Give us your opinion!

Opinion posts offer a fantastic opportunity to engage with your audience and attract new followers. They allow you to share your thoughts and emotions while establishing a strong connection with like-minded individuals.

It's important to note that opinion posts are not equivalent to low-quality, sensational gossip articles. In fact, in traditional print media, they are referred to as op-eds and are highly respected.

When executed effectively, opinion posts can drive traffic to your website and attract readers who share your viewpoints.

To create a compelling opinion post, start by presenting your conclusion right at the beginning, just as I did in this post. Then, support your argument with well-researched facts and undeniable truths.

Step One: Focus & Research

Choose a specific issue to focus on. Determine whether it's a timeless topic or a current event. In the opening paragraph of your post, introduce the topic as a longstanding argument or indicate its relevance to the present. Conduct thorough research, especially if you have never written an opinion post before. Begin by searching on Google News.

Type in relevant keywords or industry-specific terms and hit enter. Look for subjects that evoke strong emotions in you, whether positive or negative, as these are ideal for opinion posts.

Step Two: Provide Supporting Evidence and Use Powerful Language

Share your opinion confidently. Present supporting facts and evidence that bolster your stance on the topic. It's crucial to rely on reliable expert sources for your factual information. Additionally, think about using power words in your headline to capture readers' attention.

Step Three: Consider Length and Tone

For shorter opinion posts, appeal to your readers' reason and gently persuade them to your side. If you're crafting a longer opinion piece, you can incorporate elements of outrage and controversy. However, maintain a conversational tone throughout your post.

Step Four: Take a Clear Stance and Mind Your Tone

Avoid being neutral in your opinion piece; it's essential to express a clear position. If you find yourself attempting to remain neutral, it may be best to choose another topic. The most impactful opinion posts take a definitive stand. Remember, this piece of content is not an essay or lecture but a means to win hearts and minds and grow your audience. It's perfectly acceptable to convey your passion for the subject.

Step Five: Enhance with Images

Select an image that effectively conveys your emotions and include it in your post. Remember that Google Images cannot be your go-to resource for any photo you need.

Here are some options:

Take your own photo.
Create one using Canva.com.
Purchase a stock image.

Using someone else's image without permission constitutes copyright infringement, which can result in significant fines for you and your business.

If your content is related to current events or celebrities, it's advisable to purchase paid images from platforms like Deposit Photos. Paid stock sites offer a wider range of celebrity images that can be used for editorial purposes only.

Step Six: Call to Action & Promotion

Summarize your content and include a call to action. It can be as simple as asking, "Do you agree?" or something more elaborate like, "Where do you stand on this issue?"

When it comes to promoting your opinion piece, adjust your strategy based on whether the topic is time-sensitive or evergreen. Topical opinion pieces tend to lose traction as the news cycle evolves. Strive for a balance between topical and evergreen opinions to avoid having traffic only when you publish an opinion piece—being known for this alone.

When executed effectively, opinion posts will help you build an audience of like-minded individuals. By incorporating them into your content plan and sharing at least one opinion piece per month, you'll enhance your skills in crafting compelling opinion posts.

Remember, optimizing your opinion posts will result in more engagement and a better connection with your readers

When you've created your Opinion Post remember take the link, and share it in the Blogging Challenge Facebook Group

Looking forward to seeing your Opinions!

Sarah

P.S. If you've found this via a search engine then come on over and join the 30-Day Business Blogging Challenge - it's free!