Here are tips for writing memorable blog posts.
Remember your audience
You are writing for attorneys, not nurses or lay people. Blog posts, like expert witness reports, should explain medical terms and abbreviations.
I’ve seen LNCs write blog posts or newsletter articles teaching attorneys about the use of sunscreen or vaccinations for flu. Instead, teach them what they need to know for handling their cases.
Think of your content from the perspective of your reader and write for him or her.
Your readers won’t plow through long paragraphs. Break them into 1-2 sentences per paragraph.
Google continually changes their mind about the ideal length of a blog post. Your goal should be to provide useful information for your target market (attorneys) that matches their needs.
I’d rather see you consistently post 500-600 word articles than to not blog at all because the idea of writing 1600 words intimidates you.
Write memorable blog posts with amazing headlines
Headlines should be intriguing and make the reader want to invest the time to read the post.
- Draw the reader in by using lists, such as “5 Surefire Ways to Injure a Patient”.
- Ask a question, such as “Is There True Safety in Using Restraints?”
- Use action words, such as “Using Technology to Investigate a Shooting”.
- Create how to titles, such as “How to Determine the Time a Medical Event Took Place”.
Use keywords in your first paragraph, the last paragraph and one header
Keywords are the main subject of the article. Write naturally sounding sentences. Include the keywords, but don’t overdo it. You are writing for attorneys, not spiders that crawl the internet.
I find Yoast SEO gives me feedback on the frequency of my use of keywords, helping me to strike a happy balance. This is a WordPress plug in that evaluates my blog post and tells me if I have used the keyword often enough.
Demonstrate your expertise
You are sharing your nursing knowledge about your specialty with attorneys who may be able to hire you. You want to write memorable blog posts while you educate. Pick interesting content.
Bullet points are essential in most blog posts because they
- attract the skimmer who wants to see what the article is about.
- make the information easy to understand
- break up long sentences.
- emphasize important information.
Include a request for action at the end
Ask the reader, “What do you think?” “Has this happened to you?” Invite the reader to share the post with others and to contact you with a case.
Include pictures
The trend now is to include more than one image in a post. Use a picture at the top of the blog, halfway through and towards the end.
Post regularly
Websites with new content attract search engines more than ones that are static. Add a new memorable blog post once a week. I know, this frequency may be difficult, but it will yield results.
Don’t have an LNC blog or want to improve yours? Get this free training: Get More Business with Blogging. 