How to quickly write a blog article outline

Imagine you are sitting in your favorite coffee shop, a hot latte beside you, your notebook open and ready, and you are prepared to write your next awesome blog post. Everything seems ready, but after writing for a while, you start to feel that the content is disjointed, and you are not sure what you are trying to communicate. If you are confused, your readers will be even more confused.

This problem often occurs when we start writing without an outline for the article beforehand.

Fortunately, this is a problem that can be easily avoided. This article will teach you how to write an effective blog post outline, helping you write articles faster and with more focus. A template is provided for you to copy and use.

The main components of a good article outline

A blog outline is a framework that indicates what the article will discuss, the perspective it will take, and the issues it will present to make it easier for readers to understand. Generally, an outline should include at least:

• Main topic: What will you write about?
• Perspective: From which perspective will you present that topic?
• Structure: What points will you have to support your perspective?

Step 1: Choose a topic to write about

Start with a specific topic, for example, instead of writing "traveling to Japan," ask yourself:

• Where are you going?
• Why go?
• When are you going?
• How do I get there?
• What are you doing there?

From this simple question, you can delve into several articles, such as an experience of being in a car accident while renting a car, a review of a shrimp boat, or the most impressive autumn foliage.

Step 2: Select the "View" of the article

A good topic is not enough if you don't have your own specific perspective. For example, if you write about Acadia National Park, instead of telling it generally, try writing from the angle:

• Why is this the best place to see the fall foliage in New England?
• Is there anything you should know before hiking the tough trails here?
• Which restaurant sells the best lobster rolls near the park?

Step 3: Choose the article format

Before you start writing, you should choose what type of article you want to write, for example:

• How-to: Instructions on how to do something
• What is / Why is / When: Explain or provide in-depth information
• Review: Product or service review
• List: Recommended or ranked items
• Personal essay: Sharing personal experiences
• Knowing beforehand how to write will help prevent interruptions while writing.

Step 4: Outline the main points

Choose 3–5 main topics to discuss, such as:

Topic: Things to Know Before Hiking in Acadia

Main issue:

• Evaluate your own abilities before choosing a path.
• Shoes suitable for the terrain
• How to cope with a scary journey
• The route to choose if you have limited time.
• What time should I go hiking to avoid crowds?

Step 5: Fill in the details for each point

Each main topic should have 2-3 subtopics to expand the content, such as:

• Topic: Assessing Abilities Before Choosing a Path
• Some routes are only suitable for professionals.
• Use a map to help choose a route that suits you.
• Some tough routes have shortcuts to avoid if you're tired.

Step 6: Consider the "conclusion"

Summary should:

• Summarize the main points briefly.
• Recommend what the readers should do next, such as signing up for emails, sharing posts, or clicking to read other articles.
• End with a reminder for the readers to remember the article.

Step 7: Review the layout again

Before you start writing, check that:

• Is your perspective clear?
• Are the topics arranged in a logical order?
• Preparing a good outline from the beginning will save a lot of writing time later on.

Example of an article outline

Topic: 5 Things to Know Before Hiking in Acadia National Park

• Format: Listicle
• Introduction: Sharing hiking experiences at Acadia and things to know beforehand
• Point 1: Assess the difficulty level of the trail to suit yourself.
• Point 2: Choose shoes suitable for the trail conditions.
• Point 3: How to manage fear when climbing
• Point 4: Which route should be chosen if time is limited?
• Point 5: When is the best time to hike when there aren't many people?
• Summary: Attach the park website link for people to find more information.

Template for actual use

• text
• Copy
• Edit
• Introduction (What is the perspective of this article?)

Article type:

• Main issue 1
  • Subtopic 1
  • Subtopic 2
  • Subtopic 3
• Main issue 2
  • Subtopic 1
  • Subtopic 2
  • Subtopic 3
• Main issue 3
  • Subtopic 1
  • Subtopic 2
  • Subtopic 3

Summary

CTA (if any, such as sharing, following, or clicking other links)

So when should I write the outline?

You should write an outline if:

• Write a long article (over 1,000 words)
• Writing a complex topic requires research.
• Assign someone else to write it instead. You need to explain the structure clearly.
• But if it's a short article or a personal story, you might let the ideas flow naturally.

Writing an outline doesn't have to take a long time, but it helps you write articles faster, with better quality, and more focused than before. Once you get used to it, you won't want to write without an outline ever again.