10 Tips for Revising and Updating Your Article or Blog Post

Author:
Abby Slutsky
Updated date:
Jul 11, 2022

Abby Slutsky graduated University of Pennsylvania with a B.A. in English and writing. She has written copy for more than 12 years.

Having a revision plan can help you make more impactful updates to your articles and blog posts.
Thought Catalog via Unsplash; Canva

The inspiration for this article came to me when I was responding to a fellow author who asked how to revise an article. These tips are relevant to your own blog or any content you want to revise.

Regardless of where you publish, revising your articles will help keep them fresh and relevant. In addition, updating your articles may help you get the attention of more readers and improve your article's traffic. Below are the 10 main things I like to do when revising and updating my articles.

1. Take a Good Look at The Title

Your title is the primary way you attract readers. My article might not be getting the traffic it deserves because the title is not interesting to readers. Does the title make the reader think that the article is likely to be of value to them? If not, it may be necessary to change it. Would you read an article with your current title? Research your topic. Notice the titles of articles that initially appear. Is there a common word in those titles? Does your title contain it? Consider revising your title to include that keyword.

2. Examine the First Paragraph

The first paragraph must hook your reader and keep them reading more. If your first paragraph does not deliver, your reader will abandon the article.

3. Make Sure the Content Relates to the Title

If it does not, this does not necessarily mean you need to change the whole article. What it might mean is that you need to come up with a new title. You need to decide whether you prefer the information you shared with a title that is relevant to it or whether you want to create new content that delivers what your existing title promises.

4. Try to Give the Article Broader Appeal

Sometimes, when I revise an article, I try to give it broader appeal. For example, if I wrote an article about Christmas gifts for mothers, I might expand the title to encompass more holidays. Wouldn’t those gifts be equally suitable for mom’s birthday?

5. Review for Spelling and Grammar

Even though I am fairly religious about using spell check, it is not infallible. Properly spelled words that are used incorrectly may not be identified. I try to reread for spelling, typos, and grammar issues. Although this is really more proofreading than revising, I usually do it when I revise.

6. Add Keywords

When I revise articles, I look for ways to insert additional keywords. Sometimes, I revise an article and notice there are no keywords in my sub-headings or initial paragraph. If that is the case, I try to correct it.

Sometimes I have sufficient keywords, but they are not placed well. Most people read from left to right, so it is better to place the keywords on the left side of the paragraph. However, there is a fine line between adding keywords and keyword stuffing, so I have to be careful not to overdo it.

7. Tighten and Improve Your Sentences

When I first write an article, there are times when I try to get to a specific article length. However, I may be wordy or redundant at times. If I catch that when I am revising, I will eliminate redundancies and try to add another relevant subheading or paragraph that adds new information to the article.

Do not just look for redundant content; look for redundant words, too. Check to see if multiple sentences in a row start with the same words. Sentence vocabulary and variety make written work more interesting to read.

Let a frend look at your original and revised copies. They may offer suggestions.
Ron Lach via Pexels

8. Search for and Read Similar Articles

Searching for similar articles and reading them may spark your creativity and inspire you to add other topics or information to your article. An article that comes up quickly in a search on a topic is probably delivering something that your article is not.

Pay attention to keywords and their placement, and note any additional information the article offers that you may not have included. Could you do a little research and provide the reader with a more thorough answer to their question than what your article currently includes?

9. Read Your Article’s Comments and Respond With Improved Content

If your article is already published, and you are revising it to keep it fresh, review any comments readers have left. Did any readers ask you for new information or ask about anything that invites you to expand the article? Answering your readers’ questions will make your article more inviting to read.

10. Get a Second Opinion Before You Finish Revising

Ask someone else to read the revised article. Show them the original version, too. As a writer, you know what you want to say, so you may not identify any missing information. (Your mind will probably just fill in the gaps.) Another reader may be able to give you additional suggestions.

This content is accurate and true to the best of the author’s knowledge and is not meant to substitute for formal and individualized advice from a qualified professional.

Comments

Abby Slutsky (author) from America on April 09, 2021:

I appreciate you taking the time to read.

The nap time techie on April 09, 2021:

Quite an informative piece of writing. Thanks a lot, Abby :)