How to Conclude a Blog Post- A Traffic Survival Guide (With Examples)
No Conclusion? :/
It was a lovely Sunday afternoon, and I was hoping to find some inspiration for my next blog post. An intriguing blog title caught my eye. I got on it instantly. The introduction seemed impressive. I scrolled way down to catch a gist of the topic, and I didn’t find it. No gist.
The post did not have a conclusion. (Yeah! I’m rolling my eyes.)
That’s it? 13 points on how to do something and the end?
Huh! I didn’t realize it before, but I recall that it didn’t take me more than a second to switch tabs.
No encouragement, no next steps, no engagement? Felt like robotic content to me, scrolling down.
How are you even marketing your blog without a persuasive conclusion? It’s your last chance to make an impression.
Imagine Moral Stories we read as kids, with no moral value at the end of the story?
The popular “Thirsty Crow Story,” with no concluding moral significance — “Where there is a will there’s a way”?
How to Write a Blog Post Conclusion
A lot of new writers DM me on Instagram asking questions like,
“How to get started as a content writer?”
“Should I start a blog?”
“How to find a niche?”
“How to build interest in a topic?”
Endless questions.
How do I help them?
An Instagram DM is surely not a place where I can answer questions in a 1500 word essay. So, I provide them with easy and actionable steps that encourage them to get started.
That’s what you need to write in your conclusions- provide easy and actionable steps.
Let’s learn how to conclude a blog post.
1. Summarize the Content
If you’ve been blogging for a while now, you would have noticed that most people do not read the entire piece. They skim through the post and decide if they want to read it all.
You’ve already nailed your introduction, it’s time to give your readers a taste of quality at the end of your post.
Summarizing your long form content makes your readers want to read your full post. They get an idea about “what’s in there for them?”
Write a summary so crisp and prompting that drives them back to your comprehensive article.
How to write a Blog Summary-
- Be selective and meaningful
- Split your conclusion into snackable chunks
- Answer basic questions — “what”, “where”, “when”, “how” and “why”
- Have an objective
- Knit everything together
This is how Neil Patel summarized one of his topics, “What is Demand Generation?” The summary comprises all the points mentioned above and hence gives the readers a clear idea about the article.
2. Complete the Story
If you initiated your article with a story, conclude that story.
In one of my content pieces-How to Write a Blog Post, I commenced with, “I have planned a “writing” trip for you. and I wrapped up with, “Let’s unpack and get to work fellas.”
Introduction of the Story
Conclude the Story
Finish your story. Don’t leave it hanging.
3. Motivate your readers
I have a Free Content Review Service going on my Instagram from the past few days. So, one of my followers approached me to avail that service. I offered her a tailor-made document with solutions and references.
While we were discussing the points, she asked me, “How do you manage your time?” and “How do you stay consistent? It’s very difficult for me to do all of it.”
And I gave her a pep talk. She thanked me and loaded me with kind comments. I felt overwhelmed. It was nice to hear all of it from someone who I don’t even know personally.
Do you get what I am saying?
Sometimes all your reader’s wish is a dose of motivation to take their first step or get the courage to leap over an opportunity. They just want to hear that they are not alone in the process and it’s okay to have bad days.
This triggers them to take action.
Use this similar strategy in your conclusions. Give your reader’s a motivational talk. Push them through boundaries and help them achieve their goals.
I liked this positive and motivational conclusion by Jon Morrow for a post on How to Start a Blog.
Encourage your readers to Start Now
4. End with a Question:
A thought-provoking question for the introduction and an engaged question for the conclusion works nicely.
Connect with your readers at the end of your post. Ask them a warming question that sparks them to communicate their thoughts.
A few questions for your reference,
- What struggles are you facing with the (topic)?
- Which tip are you going to try first and why?
- Did I miss a point about (topic) that you’d like to mention?
- How do you draw your conclusions?
- How do you deal with the (topic) when it gets too much?
- What are your favorite books/tools/stores for the (topic)?
- Anything else you would like to ask me around (topic)?
- Did you find the tips helpful? Let me know in the comments below.
Expressing thoughts connects your readers to an individual behind the article, not a robot.
5. Add a CTA (Call To Action)
Okay, I’ve read your article, got the information, What Next?
A common question with an easy solution. Give your readers something to follow as they bid farewell to the post. The Call to Action depends on your blog’s marketing requirements. Whether you want to,
- Collect emails to build an audience
- Get your readers to buy your product/service,
- Sign them up for a daily newsletter.
- Increase social shares and traffic to your blog
- Offer free value to lead them towards the sales funnel.
Encourage your readers to take action. Don’t make them wait and wonder. They’ll bounce away. Seize the opportunity.
A few examples:
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6. Challenge you Readers
You’ve done an awesome job with your article by offering the finest solutions. Now, It’s time to make your readers implement your advice.
Challenge them to accomplish a task and ask them to share the results in the comments. Start a conversation and initiate discussions with those actionable challenges. Prepare your readers to eat the fruit of the wisdom they just consumed.
Prompt your readers to follow your advice and let them take a taste of the results they get from it.
Example:
Topic — Parenting Tips
“Keep your kids away from digital devices for 7 days. Follow the tips mentioned in the post and share your results in the comments below.”
7. Direct your readers to other links
Navigate your readers to another insightful post that helps them and in turn strengthen your internal/external linking structure.
If you have a similar post on your blog that could help your audience, link it in your concluding statement.
Check out this conclusion by Hubspot. They are directing their readers to an Ultimate Guide that is another post on their site.
Another example by CopyBlogger, where the conclusion navigates the users to some useful sources to find quotations for their blog post.
8. Build curiosity
Talk suspiciously about your new learnings and when are you going to share it with your readers. This helps promote your future content and makes the readers curious about upcoming posts.
Example:
“I’ve been taking a course for a while now. This life changing method is going to change the way you think about marketing. Stay tuned for some freshly brewed content.”
I once curated a series of 4 articles on “How to become a Virtual Assistant”. Each post ended with an interesting conclusion that spoke about, “what will you learn in the next post from this series.”
This is another way to build curiosity if you are writing a series of articles.
Conclusion
How would it feel, if I don’t give you a conclusion now?
Most of you won’t bother. Yeah, that’s the point, you won’t bother but I want my readers to ponder and take actions to achieve their goals.
So, I want you to share this blog with your writer and blogger friends/colleagues (You see, what I did there )
Moral of the Story — However great your title is, your post is, if it doesn’t have a strong conclusion you are losing- losing your readers, losing traffic and losing trust.
Follow the strategies above to learn how to conclude a blog post.
Did you find the post helpful? Let me know in the comments below.
Are there any other ways that you have on how to end a blog post? Would love to know.
