Writing a blog post or some other piece of marketing content is a lot like putting a puzzle together. You’re taking pieces of information and crafting it into a narrative that matches the vision you intended for the piece.
With that in mind, let’s look at some tips that apply when putting a puzzle together and when writing a piece of marketing content. While some of these tips may apply to quick social media posts, they are primarily aimed at pieces of content that are over 250 words.
If you like putting together puzzles, but are hesitant to start writing marketing content, I hope this post will help. Here we go!
1. Start with what you know 
When I’m putting together a puzzle, I like starting with the end pieces. Because they’re easier to identify. Similarly, when it comes to writing, start with what you know (“the end pieces”). This could be the premise of an idea, a fact that you want to build the post around, or something entirely different.
Remember to get something on the page. The rest will fall into place once you’ve conquered that first hurtle of getting started.
2. Look at the big picture
It’s a lot more difficult to put together a puzzle without a picture of the end result. Similarly, you should have a general idea of what you want the end result of your piece of marketing content to look like. Is it long or short? Is it filled with graphics? Is it meant to persuade others, educate them, or do something else?
3. Find the pieces you need to flip over
You can “flip pieces over” by doing research. Not sure what to write next? Do some research on the subject and see if anything pops out at you.
Here’s some research on research, courtesy of Backlinko:
- Research helps your blog stand out
- 47% of marketers use research in their content
4. Be patient
Just like puzzles often take several hours to complete, content marketing can take a while. So, try to take your time with what you write.
Take a break and do something else, even if it’s for only 10 minutes. If you’re not on an urgent deadline, don’t be afraid to step away for one or more days, especially if you’re frustrated. Come back to it with fresh eyes and see how it all comes together.
5. Have fun with it
Like big puzzles, content marketing may seem somewhat intimidating at first, but it can be a lot of fun. Treat it like a challenge, one that you can overcome with a bit of research, grit, and patience.
