A Fool Proof Formula for Creating Compelling Content

Restored from the Empower Network archive (2011–2017), lightly edited to meet our current advertising standards. Views are the original author’s.

Want people who find you online to actually read your stuff? Tired of having people click off your pages instantly? Not sure why you’re even in the content writing game, or if you’ll ever get even marginally good at it?

There’s a secret formula for creating compelling content.

It’s not simple, it’s not easy, but it’s foolproof.

Begin by defining your audience, and figuring out what they want to read.

Don’t guess at this. You have to understand the people you’re writing for. Check out your most popular posts by looking at your site’s stats on the dashboard of your blog. These are the ones that  have compelling content.

What pattern do you see emerging? Are those posts about similar topics? If you can narrow it down, you’ll know what your audience likes to read about. Then think of other ways you can give your readers even more insight about that topic.  This is “looking for your angle.”

Now – time for the headline.

Headline cheat sheets are all over the internet. Just Google it.

If these are new to you, go download a few, and have a look at what they reveal. These are proven formulas – so they work. Do any of them appear to be headline patterns for your most popular posts?

Two of the most popular and foolproof headline formulas for creating compelling content are these:

1. (number) of (something) that (result) – Numbers are fascinating – for example:

7 Secrets to Crafting Headlines That Compel People to Read More

2. What (thing) can teach you about (something else) – example:

Aristotle’s Ancient Guide to Compelling Copy (this one from Copyblogger)

Have a look at more of the headline patterns on the cheat sheets, and find one that works as a pattern for your own headline.

Now for the most important part of your post – luring in the reader.

Here’s where you need to hook the reader’s attention by describing the symptoms of the problem you’re going to talk about.  Just two to four good descriptive and vivid emotion- grabbing sentences at the beginning of your post.

Make them vivid, detailed and tap into all the frustrations that your reader may be feeling. Then let the reader know that there may be a way to fix the problem, and that you may have a solution for them.

Now write compelling content in your post body.

Here’s the foolproof formula in 3 parts for delivering the goods:

Explain the problem, and why it’s common.

Describe your insights into its solution

Let people know how they can take actions to apply what you’ve just taught.

Simple? Use this fool proof formula to create compelling content over and over.

The key to success is to keep writing. And with this formula, you’ll know just how to do that.

What better place to start building your compelling content than here on your own Empower Network blog?