How to write Breathtaking Blog Posts: The PEN Framework

Do you suck at writing blog posts?

I do. When I started TheVisionFamily, my writing was a big sucker! So much so, that my mom hated it as well.

So, I got frustrated & googled - how to write a blog post?

I researched it all. But ALL I found was shitty advice & repetitive tips that don't work in 2019 anymore.

So, what works in 2019?

The PEN Framework

Regardless of how amazing or horrible of a writer you are, the PEN framework is determined to help you write eye-popping blog posts in 2019.

Let's dive right in.

How to write a blog post?

Let's face it, Blogosphere is crowded - there are over a billion blogs today!

How on Earth will you stand out when more than 2 million blog posts are published daily? 

Here comes -

The PEN Framework : Influence by Content!!

- By Varun Gera        ​   

Here's the deal:

The PEN Framework will give you the superpowers to make any blog post go viral!

In fact, you'll become unstoppable!!

What is PEN Framework?

The PEN Framework is a practice cum process developed to create viral/evergreen blog posts from scratch!!

Note: The practitioners of PEN framework will not be able to produce ordinary content onwards! Proceed at your own risk...

The PEN Framework is divided into 3 parts:

P - Discover a big problem 

E - Trigger emotions by agitating the problem 

N - Solve their problem by storytelling

P + E + N = PEN

Now, let's see the PEN framework in action -

If your blog post isn't solving a problem, then there's something wrong.

The bigger the problem you solve the bigger will be the chances of it going viral.

Here's how you can find non-negotiable problems -

1. Define your target audience (2 minutes) -

Slip into Their Shoes!

Before writing even a single word - Define & understand your audience.

Here's what I personally do -

This will allow you to write in the language they understand & boost your credibility!!

The bottom line?

Create buyer personas & leverage AIDA for mind-mapping -

​

Take it from Kulwant Nagi -

After understanding your audience, it's time for the strategy -

2. Choose your topic & approach (7 minutes) -

I. Answer The Public -

Head over to answerthepublic.com & type in your industry popular keywords.

For example - I have entered 'blog post'

Boom!

You can see almost every question your readers ask Google, i.e. their problems related to your industry...

Here's what I finalized -

Now, Understanding + combining the above three, I got -

Parent Topic - how to write a blog post?

That's what people want to learn/know in the first space! 

I personally prefer the 'how' category but you can listen to your gut feeling & select the best 2-3 questions accordingly.

II. Validate your Topic -

Next step is to validate the worth of the topic we chose above:

Use Google keyword planner or KW Finder to make sure people are searching for it -

As you can see, people search for "how to write a blog post" 4.4k times a month in India alone!

Also, "how to write a blog" is with the same intent & seems promising for SEO efforts!

Congratulations, Validation completed!

Note: If you're a beginner, choose a long-tail keyword with low competition & monthly searches b/w 100-10k max.

The Bottom line?

Finalize a topic which people love not what you want. Also,

3. Research (30 minutes) -

​

No, I'm not talking about keyword research,

Understand the anatomy of virality -

​

Time for a nitty-gritty secret...

I. Buzzsumo -

Go to Buzzsumo.com & enter the topic (how to write a blog post) you finalized above -

Boom!

You can see what's already gone viral - the treasure!

Now, Choose 3 winners and open them in new tabs, then

II. Search it on Google -

Search your keywords on google -

Now, that's the cornerstone content!

They have passed the SEO test of Google with flying colors: open the top 5 results in new tabs & now -

III. It's magic time!

​

Viral Content + Cornerstone Content = Evergreen Content

Here's, how it works -

For a second, Become a reader & read/skim all the blog posts we opened above. You'll find that -

Cornerstone content from Google makes you feel more confident & expert in your topic. 

On the other hand,

Viral content presents a unique and creative approach of the same topic & help you remember the information by storytelling in a visual format!!

Ideally, your blog post should mix both ingredients in proper amounts to impress as well as educate readers!

Note: Don't forget to collect relevant data & figures to embed in your blog post!

According to Microsoft, people now have a shorter attention span than goldfish with 9 seconds...

So, what should you do to stop people from leaving your blog post?

Trigger their emotions

Here's how to do it -

4. Craft a magnetic Headline (11 minutes) -

The fun fact?

8 out of 10 people will read your headline but only 2 out of 10 will read the rest!

So, what should you do?

Hook

Place a hook in your 'headline' to entice readers & Leverage FOMO - Fear of Missing Out for hunting the prey!! 

Grab the attention of your readers by an irresistible offer in your headline which they can't afford to miss!

→ You can Promise to help your audience achieve their goals or leverage Curiosity Gap like Upworthy -

Upworthy is one of the world's fastest growing media companies who counted 88 million visitors in their first year - 2013, leveraging curiosity gap!!

Can you feel the heat, now?

Yeah, it's hot!

Listen what Istiak has for you -

Bonus Tip - Before proceeding further, make a basic outline of your blog post! Leverage subheadings throughout your blog post to impress readers cum skimmers!! 

5. Write an irresistible introduction (15 minutes) -

For cinema lovers -

The introduction is the trailer of your blockbuster movie (blog post) & people don't buy a movie whose trailer sucks!!

So, how do you create a stunning trailer?

SPO Formula: Story - Problem - Outcome

In fact, you're here because I implemented SPO formula in the introduction of this blog post -

Story - Give your readers the first dose of emotions by telling a story!

Problem - Talk about the problem you'll solve

Outcome - Don't tell everything you will cover (solution) instead make them more curious about it!

The bottom line?

Leave them begging/craving for your content.

A blog post should be narrative i.e. tell a story!

Humans are born storytellers: the need for stories is rooted deep inside our brains.

So, if you can tell a story that hooks people, drives them through an emotional roller coaster, you'll do extremely well!!

Let's get back to basics for a second...

Storytelling & Blogging: The inevitable marriage!!!

So, if you are not telling a story, then you are not blogging!

Here's how to tell a story that hooks people to listen:

6. Write: Unleash the Storyteller (3-6 hours) -

The stage is all set, the audience is getting crazy...

It's show time!

Write the body -

Warning - You can't afford to ruin your audience mood now - Maintain the rhythm & emotions of your headline, introduction & give them what they want!! 

Write the body with just one purpose in mind - to get the next sentence read!

And then, the sentence after that & so on, all the way down to do what you want: Call to Action

I. Pick one topic/subhead to start with -

Choose the most comfortable topic first & then present your unique perspective on the same!

Be creative & write like an expert cum friend!!

II. Empower the backbone -

Boost the credibility of your blog post by embedding relevant facts & figures!

People don't read ordinary stuff...

So, you should make bold claims and use the data & research (collected in the 2^nd step) to back up your points & link to the trusted sources for reference.

III. Connect the dots -

Make your blog post sound like a story by using content currency.

7. Kiss with Content Currency (33 minutes) -

Keep it sweet and simple (KISS) with Content Currency

Content Currency is used to gain the trust of readers by trigerring their emotions using images, videos, GIF's & other visuals in your blog post!

Here's the deal:

Content Currency bribes the readers to stick to your blog by storytelling!!

And humans always remember good stories & storytellers like -

Remember this?

Google Reunion - The heart-touching story & cinematography was a remarkable breakthrough in brand films!

With a whopping 14M+ views on YouTube alone, it went viral & many people (like me) still carry this story along - unforgettable!!

The Bottom line?

Not convinced yet?

Don't worry, take it from WPBlogging360 thinker in chief -

The bottom line?

The readers are corrupt! Bribe them with content currency!!

Wait... Here's a bonus tip for you -

Bonus #1: Psychology of Fonts -

Every font inherits a unique personality & purpose!

In fact, the human mind perceives the font subconsciously before anything -

So, choose your font wisely.

That's it!

The mighty PEN framework has come to a close... you now know - how to write a blog post!!

Conclusion - 

Are you tired of writing blog posts that no one reads? I've been there too...

But The PEN Framework has changed things for me & it can do the same for you too provided that you use it properly!

The bottom line?

To write like Hemingway you need a pen - The PEN Framework!

Share your thoughts in the comments: Will you use The PEN Framework to write your future blog posts or pencil is more economical to you?