How I Write an Outline For a Blog Post

Just write! How many times have you heard the advice to just get right to the task of writing if you want to get anything done? Well, it’s basically true. Butt in chair. Hands on keyboard. Go, go, go!

But, what comes first? A headline? A nut graph? An outline?

I’m a cheerleader for outlines. I think of outlines as roadmaps of structure, formatting, information, stats and talking points that will shape final written pieces. An outline may be brief, or laden with details, sources and quotes.

The length and depth of an outline will vary depending on the type of content you’re producing and your writing style.

In this post, I’m explaining my go-to outline writing process when tackling a new content marketing writing project, blog post for one of my sites and long-form social media content. I’ll share:

• How an Outline Helps You Stay Focused
• Why an Outline Reduces Revision Requests
• The 6 Steps to My Content Writing Outline

How an Outline Helps You Stay Focused

In my experience, creating an outline before digging into those savvy paragraphs and well-placed quotes can save you from organizational frustration and extra desk time later.