BLOG CONVENTIONS + How to Write A Blog Post

Use Headers and Sub-headers

Headers and sub-headers will break up long blog posts, help people scan your blog and convince
them to read the post.
Use Lists
Numbered lists or bullet-pointed lists help people scan blog posts quickly and find information
they’re looking for fast.
Use Punctuation
Use full stops, commas, dashes, and colons to break up each paragraph into smaller pieces of
information that make sense quickly. No one wants to read the same sentence several times to try
to make sense of it. If you’re not confident about punctuation, keep sentences short. And use
short paragraphs (2 to 3 sentences per paragraph is usually a good guideline for blog posts).
Tip: As you practice writing, you can experiment and lengthen your sentences, chucking in a
long one here and there to keep things interesting for readers and make sure they’re paying
attention. Long sentences are fine but check that every sentence makes sense, and the meaning is
clear.
Capital Letters
Use capitals for proper nouns and at the start of sentences but avoid writing all in capitals
because it’s harder to read. PLUS USING CAPITAL LETTERS CONSTANT IS THE ONLINE
EQUIVALENT OF BEING SHOUTED AT.
Tell a Story
Speaking of stories, every blog post needs to have a beginning, a middle and an end. Think of it
as an introduction, the main information, and conclusion if you prefer. Even if you don’t give use
to those sub-headings because, hopefully, you’ve come up with hotter ones, do follow the
convention to avoid confusing your readers.
Here are some questions you may want to ask yourself:
●​ Are you writing a blog post to start a conversation with your existing readership?
●​ Are you writing a post that you hope will get shared across social media?
●​ Are you writing a post that also invites readers to join your email list so you can get back
in touch later?
●​ Are you writing a post to get the attention of someone you’d like to work with?
●​ Are you writing a blog post with the end goal of selling your readers a product?
●​ Are you writing a blog post to start a conversation with fellow bloggers in hopes of
growing a mutually profitable relationship?

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 How to Write A Blog Post
If you don’t grab your reader's attention with the title and get them to actually read the post,
nothing you put inside the post matters. It doesn’t matter how great and helpful your content is.
Make it Interesting and Tell the Truth
The most important part of your blog post is your title.
You want to write an attention-grabbing headline but … you’ll lose credibility if you’re
exaggerating or telling little white lies. You see a lot of those headlines on social media. You
click-through and end up disappointed because the post doesn’t fulfill what the title promised.
Instead, make it interesting without all the hype and stick to the truth. A great way to do that is to
think about what’s in it for your readers.
●​ Ask your readers a question.
●​ Make a statement that makes them think.
●​ Put numbers in your titles to get them thinking about what’s in the content (i.e. My 5 Best Tips
To …)
●​ Don’t forget to work your keywords into the title.

Use Headlines and Sub-Heads

Think of the outline of your post. Each point in your outline could be a subheading. Start with those and
then fill in the content.
Or if you prefer, start with the content and then go back and add the subheadings. Create the content and
work in the subheadings in whichever way works best for you.

Keep Your Paragraphs Short

One of the most effective things you can do to keep your readers reading is to keep your paragraphs and
sentences short. Don’t make it longer than three or four lines.

Use Lists and Bold Important Key Terms

●​ Use a list instead of several related sentences.
●​ Use a list to share examples.
●​ A list is a great way to break things up and grab your reader’s attention.
●​ Lists can be as long or short as you need them to be.
And let’s not forget about other formatting options (e.g., italicize or underline for emphasis)

Encourage Social Sharing of Your Blog Posts

Focus on getting them to share on social media outlets to attract more like-minded readers (e.g., “like” on
Facebook, share on Twitter, pin on Pinterest, etc.).

Craft A Good Call to Action at The End of Your Post

Ask your readers to leave you a comment. Invite them to share their own experiences on the topic, a tip, a
recipe, etc. Ask them to comment on the post. Make a recommendation that helps your readers learn more
or take the next step.

Adapted from https://www.successfulblogging.com/16-rules-of-blog-writing-which-ones-are-you-breaking/

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Friday, 16 October 2020
How to Make Friends at University When You Struggle with Mental Health Difficulties
6 tips and tricks from a recent graduate on making friends at university when you struggle with mental health.
- -​ Hester​

The best thing I took away from my university experience was an amazing group of supportive and like-minded friends — people
I feel close and connected to, who uplifted, inspired and supported me. But finding them wasn’t always easy. Meeting new people
and building friendships can be incredibly difficult when you’re struggling with mental health — be it anxiety, depression, PTSD,
OCD and/or other illnesses. Yet friends form one of the foundations of our ability to cope with the problems that life throws at us.
And building meaningful friendships is one of the best ways to nurture better mental health. Good university friends are like
diamonds — hard to find, but so incredibly precious and valuable, the effort of finding them will always be worth it. So, without
further ado, here are 6 top tips for how to make friends at university when you struggle with mental health...

1. Reach out to Students Who Also Struggle

Friends who have been through similar ordeals, tend to understand each other that little bit better. So, reach out to students at
your university who struggle with similar mental health problems. Sign up to group counselling sessions through your
university’s student support centre and get to know people through mental-health-oriented Facebook groups and societies.
2. Open Up
Talking about your mental health, especially with new people, can be daunting and feel incredibly vulnerable. But the moment
you start opening up to others, you’ll realize just how many other students struggle too. Being transparent about your illness will
help you build a strong support network around you; find like-minded, understanding friends; and cultivate a safe space where
you can communicate your needs and experiences, free from judgement.
3. Follow Your Passions
Pursuing activities you love is one of the best ways to find friends whose values align with yours. Student unions typically host
hundreds of societies, clubs and events each year. Joining a student group is a fantastic way to find people passionate about
similar things as you and be a part of a friendly community!
4. Use Friendship Apps
While social distancing measures are set to persist for months to come, many in-person opportunities for friendship making are
out of the question. Friendship apps, however, are a convenient and simple way to find like-minded people. So, if you’re having a
bad mental health day in bed, you can still chat and make friends with students nearby! I found Serendip a brilliant app for
connecting more deeply with like-minded students nearby who share my core values.
5. Get Out of Your Comfort Zone — But be Kind to Yourself!
Pushing yourself to attend an event, talk to someone new in class, or reach out to a friend online can feel like a huge effort when
you’re feeling low, anxious or stressed. But pushing yourself outside of your comfort zone is essential to build and maintain
strong friendships. This said, making time for self-care; removing yourself from social situations which are uncomfortable or
distressing, is okay. Your mental health comes first, always.
6. Get Professional Support
If you’re feeling lonely or isolated during your time at university, don’t be afraid to seek professional help. Seeking guidance and
talking about your feelings and friendship-making struggles with a counsellor, will help you process your emotions and build
better self-esteem and confidence. Likewise, Samaritans offers free to call service 24 hours a day, 365 days a year if you’re
struggling to cope and need someone to talk to. Reaching out for help is a strength, not a weakness.
You can find more resources on student mental health and support at Student Space or Transition into University.

Hi there, I’m Hester - a recent graduate from the University

of East Anglia. Like many others, I had my fair share of
mental health ups and downs throughout my four years of
studying. While there’s so much pressure on students to be
having the time of their life at university, and mental health
stigma persists in these spaces, I want to help struggling
students and graduates feel less alone. Mental illness among
students is more common than most people think - I believe
it is essential that we nurture more open conversations
surrounding the topic and help build safe and friendly
spaces for students to talk about their experiences.

Posted by Student Minds Blogging Editorial Team at 10:30

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Labels: #DearFresherMe, #FresherPressure, First Year
(Freshers), Friends and Relationships

3
Aug 25, 2016
Jaffa cake or Jaffa biscuit? (280 w.)

Recently, during the return of Bake Off, we asked our Twitter followers an important question.

Are Jaffa Cakes a cake or a biscuit?

We’d even go as far as saying it’s possibly the most important question of modern times. Yes, people argue about religion or
politics or the correct way to eat Maltesers*, but you only really know the full measure of a person once you’ve had the Jaffa
Cake Conversation (or JCC for the busy amongst us).

Immediately, people on Twitter started to bring up the fact that this entire question was apparently solved in a court case a few
years ago. Cakes, you see, are charged a different VAT rate so the matter had to be settled legally. It turns out that one of the
primary differences between cakes and biscuits is that cakes go hard when stale while biscuits go soft. And, seeing as Jaffa Cakes
undoubtedly toughen up after a period during which they miraculously go uneaten, it was decided that they were cakes.

But maybe that’s just what they want us to think? Maybe there’s something else going on? Maybe, deep in some underground
bunker miles beneath London, there’s some secret consortium of cake bakers locked in a battle against a cult of biscuit artists that
goes back for thousands of years? Maybe, just maybe, Jaffa Cakes are some sort of mythical object and whichever side ‘owns’
them can dictate the shape of reality itself? Maybe we’re all pawns in an ancient game that none of us can truly understand?

Or maybe everyone involved could realise that they’re called Jaffa Cakes. Clue’s in the name.
​
*bite all the chocolate off, eat the malty goodness after
Posted by jonathan o'brien on August 25, 2016 at about 10am
Filed under bake off, biscuits, confectionary conspiracies, jaffa cakes, random stuff. Permalink

Blog Post Template

[Title: A Catchy, Engaging Headline Related to Your Topic]​
(E.g., "Breaking Boundaries: How Technology is Transforming Education")

1. Introduction

●​ Start with a hook: A surprising fact, anecdote, or question to grab the reader’s attention.
●​ Briefly introduce the topic and its relevance to the target audience.
●​ State the purpose or main argument of the post.​
(E.g., “In this post, we’ll explore how technological advancements are shaping the future of education, making it
more accessible and engaging than ever before.”)

2. Body Paragraphs

Section 1: Context and Background

●​ Provide essential background information about the topic.

●​ Explain why this issue is significant or timely.​
(E.g., “Over the past decade, digital tools have revolutionized classrooms, allowing students to collaborate across the
globe.”)

Section 2: Key Arguments or Perspectives

●​ Present 1–2 main ideas related to the topic.

●​ Use clear, concise language and evidence (statistics, examples, or quotes).​
(E.g., “According to recent studies, 75% of educators believe virtual reality can enhance understanding in STEM
subjects.”)

Section 3: Counter Arguments or Challenges

●​ Acknowledge opposing views or potential challenges.

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 ●​ Offer a balanced perspective while defending your argument.​
(E.g., “While technology brings numerous benefits, concerns about screen time and equity remain critical
discussions.”)

Section 4: Call to Action or Future Outlook

●​ Suggest actionable steps, predictions, or solutions related to the topic.​

(E.g., “It’s time for schools to invest in teacher training and equitable access to ensure no student is left behind in the
digital revolution.”)

3. Conclusion

●​ Summarize the main points discussed.

●​ Reiterate the significance of the topic.
●​ End with a thought-provoking statement, rhetorical question, or invitation for readers to engage (e.g., comment or
share their opinions).​
(E.g., “As we embrace the future of education, how can we ensure technology bridges gaps rather than widens them?
Share your thoughts below!”)

4. Visuals and Formatting (Optional but Encouraged)

●​ Include headings and subheadings to organize content.

●​ Use bullet points or numbered lists for clarity.

5. Tone and Style Tips

●​ Write in a conversational and engaging tone.

●​ Address your audience directly, as if speaking to them.
●​ Use varied sentence structures and avoid jargon.