Many of you are sure to be expert blog writers, but some additional tips are always helpful when writing a blog.

• Keep it short – between 500-1500 words.
• At the beginning of your blog, a short summary of your blog on what it is about is useful.
• Know your target audience: Write your post with your reader in mind. What will resonate with them? What do they want to know about? Why should they read it?
• The opening paragraph is important! The first paragraph should tell the reader what the post is about and why they should care about it.
• In terms of tone, although the blog can and should be less formal than a report or article, try not to be overtly colloquial.
• If you refer to research studies, please do carefully reference these and check your citations.
• Where available provide hyperlinks to references, programmes, other blogs.
• If you are making broad statements about violence against women, children or the state of the field, we encourage you to root these in evidence.
• Keep your blog short and simple: Readers generally scan a blog post. Keep it short and snappy, with a clear structure – including a major heading and sub-headings. Write shorter posts more often, using plain language (short, simple words and sentences). Ask yourself, would someone who knows little or nothing about the topic understand my blog post?
• Include images (that are shareable and do not breach confidentiality).
• Search Engine Optimisation: Make your post attractive to online search engines by peppering your blog with searchable keywords/phrases.
• End with a call to action and a #.