How to Write a Blog Post Quickly, Effectively & Efficiently

Last Updated on 5th February 2024 by Sophie Nadeau

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If you’re searching for ‘how to write blogs faster,’ then you’ve come to the right place. From travel guides to historical intrigue pieces to recipes, there’s a formula I’ve used since the very beginning which I’ll share with you today which has helped me publish at a pretty speedy rate. Here’s how to write a blog post quickly, effectively, and efficiently.

I’ve been running this site for closer to five years than four and a half, and while time has flown by in that time, it always seems a little crazy to me how much I’ve published in that time.

If there’s one question I’ve been asked more than any when it comes to blogging tips, it’s been: how do you publish so much and how do you publish so frequently? Well, setting aside that this has been my full-time job for a few years, my ‘secret sauce’ as it were has been properly structuring and mapping out blogs before I get down to the nitty and gritty of actually writing.

Yes, just as you might plan an essay or even novel, I always head to tackling the writing of a blog post in the same way. Read on to discover, my step by step process in how to create blogs fast and that will also really resonate with your audience… 

The steps to rapidly writing a comprehensive and cohesive blog post

#1 Decide on a topic

While your blog doesn’t necessarily have to ‘nail down a niche‘ from day one, if you’re not to go off on a tangent every time you write a blog post (few people are going to want to follow a random set of musings), your first port of call is to sit down and decide what kind of topic you’ll write about.

For example, if you wish to write a travel post about Paris; is it going to be an itinerary post? Is it going to be a guide to the best coffee shops in Le Marais? Likewise, if you’re going to create a blog about plants; is it going to be a specific plant care guide? Is it going to be a guide about the best easy care indoor plants? You see my point!

#2 Find a keyword on which to write about

Next, and arguably one of the most important steps of the process when it comes to SEO (Search Engine Optimisation), is the technique that will allow you to rank on search engines like Google, and thus be discovered by a wider audience through the power of search results.

Once you’ve sorted your topic, you’ll want to log onto a Keyword research tool (I personally use keysearch.co) and look up the kind of key phrases and words which get the most hits.

For example, maybe ‘one day in Amsterdam’ would get more hits than ‘two days in Amsterdam,’ and so you would focus on creating a 24 hour itinerary as opposed to a 48 hour one! It’s a little more complex than this, but I’ll get into this in a later post.

#3 Create a template for post (skeleton for your blog post)

The next step is to return once more to the writing process part of the creation of your blog post. With my ‘keyword’ and thus focus of the article firmly in mind, I’ll write out a series of headings. For example, for a two week itinerary guide, I would create headings for each day (and perhaps even sub-heading for morning, evening, and night).

If it were a recipe, then I would start with the introduction, followed by a brief few headings for some recipe context, a history of the dish, followed by the heading for where I’ll place the recipe card. At this point, I don’t worry about the body of the text, only the headings themselves.

In this way, you can see that mapping out your article and the direction your piece will go gives you a clearer and more focused path on which to follow. You can also see that this technique will work for pretty much any blogging niche! When you’re mapping out the post is also when you’ll want to carry out all of your fact checkin and research (dates/ facts) that will go into the writing of the post.

#4 Fill in the ‘gaps’ with text

Now that you’ve got a rough sketch of what you’re going to be covering over the course of your post, it’s time to actually get writing! Since you know your topic headings, writing out the ‘bulk’ of the content should go quickly enough (provided that you don’t need to fact check too much information along the way).

#5 Proofread your blog post!

If there’s one thing I wish that I had done from day one of creating blog posts, it would have been to proofread everything I write. Sure, this site is riddled with errors and grammatical mistakes (it comes with the territory from running a woman ship from so long), but you’ll thank yourself in the long run if you do proofread your writing.

You see, while you’ll want to hit publish and get that article off your hands (metaphorically) as soon as you possibly can, your site will look all the much better and much more professional for having gone through your text and cleaning up those awkward phrases and little glaring errors.

#6 Interlink with other related posts on your site

The next part is pretty much ‘SEO’ (search engine optimisation) 101, but is important nonetheless. Once you’ve got the text written and you’ve proof read it thoroughly to avoid any glaring errors, you’ll want to interlink with other posts on your site.

For example, if you were writing about blogging, instead of check out my related post “here”, you would say, if you want to learn more about my blogging journey, check out how I make money as a travel blogger.

#7 Come up with a catchy title for your article

Last but not least when it comes to finishing off the actual writing part of your text, come up with a catchy title. Of course, you should avoid clickbait at all costs. However, you do want something that’s not totally dry.

After all, the currency of the internet is ‘attention’ and ‘catching others’ attention’. As such, be sure to include your keyword(s) in your title, but also spice it up a little. Consider adding phrases such as ‘you’ll love’ or ‘you must know about’ to capture your potential readers’ attention.

#8 Create pins and add edited images to post

Of course, perhaps one of the largest differences between creating short and easy to consume articles as opposed to online printed works and novels is the need for imagery. Bring your text to life and capture peoples’ attention with stunning photos and graphics.

If you don’t have your own photos, then there are plenty of paid stock photo options available online. Otherwise, when you create your own blog posts, it’s worth noting that photography is a great hobby to take up simultaneously.

And you don’t need fancy equipment either! Instead, your smartphone is a great place to start. For some beginner tips, check out my guide to common photography mistakes (and how to avoid them).

#9 Publish and pin to Pinterest, push on social medial platforms

Of course, you don’t want all of your hard work to be read by… No one! Instead, have a strategy on how you’re going to promote your post in the short term while you’re waiting it for it to begin ranking on search engines. Facebook, Pinterest, and Twitter are all great places to begin!

Keep your space organised

When it comes to creating a workspace, you’ll want to make sure it’s somewhere you love spending time. After all, it’s an area where you’ll inevitably be spending a lot of time! That’s why there are certain things I keep in my workspace that you should probably add to yours too!

#1 A Candle

There is nothing quite so soothing as watching a candle burn and smelling sweet notes of lavender or spring blossom while I type away at my keyboard. That being said, I also love using ‘fake’ candles which mean I don’t have to worry about setting the house on fire if I do forget to turn them off!

#2 A Mood Board/ Notice Board

All of my blog post ideas come to me at the most awkward times! Like when I’m walking the dog or taking a shower (I can’t really bring my laptop to either of these places!) A notice board/ mood board helps me add inspirational quotes, notes, and photos which recreate this ‘away from the office’ feeling!

#3 Notebook

Like I said, a notice board/ mood board may be essential but it’s hardly practical while you’re on the go! This means I bring a notebook with me everywhere. And I do mean everywhere. After all, you can never tell when your phone might run out of battery, or when you’ll come up with that next ‘aha‘ moment!

#4 A Pretty Picture (mainly of Paris, of course!)

When it comes to thing I keep in my creative space, there is no limit. Just like with a mood board, I like to switch up my inspiration every so often. After all, it’s hardly inspiration if you’re bored of it! Sometimes I’ll add my own photos from iconic spots around Paris, to remind me of a past event. Other times, I’ll look at my Paris Posters on the wall.

#5 A plant 

Even when you can’t go outdoors, it’s always nice to have a little bit of greenery in your office space. Cacti, succulents, and Orchids are amazing if you’ve not got a great green finger, and you’re bad at keeping your plants watered!

#6 An inspiration book or two (or three…)

When I want a break from work, then it’s nice to have something to look at/ read that’s not a computer screen! For the past year, I haven’t been able to get enough of How to be Parisian Wherever You Are. It’s a fun, light-hearted book that comes in short, sharp chapters, ensuring that my short ‘breaks’ don’t turn into long reading sessions!

#7 Noise Cancelling Headphones

Whether I want to listen to loud music or quiet classical songs, I love having the option of plugging in some headphones and drowning out the sounds of the rest of the world while I concentrate on my work.

#8 Coffee

It goes without saying that if you’re planning to work long hours, then you’ll want a little pick me up along the way! My go-to choice of caffeinated beverage is a coffee. This means I love having fun and quirky mugs filling my office space; interesting things definitely boost your creativity!

#9 To-Do Lists

Of all the things I keep in my workspace, to-do lists are the most important. I love lists. There’s nothing quite like the feeling of ticking off the last item on a to-do list. I use them in my everyday life; for shopping, for emails, for paying bills, and, of course, for this blog! To-do lists are ever so useful because you can prioritize what needs doing today, and deciding what can wait until tomorrow. After all, there are only so many hours in the day!

#10 A Cozy Knit

While it’s true that I now hate working in pajamas, preferring instead to work in normal, everyday clothes, I can never say no to a cozy knit jumper!

#11 Set up a Day Bed

I’m fortunate in that my flat comes with a daybed (a bed which can be folded up into a sofa). Whilst this is not always as comfortable to sleep on as a traditional bed, it ensures that I can transform my cramped bedroom into a comfortable living space in a  mere matter of minutes.

#12 Purchase Fake Candles

I love the ‘fake’ candles I bought as they have the same glow and waxy feel as real candles but don’t have nearly as many of the safety risks! They also have timers so that I can set them to ‘glow’ for four/ eight hours at a time (yep, everything I own is perfect for lazy people)!

#13 Hang up Fairy Lights

It goes without saying that a set of fairy lights can make any space a little more magical. I personally found copper and star decorated battery operated ones. I really enjoy using them as they have a timer setting of six hours before switching themselves off.

Blogging resources

Hosting: For my blog’s hosting needs, I use Lyrical Host. I find their customer support and help to be some of the best I’ve ever had during my time blogging and couldn’t recommend them more! If you use my affiliate code ‘solosophie’ then you’ll get 10% off your first hosting plan payment. See more details here.

Email: One of the best ways to capture your return subscribers is by building an email list. I personally love Flodesk. Sign up using my link or the code ‘SOPHIE’ to get 50% off your subscription. See more details here.

Affiliate programmes: As well as display advertising, one of the best ways for bloggers to make money is by using affiliate programmes. In order to refer tours on this website, I use numerous providers. This includes Get Your Guide and Share a Sale.

Grammarly is a good tool to check through your work for grammatical errors, spelling mistakes, and bad phrasing. Find out more about Grammarly here.

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