Make Consistent Blog Content Using Outlines in TextExpander

Keeping a blog regularly updated with content can be time-consuming.

Whether you like to blog about tech or interiors, productivity or food, style or fishing (or style and fishing), you’ll want a fuss-free way to streamline your writing process.

This post will show you how to harness the power of TextExpander, letting you instantly insert snippets of text via quick search or abbreviation, to build blogging frameworks.

Your framework snippets will act as a checklist for content. Use each item in the following list as a prompt for what to write in that section. Then simply delete the prompt at the end. You can read our first blog post on article frameworks here.

Here are a few blogging frameworks to get you started.

The Review Blog Post

Whether you’re reviewing a book, movie or a show at the theatre, your snippet can act as a guide to covering all the most important components of your review.

Here’s an example of what you may include in a Review Blog Post snippet:

• Image of movie poster
• General overview of movie theme and genre
• Run down of lead/support actors in the movie
• What the movie sets out to achieve
• What the movie delivers on
• Examples of the best scenes
• Examples of the weaker scenes
• Overall strengths of the movie
• Overall weaknesses of the movie
• Consideration of both sides, and final verdict

The How-To Blog Post

When teaching your readers how to do something, you need your instructions to be clear and concise. Whether you’re teaching your readers how to make the perfect crème brûlée or how to fix a bicycle puncture, make sure to cover everything needed.

Here’s an example of what you may include in a How-To Recipe Blog Post snippet:

• Image of dish
• List all ingredients needed
• List all equipment needed
• Information on oven pre-heating
• Cookery instructions
• Series of images showing process
• Common mistakes and how to avoid them
• Pro-tip for beginners
• Image of final dish on counter
• Image of final dish being eaten

The Anecdotal Blog Post

If your blog is more anecdotal, your snippet can be the interviewer you need to pull out your best stories. In this way, you ask yourself your most thought-provoking questions.

Here’s an example of what you may include in an Anecdotal Blog Post snippet:

• Header image
• Where did the story take place?
• How old were you at the time?
• What was going on in your life?
• What happened?
• Which part do you remember most vividly?
• What happened after?
• What did you learn most from the event?

The Interview Blog Post

Sometimes it may be relevant to interview guests or experts on your blog.

Use a snippet to build your interview blog post framework that covers all the aspects you are keen to explore while giving your interviewee room to riff.

Tip: If you’re conducting your interview via email, you can also set up a snippet with questions to email to your interviewees, making sure you never miss an important question.

Here’s an example of what you may include in an Interview With A Business Expert Blog Post snippet:

• Image of interviewee
• Introductory paragraph, including brief explanation of most notable works
• Where their career began
• Struggles they faced early on in the world of business
• How they overcome difficulties
• A story they’d like to share about working in business
• Description of their work and business now
• Highlights of their current working life
• Future plans for their business
• Advice to young entrepreneurs

Better Blogs, Less Stress

As your blog continues to grow and develop, you can create more frameworks to suit your needs. Use this guide to build your own blogging frameworks and improve your writing workflow.

Frameworks in snippet form mean you can use frameworks quickly in whatever the writing app du jour is. Here’s how to make a snippet:

If you’re a blogger, let us know how you’re making the most of TextExpander.