The Importance of Writing a Blog Outline

As a full-time blogger, I know that creating a blog outline can be the difference between producing high-quality content and crafting something that falls flat. In this article, I’ll go into great detail about what a blog post outline is and why writing one is essential, and I’ll provide tips and tools to help you get started. 

80% of Bloggers report that blogging drives results. – Orbit Media

What Is a Blog Post Outline? 

A blog post outline is simply an organized list of the topics and points that you plan to cover in your post. It helps keep your content focused and organized, so it flows logically from point to point. By creating an outline beforehand, you can make sure that all of your ideas are expressed clearly without any unnecessary detours or redundancies. 

Yesterday, I sat down to publish a blog post for one of my niche websites. I wanted to answer a question as a blog post and likely would have been able to come up with 500 words to answer the question. Having an outline generated, however, I created 1300 words that I would have never thought of, which was very helpful to the reader.

[I used ChatGPT for the Outline, Jasper AI to create the blog, and Surfer SEO to optimize].

Why Write a Blog Post Outline? 

A blog outline is helpful because it allows you to organize your thoughts before putting them into words on the page. Having a written plan makes it easier to stay focused while writing and gives you something to refer back to if you need clarification or feel lost in the middle of writing.

Additionally, having an outline makes editing much simpler since you will already have an idea of what needs to be changed or removed from your piece. 

And if you use a blog outline generator like ChatGPT or Jasper, you’ll likely include subtopics you hadn’t even thought of.

How Outlining Can Improve Your Writing Process 

Startlingly, only 40% of marketers have created a documented content plan. (Content Marketing Institute).

Have you ever heard the saying “fail to plan, plan to fail”? When it comes to blogging, that adage has never been more true. Outlining your blog posts can be a game-changer if you’re an experienced blogger or a newbie.

Outlines provide structure and organization for your writing. They also help increase clarity ad focus on the topic at hand.

Here’s my blogging process if I’m using AI writing assistants to help

Here’s my blogging process if I’m using AI writing assistants to help

1. Keyword research to find a topic (I use SEMrush)
2. Ask ChatGPT to create a comprehensive outline
3. Create a content editor in SEMrush for the target keyword
4. Open Jasper. Use the one-shot blog post and post the first portion of the outline
5. Using my originality.ai chrome extension, check for AI content detection
6. Copy the content into the editor (Jasper)
7. Open Jasper Chat and search the web for appropriate quotes, stats, or references
8. Repeat each section
9. Ask ChatGPT or Jasper for a FAQ and add it to the bottom
10. Open the Surfer SEO integration in Jasper
11. Check the score, and add any additional NLP keywords or sections advised
12. Add Images using Canva Pro
13. Ask ChatGPT or Jasper for a meta description
14. Check Grammarly for spelling, grammar, and plagiarism
15. Add to Blog, and use Link Whisper for internal linking

Organizing your thoughts into an outline is a great way to get the creative juices flowing. By brainstorming potential topics and ideas related to your post before you start writing, it can be easier to create an organized structure to present these topics.

This way, when it comes time to write, readers can easily follow along with the main points of your post from beginning to end. Additionally, outlines can help you identify any missing pieces of information or loose ends that need tying up in order for the post to be complete. 

Clarity and Focus 

An outline allows you to keep track of the important elements that make up a good blog post – such as clear main points and supporting details – so that you don’t forget anything important.

It also helps ensure that each point is relevant and cohesive with the rest of the post; this makes it easier for readers to understand what they are reading without becoming confused or distracted by unrelated content.

Plus, if any tangents or distracting thoughts pop up during the writing process, jotting them down in an outline can help keep you focused on staying on track. 

Outline Your Blog Post: Old School vs. New School 

But what’s the best way to outline? Should you get old school with a notebook and pen or use the latest digital tools? Let’s look at both traditional methods of blog post outlining and how they compare. 

Outlining by Hand 

The traditional approach to outlining involves grabbing a notebook and pen and jotting down your ideas on paper or in a journal. This may be useful for some because it allows for visualizing your thoughts on paper without any distractions from digital tools.

It also allows one to organize ideas quickly and easily, which can be helpful during the planning stage of the writing process. 

Outlining Using Digital Tools 

Digital tools such as Google Docs, Evernote, or Notion provide an alternative for those who prefer to work digitally. These tools offer features like tagging, creating subheadings, organizing different sections into columns, linking documents together, and so much more – all of which can help keep your ideas organized while making it easier to move them around as needed later on. Plus, these digital tools are often more intuitive than their analog counterparts and simplify sharing ideas with colleagues.  

Add AI tools like ChatGPT and Jasper AI to your outline process, and you have powerful resources at your disposal. AI generative tools can help you brainstorm ideas, create an initial structure or outline for the post, and suggest additional topics in specific sections.

An AI prompt could be as simple as “Make me a comprehensive blog out line for [topic]. And after writing the outline, you could add this prompt [What should I have included in this blog that I didn’t?].

Comparison of the Two Methods 

So which method should you use when it comes to outlining? Ultimately it depends on your preferences and how comfortable you are with technology. Both methods will get the job done when it comes to organizing your thoughts and getting them down on paper (or screen).

However, if you prefer working digitally, there’s no reason not to utilize digital tools over traditional methods – they definitely have their advantages! 

Unlock Your Creative Mind With Blog Post Outline Generators 

You may find yourself stuck in a rut or unable to devise an interesting concept for your next blog post. Fortunately, blog post outline generators are here to help! Read on to learn more about two top blog post generator tools and how they can help unlock your creativity. 

ChatGPT and Jasper – The Best Blog Post Generator Tools 

ChatGPT and Jasper are the best blog post generator tools available today. I also like Frase, but I don’t need the additional tool since I have Jasper.

Both services offer users creative prompts to help spark blog post ideas.

They use AI technology to generate topic ideas based on keywords and other factors. They give users a way to come up with original content and provide insights into what readers want to see in an article. 

Benefits of Using ChatGPT and Jasper 

One of the biggest benefits of using ChatGPT or Jasper is that it helps bloggers create unique content quickly and easily. Rather than spending hours brainstorming ideas, writers can get their creative juices flowing in just a few minutes by simply entering some keywords as prompts into one of these tools.

Additionally, both services provide detailed feedback about each topic idea, so writers have all the information they need to decide which topics are worth pursuing. Finally, both services allow writers to save time by providing helpful tips for formatting, organizing, and editing their posts once they’ve been written. 

How To Use ChatGPT and Jasper 

Using either one of these blog post outline generator tools is easy! All it takes is entering keywords or phrases related to your topic into the search bar provided by either service. From there, you will get various topic suggestions that will help you develop an original idea for your next blog post quickly and easily. Once you’ve chosen a topic, you can use the helpful tips provided by either service to format, organize, and edit your post until it’s ready for publication!  

Personally, I prefer the blog outlines that ChatGPT generates. I start there and then move over to Jasper for the content creation. I like that I can open Jasper chat, toggle the web button to the on position, and research info, stats, and links while I build the blog.

The Blueprint for Writing a Stellar Blog Post 

Writing an effective blog post is no easy task. Knowing how to organize your thoughts, decide on a topic, and define your purpose and target audience can be daunting. But if you have the right blueprint for creating an effective blog post outline, you’ll find that the whole process becomes much easier. Let’s break down the steps to creating a stellar blog post outline. 

Defining the Purpose and Target Audience 

Before you start writing, it’s important to define the purpose of your blog post and who your target audience is. What do you want to achieve with this post? Are you trying to educate readers on a particular topic or provide how-to instructions?

Knowing your goals will help you create content that resonates with your readers. Additionally, understanding your target audience’s age range, interests, and level of expertise will allow you to tailor the content specifically for them. 

For example, if you are writing a blog post about saving for retirement, your audience might be older individuals looking for advice on how to plan for their future. Alternatively, if you’re writing a blog post about the latest video game, your audience might be younger individuals curious about the newest technology.

Determining Your Main Topic and Subtopics 

Once you have identified why you are writing and who will be reading it, it’s time to determine your main topic and subtopics. What angle will you take in discussing this topic? Is there any research or data that needs to be included? These points are clearly outlined before moving on to further steps. This will help ensure that all relevant information is included in the final product. 

Organizing Subtopics into a Logical Structure 

When organizing subtopics into an outline structure, make sure each section flows naturally from one point to another. Start by introducing the main idea in an introductory paragraph, followed by supporting evidence in subsequent sections.

Use headings and subheadings (H2, H3) as needed so readers can easily understand each point without getting overwhelmed by too much information at once. Additionally, ensure each section includes its conclusion, so readers know when they’ve reached the end of that particular idea or thought process. 

Here’s an example of a blog outline for a blog about using an instant pot. I created this using ChatGPT.

Prompt: provide a blog outline about using an instant pot (for beginners). Each Roman numeral would be H2 headers, and the letters would be H3 headers.

I. Introduction

A. Definition of an Instant Pot

B. Benefits of using an Instant Pot

C. Purpose of the blog

II. Getting Started

A. Unpacking the Instant Pot

B. Understanding the components

C. Setting up the Instant Pot

III. Basic Functions

A. Pressure Cooking

B. Slow Cooking

C. Sautéing

D. Steaming

E. Rice Cooking

F. Yogurt Making

IV. Safety Measures

A. Understanding the Pressure Release Valve

B. Avoiding Burns

C. Preventing Overflow

D. Staying Safe while using the Instant Pot

V. Cleaning and Maintenance

A. Cleaning the Instant Pot

B. Maintaining the Instant Pot

C. Troubleshooting common problems

VI. Recipes to Try

A. Quick and Easy Dinner Recipes

B. Breakfast Recipes

C. Vegetarian Recipes

D. Dessert Recipes

VII. Conclusion

A. Recap of Benefits

B. Final Thoughts

C. Encouragement to Try Out the Instant Pot.

VIII. References (if applicable)

Adding Details and Examples To Each Section 

The last step in creating an effective blog post outline is adding details and examples to each section. This helps bring life to each point while providing readers with real-world examples they can relate to or use as references later on down the line.

Be creative with presenting these examples; if appropriate, include visuals such as graphs or charts along with written descriptions or anecdotes from personal experiences related to the topic at hand.  

Taking some time upfront can save hours of editing later because everything will already be organized in a logical structure, ready for writing out quickly and efficiently!

Conclusion

Outlining a blog post is like drafting the structure of your house: it provides you with necessary support and helps ensure that all important information makes its way in. It’s also integral for readers, allowing them to easily follow along on your argument or viewpoint – think of it as creating signposts throughout!

So how does one go about composing such outlines? ChatGPT has made constructing comprehensive ones effortless; once done, shift over to Jasper for content creation – voila, you’re ready to build something great!

FAQ

Resources

A. ChatGPT: Blog outline generator

B. Jasper: AI writing assistant

C. Originality.ai: AI content detection

D. Grammarly: spellcheck and plagiarism detection

E. Canva Pro: Blog images

F. Link Whisper: Internal Linking once the blog is completed