From Research to Outlining: Learn the Art of Structuring Your Content
Welcome back to the “How to Write Like a Pro” series, where we share valuable tips and tricks to improve your writing skills.
In this fourth part of the series, we will be discussing how to structure the body of your content.
Our focus will be on providing informative and engaging content that incorporates keywords related to making money online and getting paid today.
We’ll share some practical steps to follow before writing, such as conducting content research, understanding the search intent of the audience, and outlining your post.
By the end of this post, you will be equipped with the knowledge to create compelling content that ranks higher in search engine results and attracts more traffic to your site.
So, let’s get started!
(I wrote this introduction, to help you recall what we have learned in the last part)
Creating Informative and Engaging Content
With respect to our example, the body of the post will go into more detail on the topic “different ways to make money online”.
There are some steps to follow before you start writing your thoughts.
1️⃣Content research:
Start by researching the topic thoroughly to gather information and ideas. Look for articles, videos, and other resources that are related to “How to make money online.”
Try to understand the different methods and strategies used to make money online.
2️⃣Search intent of the audience
Identify the search intent of the target audience.
What are they looking for when searching for information on how to make money online? What are their pain points, needs, and interests?
Understanding the search intent of the target audience will help you write content that addresses their specific needs and desires.
For example:
People who search for “how to make money online” typically have one of the following search intents:
🔹Informational intent: People who are looking for general information about making money online. They may be new to the idea of making money online and are looking for an introduction or overview of the different ways to make money online.
🔹Educational intent: People who are looking for detailed information on how to make money online. They may be looking for step-by-step guides or tutorials on how to start an online business or how to make money through different online platforms.
🔹Transactional intent: People who are actively looking for ways to make money online and are ready to take action. They may be looking for specific opportunities to earn money, such as freelance work, online surveys, or selling products online.
🔹Investigative intent: People who are looking to research and evaluate different ways to make money online. They may be looking for reviews or comparisons of different online money-making opportunities, as well as information on the risks and rewards of each option.
Overall, people searching for “how to make money online” are often looking for ways to supplement their income, start a new business or career, or achieve financial independence.
Now we can use some tools to get better results.
🔸Google Keyword Planner: Google Keyword Planner is a free tool that allows you to research keywords and get ideas for your content. Simply enter a keyword related to your topic, and the tool will show you the search volume, competition, and related keywords.
🔸Google Trends: Google Trends provides data on popular search terms and topics. You can use this tool to see how search trends have changed over time and what topics are currently popular.
🔸Google Search Console: Google Search Console is a free tool that provides information on how people are finding your website through search engines. You can use this tool to see the keywords that people are using to find your website and what pages are getting the most traffic.
🔸SEMrush: SEMrush is a paid tool that provides data on search engines, including keyword research, site analysis, and competitor analysis. This tool can help you understand the keywords that your competitors are ranking for and what types of content they are producing.
🔸SERP Checker by Ahref: Ahrefs’ SERP (Search Engine Results Page) Checker is a powerful tool that can help you with your content research and writing. When it comes to writing content about “How to make money online,” the SERP Checker can show you the top-ranking pages for that keyword. By analyzing these top-ranking pages, you can get a sense of what kind of content is currently resonating with your target audience.
For example, you can look at the headlines, subheadings, and topics covered by the top-ranking pages. This can give you ideas for the structure and focus of your own content. You can also see what types of content (blog posts, videos, infographics, etc.) are ranking well and consider incorporating them into your own content strategy.
Now you have enough information. The next step is preparing the skeleton.
3️⃣Outline the post
Writing is not just about putting words together; it’s about creating an organized structure that makes sense to the reader. When you’re writing content, whether it’s an article, blog post, email campaign, e-book, speech, or anything else, you need to organize your ideas into a logical order. And that’s where an outline comes in.
Now, if you’re one of those people who can instinctively organize content into a clear framework, then I’m green with envy! But if you’re like me and need some help, don’t panic!
Check out these six different outline formats that will help you get started:
🔹List
The list outline is pretty straightforward — organize your content into a list of topics or categories without hierarchy or sequence. It’s easy to understand, and it’s the format I’m using right now in this article!
🔹Cause/Effect
This format is perfect for persuasive writing. You present a problem (the cause) and then present a solution (or set of solutions). For example, check out “Does Your Headline Do Its Job?” to see how to hook your reader with an engaging headline.
🔹Sequence
This outline is great for content with a built-in structure. It may be chronological or a series of steps. This format is perfect for how-to’s like “How to Write an Outline” (which is probably what you’re looking for right now).
🔹Simple to Complex
This format is useful for organizing complicated or confusing content. You present one idea, followed by another that offers more detail, and so on until the end when the reader has a clearer understanding of the problem.
🔹Whole to Parts
This outline introduces a big picture point first and then explains the different parts individually — and how they connect or relate to each other. For instance, “How to Write Devotionals: Use a 3-Part Structure” explains the three parts of that structure and what each contributes to a devotional.
🔹Comparison
With this approach, your ideas are organized to show how they are alike and how they are different. The comparison outline shows two sides of the story.
Remember to organize your ideas in a way that makes sense to your reader, and make sure to use subheadings and structure your writing in a scannable manner.
4️⃣Write the post
Write the post, making sure to keep it engaging and interesting. Use examples, stories, and case studies to illustrate your points. Also, include actionable steps and tips to help the audience make money online.
5️⃣Optimize for search engines
Use keywords related to “How to make money online” throughout the post but don’t do unnecessary Keyword stuffing, as a content writer your challenge is making requirements for the keywords in every paragraph.
This will help the post rank higher in search engine results and attract more traffic to the site.
Sample Paragraph:
Making money online is a great way to supplement your income or even make a full-time living. There are many strategies to make money online, including starting a blog, selling products on e-commerce platforms, and taking surveys. However, it can be difficult to know where to start and what strategies are best for you. That’s why it’s important to do your research and understand your target audience’s needs and interests.
Search Engine Optimized Version:
Maximizing your earning potential online starts with understanding your target audience and their interests. By researching the best ways to make money online, you can pinpoint the strategies that align with your audience’s needs, such as starting a profitable blog, selling popular products on e-commerce platforms, and taking high-paying surveys. With the right approach and a clear understanding of your audience, you can increase your chances of success and start earning money from the comfort of your own home.
The second paragraph is optimized for search engines because it uses keywords and phrases that are relevant to the topic of making money online. The keywords “make money online”, “earning potential”, “target audience”, “best ways to make money online”, “profitable blog”, “popular products”, “e-commerce platforms”, “high-paying surveys”, “right approach”, “clear understanding”, “earning money”, and “comfort of your own home” are all relevant to the topic and are frequently searched by users looking for information on how to make money online.
Additionally, the paragraph provides clear and concise information that is relevant to the topic and is written in a way that is easily understood by the reader.
This makes it more likely that the paragraph will rank well in search engine results and attract the target audience who is interested in making money online.
To further optimize this paragraph, I could include synonyms for the keywords, use headings and subheadings, and include internal links to other relevant content on the website.
These practices help to create a well-structured and organized article that is easy for both the reader and search engines to understand and navigate.
Hurray!!!! More than half the process is done.
The next part of this series is “Pro-Marketing Tips”.
