers. 

Relevant titles are also handy as they work well with SEO. (Search Engine Optimisation) It's much easier for people to find your lovely posts if it is likely they will search something similar into google.

Setting Out a Blog Post - Coffee Break
Images in Your Post

99% of the time I like to have an image before I have any text. This is something that is purely optional of course, and is hardly necessary all the time. Especially if you want to talk about something specific before you start posting photos. 

Though whatever you decide, you need to have a main photo. In Blogger this is the first photo that you upload to your blog, and it must be uploaded through your computer not through a URL. The main photo is kind of like a visual label for your post. It will pop up next to your post in your sidebar widgets popular/recent posts, as well as in Bloglovin' and when you link it on Facebook.  So you really want to make sure you have one.

Full Size your images! Live and breathe this rule! If anything is a rule in this post this is it. You've got the space, and you've got lovely photos so show them off! Find out what your maximum photo width is and resize it so it is that width. You can use this Image Resizer to do it for you. Just upload the image, type in what width your image needs to be, (mine is 701 pixels) and go! Save the image and upload it to your blog post. 

Doing this not only helps your images look their best, and fit the page properly, you've just helped a reader with slow internet, load your blog so much faster!

You can also click your images, and then click "properties" then type in what your image is, or even the title of your in ALT Text. This is helpful in searches, and will be the words that come up if someone pins your post to pinterest!


Your Post Content

Once you have written your goldmine of a post out, it's time to actually read back through it. Any obvious spelling errors? Any words you were unsure of how to spell so you guessed? Have a read, google words if you have to, run it through an online spell checker.

I'm a bit of a spelling nut, there are typos and then there is having no clue. I've been reading quite a few posts lately with the topic of "Cease the Moment". Unfortunately you're saying cease as in stop/halt/terminate the moment, instead of what you definitely meant "Seize" as in grasp/grab/take. Seriously type into google "define [word]" You'll save yourself some heartache later!

Use paragraphs! They're easier to read, you don't feel like you're reading as much, because you're only reading small chunks at a time. When you see one big lump of text, oh boy is that daunting. Look at all those word! That is going to take you forever to read, probably just skip over that part.

Finally, please Preview your posts before you publish! There's a button for that, and it shows you what your blog post is going to look like when it finally goes live. This is a super important step! It only takes a moment, and you can see if you have some kind of weird spacing issue or if one of your pictures is being gigantic for no reason.


Post Settings

This is in the sidebar next to your post when you're on Blogger, which is what I use for my own blog. So I'm not too sure what you have in yours if you're using another blogging website.  Some of these will be relevant for everyone though.

Labels

Otherwise known as tags, or even categories. The number one mistake people use here is using labels as some kind of hashtag for searches. I know that on a lot of social media eg. Tumblr & instagram. You want to tag your stuff with as many things as possible, because that's how people find you. This is not how blogger works! Labels are basically just for you and your blog.

They're pretty much a way to keep your blog posts organised. I have a few main labels I use, and sometimes I'll throw some other relevant categories in there. Some of my labels are "Fashion" + "Personal" + "Travel". People can click on an individual label from each post, and find all posts from that category all together which is really nifty!

Permalink

I've been getting into the habit lately of using a custom permalink. Which means instead of a url for your post going straight from whatever you blog post title is, you can make it up yourself. So your post could be called "Cats Cats Cats" but when you go to your website the link would be www.myblog.com/a-story-about-my-cat.html if you catch my drift.

Search Description

I used to always leave this blank, but not anymore! When someone uses a search engine and they see your post title, this will be the little paragraph that appears underneath! So it's super important! If you don't write anything here then there will just be a small excerpt from the beginning of your post. So it probably won't make much sense. For example, on this post I would write, "A quick guide to setting out your blog posts so that you and your readers will get the most out of it!" It doesn't need to be long and will be something that people can glance at so they know what they are clicking.

And we're done!

Awesome, thanks for reading guys! You'll now be well on your way to becoming a Blogging Pro, or you know, at least look like one!

Cya!!


More from Blogging 101:


Did you know you can subscribe to Permanent Procrastination via Email?? 
Enter your email address:


Delivered by FeedBurner




Follow Me on Bloglovin' / Follow Me on Instagram

44 comments

  1. Loving your blogging 101 posts Tegan.
    I constantly use people's labels on posts to find other things they have written that I would be interested.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Great tips! I need to work on finding and using an image resizer.

    Amy Ann
    Straight A Style

    ReplyDelete
  3. This was a fantastic post! I live by the rule, always have a picture before I start any text and always make the picture full-size. I stopped using labels on posts because I couldn't be bothered haha. I always love reading your posts, you have a lovely blog x

    splasheswithfabulosity.blogspot.com.au

    ReplyDelete
  4. Great post! I'll have to go back through your old 101 posts and gather some tips!

    Shannon - www.thewildhideaway.com

    ReplyDelete
  5. Wow that post is so informative and useful! Thanks fro sharing! Interesting post!
    xx
    cvetybaby.com

    ReplyDelete
  6. Great post, thank you! http://sarawritesadiary.blogspot.com/

    ReplyDelete
  7. great tips girl! thanks for sharing xo

    ReplyDelete
  8. Wow! I actually had no idea about the search description! Thank you so much for bringing it up! This is incredible! <3

    xx Bash | Bash Says Hey | bloglovin'

    ReplyDelete
  9. But isn't coming up with a clear and witty blogpost title as much work as writing the whole thing? Only me?

    LindaLibraLoca: Beauty, Baby and Backpacking

    ReplyDelete
  10. I agree! Photos should be in their original size so that it aligns nicely with the text, and Preview is always a must!! Blogger always has these weird spaces so always fix those before publishing :D

    Pam xo/ Pam Scalfi♥

    ReplyDelete
  11. Great post! Sometimes I struggle so much with setting out a blog post, I have the idea in my head but I just can't seem to get it out in a clean and understandable manner.
    Zoha xx - Zoe and Tima

    ReplyDelete
  12. The "cease" the moment part made me giggle a little bit. These tips were amazing, thank you! xx

    MY CUP OF TEA

    ReplyDelete
  13. Happy Monday, my gorgeous friend! Great tips!
    Sending you much love & hope all is well!
    xoxo, Vanessa
    www.WhatWouldVWear.net

    ReplyDelete
  14. Great tips!
    http://www.dianavilic.com/

    ReplyDelete
  15. The search description one is a great tip. I agree with the photos. The bigger the better!

    www.sophieslittlesecrets.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  16. Great post, great tips!

    xxMel
    goldrusssh.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  17. Wish I would have had these tips a year ago when I started blogging! Great post!

    Shauna

    www.lipglossandlace.net

    ReplyDelete
  18. Wish I would have had these tips a year ago when I started blogging! Great post!

    Shauna

    www.lipglossandlace.net

    ReplyDelete
  19. This is a great resource, Tegan! Every point you made is so true, and I'm much more likely to stay on a blog that has photos.

    'Cease the Moment' made me cry a little bit haha. I've seen people say 'in lieu of' instead of 'in honor of'. It doesn't mean the same thing! Lol.

    ReplyDelete
  20. Great tips, Every step is so important when putting a post together. thanks for sharing!

    http://www.racheldinh.com

    ReplyDelete
  21. I am so not consistent with the blog description haha! Keeping these things in mind. Thanks a lot! :)

    Miss Eleigh Neux | Bloglovin

    ReplyDelete
  22. I'll never get tired of reading blogging tips and this is a brilliant one!

    Shireen | Reflection of Sanity

    ReplyDelete
  23. I love creating slightly weird post titles or puns in them for fun! X

    Workout Wear over at-
    hailandharmony.blogspot.ie
    // BLOGLOVIN

    ReplyDelete
  24. Awesome post! So many good tips here, thanks!

    Leftbankgirl.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  25. Great post with very helpful tips :)

    paradigm-kiss.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  26. Wonderful post - saved few tips for myself!

    Tanya
    www.StripesNVibes.com
    BlogLovin

    ReplyDelete
  27. great post

    http://carrieslifestyle.wordpress.com
    Posts online about St. Anton, Provence, South Africa...

    ReplyDelete
  28. Nice.post and advice as always ;) xx

    www.aishettina.blogspot.it

    ReplyDelete
  29. Yay, loved this post! I find that the photo rule is incredibly important! Thanks for sharing, Tegan!

    May x • THE MAYDENbloglovin'

    ReplyDelete
  30. Wow, love it!! Great advices!
    Xo
    Vale
    https://www.facebook.com/fashionneed09
    If you have some time, could you please like my Facebook page? It would mean so much to me <3

    ReplyDelete
  31. Agree with all these! Thanks for sharing, great advice xx

    hannie from HUEMORIST

    ReplyDelete
  32. Really helpful tips, perfect for becoming a peferct blogger!

    http://www.notesofglam95.blogspot.it/

    ReplyDelete
  33. these are great tips! and I giggled at the "cease the moment" blurb.

    www.jessandtonic.com

    ReplyDelete
  34. I loved this post! So helpful!
    fixmeinfortyfivex.blogspot.co.uk - A Beauty & Lifestyle Blog
    xx

    ReplyDelete
  35. Really love your post and your pictures! xo
    Can we follow eachother ? Let me know on my blog and I will follow back immediately xo

    BLOG | GorisHelena

    ReplyDelete
  36. Great tips! <33 Love all of your blogging tutorials.

    xo,

    Emma
    http://www.sassystreet.com/

    ReplyDelete
  37. Great advice. I've learned some of these lessons the hard way - there's nothing worse than publishing a post and then realizing it had a typo a few days later. That said, I definitely won't be making that mistake again. Thanks for the tips! xx

    ReplyDelete
  38. Thank you, this has been great advice! I'm trying to get back into blogging and do this properly this time :)

    stylingfaithfully.blogspot.co.uk

    ReplyDelete
  39. Finally! Blogging tips that are really helpful.
    Thank you!

    Victoria xx thedaisyjaynes.com

    ReplyDelete
  40. Tegan, this is such an informative and helpful post! I agree with you for the picture. As for me, I set my picture to fit in the blogpost width with some css code that I google, so I do not have to resize them manually.

    and the preview part! I just can not miss that! i think i am a bit of grammar nazi when it comes to writing my own post. At least I tried to avoid spelling error.

    cheers,
    filicia

    filiandyelny.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete

Thanks so much for commenting everyone! I read and appreciate every single one of your comments! xx