According to a study by the Nielsen Norman Group, nearly 80% of people don’t read online content—they scan it. You have seconds to capture attention, guide the eye, and make your content stick. That’s why formatting a blog is as important as writing quality content. How your blog is structured directly affects how long readers stay, how much they engage, and how well your post ranks in search results.
This blog post will walk you through the core principles of blog formatting so your content is easy to read, SEO-friendly, and built to keep your audience coming back.
Formatting a Blog 101: Things to Consider
Before writing your next post, it’s essential to know that formatting isn’t just about aesthetics—it’s about making your content easier to find, read, and act on. Here are a few key areas to understand before you write your next piece:
Understand Your Reader’s Intent
Most people visit blogs and articles for quick answers or actionable insights—not to read every word. That’s why formatting should align with the reader’s intent, whether it’s a tutorial, opinion piece, or guide.
Make Content Skimmable
With most users scanning instead of reading, formatting for readability is essential. Short paragraphs, bold headings, bullet lists, and clear visual breaks help readers absorb information faster. This structure keeps visitors on your page longer and improves engagement.
Ensure People Will See It (SEO-Friendly)
Excellent formatting also means optimizing for search engines. Proper header hierarchy, natural keyword insertion, and linking to related content help Google understand your page. This includes knowing how to reference a blog properly—using clear anchor text and internal links to strengthen SEO.
How to Format a Blog People Will Actually Read
Your blog layout needs to do more than just look good—it needs to function well. Below are key formatting strategies that make your content easier to absorb, whether someone’s skimming headlines or reading from start to finish.
The H1 to H6 Hierarchy
Heading tags aren’t just for visual styling—they’re critical for structure and SEO. Use one H1 for your blog title, H2s for major sections, and H3s for subpoints to help guide readers and search engines through your content. A consistent hierarchy creates a clear content map that improves readability and crawlability.
Get Your Section Spacing Right
White space isn’t wasted space. It helps break up the content, reduce cognitive load, and keep the reader moving comfortably through the page. Each heading, list, or image should be padded with space to avoid visual clutter.
Choose Fonts and Text Lengths That Work
Readability starts with the right font. Sans-serif fonts are clean, modern, and easy on the eyes. For reading comfort on both desktop and mobile, keep your text lines 45-75 characters wide. Use a readable font, proper sizing (usually 16–18px for body text), and line spacing (1.4–1.6) to create a smooth reading experience that keeps visitors engaged.
Place Images Where They Matter Most
Images should support the content, not just fill space. Position them near key points or to explain complex ideas visually. Add spacing around visuals so they don’t crowd the text, and always include alt text to improve accessibility and SEO.
Real Web Blog Examples That Got It Right
You don’t have to reinvent the wheel to understand what good blog formatting looks like—plenty of standout blogs already show how it’s done. Below are two web blog examples that consistently format their content in ways that improve readability, user experience, and SEO performance.
HeyTony
The HeyTony blog is a prime example of clean, reader-friendly formatting that supports user engagement and SEO performance. Each post is structured with clear headings, short paragraphs, and well-defined sections that make scanning effortless. The use of consistent visual hierarchy and accessible language also makes the blog appealing to both beginners and advanced marketers looking for actionable insights.
- Custom images that support content, boost memorability, and strengthen brand identity.
- SEO-friendly structure with clear headers, internal links, and keyword placement.
- Clean layout with smart spacing, bold text, and bullet points for easy reading.
Shopify
Shopify’s blog is a goldmine for high-quality posts, combining smart formatting with actionable content. Every post is divided into skimmable sections using bullet points, consistent headers, and supportive graphics. The layout is mobile-friendly, making it ideal for browsing on any device, and each article subtly guides users toward conversion points like product sign-ups or tutorials.
- Uses short, digestible paragraphs with lots of visual spacing
- Clean typographic hierarchy from H1 through H3
- Graphics, CTAs, and links are well-aligned with the reader’s journey
Common Formatting Mistakes
Improper formatting affects how long visitors stay and how your content ranks. Even minor formatting missteps can hurt both user experience and SEO, which is even more impactful if you’re blogging as a business. Here are three key things to look out for:.
Ignoring Mobile Formatting
With most blog traffic coming from smartphones, formatting that looks great on desktop but breaks down on mobile is a major problem. Oversized images, misaligned text, or clunky navigation can frustrate mobile users and cause high bounce rates.
Poor Spacing and Visual Flow
Crammed text, uneven padding, and long paragraphs can quickly overwhelm the reader. Using white space helps organize your content, making it easier to scan and more inviting to read.
Neglecting Alt Text on Images
When you skip alt text, you miss a key opportunity for accessibility and SEO. Alt text helps screen readers describe visuals to visually impaired users and signals context to search engines.
Start Formatting a Blog Like a Pro
In conclusion, blog formatting is about more than looks—it’s the key to holding attention, boosting readability, and helping your content perform better in search results. From using proper header hierarchy and white space to choosing clean fonts and placing images strategically, formatting decides how people engage with your blog.
If you want your blog to work harder for your brand, let HeyTony handle it. As experts in SEO in Hamilton, contact us today to create engaging content that gets results for you!
Originally published . Last updated .
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