As time goes on, the human race creates bigger and better things. From mobile phones to coffee makers. From laptops to cars. Generally, technological advances make products better, easier to use, and improve on the previous model.

But when it comes to writing, going back to basics and learning for the original great writers is often the best way. Their wisdom usually can’t be bettered.

Rules for Writing

I recently came across George Orwell’s rules for writing. If you use them, particularly rules 2 and 3, as a starting point when you’re writing content for your website, you won’t go far wrong.

1. Never use a metaphor, simile, or other figure of speech which you are used to seeing in print.
2. Never use a long word where a short one will do.
3. If it is possible to cut a word out, always cut it out.
4. Never use the passive where you can use the active.
5. Never use a foreign phrase, a scientific word, or a jargon word if you can think of an everyday English equivalent.
6. Break any of these rules sooner than say anything outright barbarous.

If you aren’t particularly confident about blog writing, or writing any type of content for your website, keeping it simple will really help. Use everyday language. If your post includes a complicated topic, make sure you explain it using plain English. Don’t use jargon or language only those in your industry will understand.

Keep sentences and paragraphs short. Make it easier on the eye by including images and headings. Most people skim read so headings will tell them which are the bits they want to read.

Damn

Another great piece of writing advice from one of the great writers is this quote from Mark Twain:

“Substitute ‘damn’ every time you’re inclined to write ‘very;’ your editor will delete it and the writing will be just as it should be.”

I do this quite often with ‘really’ as well as ‘very’ and not only does it make me laugh when I read back over my work, but once you take out ‘damn’, the text reads so much better. Give it a try and see how much of a difference it makes to your writing.

How I can help

If you’re looking for some help to get you started writing a blog for your website, I’ve got lots of resources that will help. There are lots of blog posts that you can read here, sharing tips and advice to help you create brilliant content. Click here to read the posts. My newsletter The SEO Club is another great resource. It lands every Tuesday (ish) and is full of tips, chat and a bit of dating banter thrown in for good measure too (who knew dating and SEO had a lot in common?!). When you subscribe, you’ll get my free download “Start Selling with SEO” to get you started.

I’ve got a couple of digital resources to help get your creative and planning juices flowing. “24 Content Ideas for your Business Blog” and “SEO Workbook” do what they say on the tin. The first gives you lots of ideas for blog posts, the second guides you through the basics of SEO and helps you build an easy-to-follow strategy so that you’re website attracts the right people and brings in more sales.

I’ve also got a range of services from Keyword Research to Power Hours, Mini SEO Audits and Blog Packages. They all help you to make sure you’re using the right words and your content is full of engaging and well-written content that showcases you and your business, helping to build trust and highlighting your authority in your field.