Components of a Great Blog Post

In terms of your dental practice’s marketing strategy, blogs can be a game-changer. In fact, according to HubSpot’s latest State of Marketing Report, blogs are still one of the top three marketing channels when it comes to return on investment. 

This highlights the urgency for dental practices to have a blog. In this article, we’ll break down the mechanics of crafting a compelling blog post so that your practice can connect with a broader audience and grow your online visibility.

Crafting a blog post for your dental practice involves more than sitting down, typing a few words, and hitting the post button. (Well, you could do that, but we don’t recommend it.) The truth is that your blog needs to be more than a collection of words. It should be informative, valuable messaging that shapes your practice’s narrative, attracts new patients, and sets the stage for long-term success.

10 Ways To Get the Most out of Your Dental Blogs

To truly harness blogging’s potential, you need to understand the tricks of the trade. These are the subtle yet impactful elements that transform a simple collection of sentences into a compelling, engaging, and effective piece of content. 

So let’s dive into the components that make a blog post truly great. This information will equip you with the knowledge you need to maximize your blog’s potential and achieve your practice goals.

1. Know your audience.

Understanding your target audience is a must. For dental practice owners and managers, this means tailoring your content to your patients and what they want to know. Think of the demographics of your patient base and the community in which you work. You’ll create an emotional connection and build trust by tailoring your content to their wants and needs. 

2. Create a captivating headline.

Your blog post’s headline is your first impression on potential readers. Craft a headline that sparks curiosity, addresses a pain point, or offers a solution. For example, “Unlocking the Secrets to a Healthier Smile: A Comprehensive Guide” will likely grab more attention than a generic title. Need help with your deadlines? Try tools such as CoSchedule’s Headline Studio. 

3. Create engaging content.

Avoid the temptation of excessive jargon or overly technical language. Consider one of Einstein’s famous quotes: “If you can’t explain it simply, you don’t understand it well enough.” While you, as a dental practice owner or manager, understand the concept you are writing about, prospective patients may not. 

Keep your writing clear, concise, and relatable, and aim for an 8th-grade reading level. Use real-life examples, anecdotes, or patient stories to make your content more engaging and accessible.

4. Manage your word count.

Opinions on post length vary, but for dental content, aim for around 800 words. This length offers enough depth to provide valuable insights without losing your readers’ interest. 

Remember, though, that it’s not about word count alone; it’s about crafting content that resonates with your audience and aligns with your practice’s unique narrative and marketing strategy.

5. Incorporate relevant keywords.

What is a keyword? A keyword, often referred to as a focus keyword, serves as a concise descriptor capturing the essence of your page or post. It represents the specific search term you aim to rank for with a particular page. When potential patients type this keyword or phrase into search engines like Google, they aim to discover a corresponding page on your website. This is how well-chosen keywords enhance your page’s visibility and relevance in online searches.

Need an example? The keyword for this article is “blog post,” and you will see this phrase woven into the article here and there. Similarly, each blog post you prepare for your practice should have a targeted keyword. Research and integrate relevant keywords naturally into your content. Use tools such as Semrush or Ahrefs for help.

This approach not only improves search engine visibility but also ensures your blog aligns with what your audience is searching for.

6. Format for readability.

Break up your content into digestible sections with descriptive subheadings called header tags. Header tags are crucial in organizing headings and subheadings within a web page. Arranged in a hierarchy of importance, ranging from H1 to H6, these tags allocate significance to different sections of content. 

Typically, H1s are reserved for titles or the first main subsection. This ensures a structured and easily navigable layout on the web page. You can use bullet points and numbered lists to further organize information within those subsections. Readers should be able to scan your blog and grasp the key points quickly. 

7. Include compelling visuals.

A picture is worth a thousand words. Enhance your blog with high-quality images, infographics, or even videos. Content enriched with pertinent images sees a 94% increase in views compared to content without. And an impressive 35% of marketers emphasize the paramount importance of visual imagery as the most impactful content format for their business.

8. Encourage interaction.

End your blog with a call to action that prompts readers to do something specific. Whether it’s leaving comments, sharing the post on social media, or scheduling an appointment, guide your audience toward the next step you want them to take.

9. Keep search engine optimization (SEO) in mind.

Understanding the basics of SEO is crucial. First, use meta titles. A meta title, often called a title tag or meta description, is a textual snippet appearing on search engine result pages and browser tabs. It serves as a concise representation of a web page’s topic, informing users and search engines of the content they can expect.

Ensure you have a well-written meta description. The meta description typically engages and informs users by presenting a brief summary of a specific page’s content. Think of it as a persuasive pitch that aims to convince users that the page aligns with what they’re seeking.

And use alt text for your images (and incorporate the keyword). These steps ensure that your blog post is well received by readers and favored by search engines.

10. Post often.

Appropriate posting frequency is a key factor among successful blogs. To drive organic traffic, small blogs find their stride with three to four weekly posts, while larger blogs thrive at four or five new or updated posts each week. If brand awareness is the goal, the frequency can be more relaxed. 

However, if you’re just starting your dental blog, just aim for two to four times per month. But posting alone isn’t enough: You must also share content on your social media channels. Take advantage of platforms like Facebook and Instagram to extend your blog’s reach and impact.

Jameson Management & Marketing is your blog post partner.

Mastering the art of crafting a compelling blog post is a big step for dental practices. Remember, begin with a captivating headline, tailor it to your target audience, and enrich it with engaging content. Then incorporate relevant keywords, format for readability, and enhance your narrative with compelling visuals. Last, make sure you use header tags, optimize for search engines, and encourage reader interaction with a thoughtful call to action.

Dental practices seeking to amplify their online presence should share these guidelines with their content creators. Implementing these mechanics ensures not only compelling content but also a strategic alignment with practice goals. 

This said, if the prospect of managing this seems overwhelming, you don’t have to do it alone. Jameson Management & Marketing, a marketing agency for dentists, is ready to assist you in navigating the world of digital marketing and turn your blog into a powerful tool for success. 

Contact Jameson Management & Marketing today.