How to End a Blog Post: 5 Powerful Ways to Write a Stellar Ending
After sharing my writing guide about what goes into writing an engaging blog post, I discovered I am not the only one who struggles to write a good blog post ending.
A bad ending can destroy 700 words of good writing while a good ending will make those same 700 words brilliant. I will spend as much time writing a blog post as I will spend juggling paragraphs and rewriting sentences until I hit upon the ending that is satisfying, lyrical on the tongue, and natural.
While this advice is linguistically aimed at bloggers and content creators, it applies equally well to all you poets, novelists, and short story writers reading this. A good ending is a good ending, no matter what form of literary narrative it is ending.
Here I share 5 ways to write a blog post ending that will leave your blog posts beautifully rounded off and conclusive.
What makes a blog post ending good?
Readers feel a good blog post ending when they read it. A good ending resonates with them and makes what they have just read a post to remember. While staying true to your writing voice and style in order to keep your blog posts consistent, let us talk about the 5 key ingredients that make good endings good.
Related: 9 Ways to Consistently Write Blog Posts Your Readers Will Love
A stellar ending is satisfying.
Even if it is not the ending the reader expected, a good ending still feels rounded and conclusive.
A stellar blog post ending feels natural.
Nothing is worse than forced writing! Your readers will feel the unnatural tension in your words and wonder if and why you lost interest in your post. They will start to feel uninterested too and leave feeling dissatisfied. A good ending needs to flow naturally, easily, and sound final on the tongue (Hint: This paragraph is a good example of a good ending).
A stellar ending leaves readers with an actionable explanation.
If your article claims to help readers learn or grasp a skill they are struggling with, your ending needs to reinforce the lesson you are teaching. Your ending needs to leave your readers feeling as if your post has lived up to its headline. To do this, consider writing a short summary of your key points and leave it at that.
A stellar ending leaves all questions answered.
If you need another paragraph to explain something, you need another paragraph. A good ending does not leave questions you posed at the start of your blog post unanswered. It certainly does not leave readers dangling, unless your post is part of a series, in which case the reader expects to be left with incentive to read the following part.
- Pro Tip: A stellar ending can leave all questions answered and also present your readers with an opportunity to take up a challenge relevant to your post, such as completing a ‘thirty days of self-care’ challenge or writing a post every day for a month.
A stellar ending encourages readers to think about your post.
Make your ending a question, or series of questions, your readers will want to think about after reading your post. Ask your readers how they will use and apply your advice. Try writing an ending that encourages your readers to think independently about topics and themes your post may not necessarily address in depth, but that are implied or touched on in your writing.
- Pro Tip: Link to related content throughout your post! If you touch on topics you have written more extensively about in another post, link to it. Also, do not be afraid to link to articles you found helpful that are written by someone else. If someone else can offer a perspective on something your readers are interested in, in an engaging and interesting manner, it is worth directing people to.
To write a stellar blog post ending, do not
- Leave readers hanging
- Be derogatory or insulting
- End with a summary about a topic unrelated to your post
- Be vague
- Wander off topic
- End mid-paragraph
- End before your story is finished.
Finally, contrary to advice I have read, I do not consider asking readers to share your post an ‘ending’. It may be the last line in your post, but it is not an ending!
Do you struggle with writing blog post endings? If so, did you find this post helpful? Tell me below!
Anita
Great post. Really insightful one to help write a better blog post. Thanks. Merry Christmas 🎁
Simplyalexjean
I always struggle with ending my posts – these are some great reminders and tips for why it’s so important to spend some time wrapping things up nicely! Thanks for this.
Raji (@journeyintofantasy)
Great post! I always have trouble writing the ending of a post, so I’m looking forward to trying out a few of these tips.
femaleoriginal
Great advice Jaya! I always find the ending and the opening of my blog posts the hardest to write. My go-to way to finish is usually by asking a question. I think it’s a great way to open up the conversation with readers 🙂
https://www.femaleoriginal.com
Jaya Avendel
So it is!
Karalee
These are great tips! I often struggle with ending my posts because I feel like they just cut off, but I do ask a question at the end to get my readers thinking about what I wrote & to share their experiences.
thetravelvine
HI Jaya, this is something I really do struggle with, but after reading this post, I definitely feel more confident about ending my posts now. I think, what would work for me, is a short recap of all the points I’ve raised, and anything major someone might need to look out for in a destination. An actionable ending to make them independently think about the post or questions i may have asked is also a really cool idea. Thanks for the tips. This certainly helps.
Jaya Avendel
I am delighted you found this helpful and pinning down the type of ending that will work best for you!
readandreviewit1
Great tips! I struggle a lot with some of my blog endings, but I do find asking questions at the end is a really great way to open up the discussion and get other people’s thoughts. Thank you so much for sharing, this was super helpful x
Jodie | That Happy Reader
These are some great writing tips Jaya! i always like to ask a question at the end of my posts which provides me with insight into my readers. Thanks for sharing!
Della Driscoll
These are some brilliant writing tips! You’re so right when you’re saying not to force writing – it’s important to let it flow naturally xx
Headphonesthoughts
I agree a stellar ending is needed for a blog post. I try to end my blog with a question.
Unwanted Life
I’ve always tried to end my articles with a so-called call to action to get the readers to leave a comment, although I don’t know how effective that is for natural commenters.
I like the idea of using a summary to help end an article. I’m not sure how often I’ve done that before. But I certainly feel like I’ve ended my articles and gone into my closing call to action without the smooth transition they obviously needed
Jaya Avendel
Practice makes perfect! We are all still learning our craft. And, when you aware of something, it is more actionable to work on improving it. 😊
Simona ~ The Grumpy Olive
I always struggle with the ending of a post, so this was a brilliant read Jaya! I can’t wait to put some of these in place for my own writing now!
Merry
Love this post, Jaya! Sometimes I struggle to end my post but mostly I ended them with CTA 🙂 This would be a great insight for me. Thank you for sharing 🙂
Jaya Avendel
Absolutely delighted you found this helpful!
Corinne
I always find the ending so hard! I usually just ask a question otherwise it feels like I’ve just stopped haha.
Great post!
Corinne x
Her Digital Coffee
Wonderful advice Jaya! It’s so important to leave your readers inspired. You want the reader to take action on how to apply the advice given in the post. By summing up things in detail it gives the post a thoughtful conclusion.
Jewish Young Professional "JYP"
This was very fortuitous, as I was drafting a post and was about to post it although the ending felt weak. I’ve decided to hold off and spend some more time thinking about what’s the last impression I want to leave the reader with and revise accordingly before I post.
I also realized after reading this that my beginnings and middles tend to be much stronger than my endings.
Jaya Avendel
I am delighted you found this post so helpful and have decided to give one ending time to blossom! <3
Daphny Aqua
This is quite helpful Jaya thank you so much, I always struggle the ending.
I'm All Booked Up YA
These are great tips!
Lisa's Notebook
I often write the endings of my posts before I write the introductions! For some reason I find this easier, almost as if I have an end goal in sight to aim towards. Great tips, Jaya, you’re spot on with not leaving questions unanswered, that’s a pet peeve of mine 🙂
Jaya Avendel
Thanks so much, Lisa, for sharing your thoughts!
paeansunplugged
These are great tips, Jaya. Though I mostly write poems, I guess some these are worth trying.
loveemblogger
I always end with a question to my readers and a little summary of the post as I never really knew how to end otherwise. Thanks for sharing these great tips! Em x
Kelly Diane
This is really helpful. I always struggle with how to end a blog post.
Lucia’s Fiction
Enjoyed this. Thanks for the tips!
Isa A
I actually never thought of ending perfectly. I just go with the flow with my writing. But learning is always there. I’ll keep these points in mind next time. So, thanks for a bright heads up! Xx
Isa A. Blogger
https://www.lifestyleprism.com/
Michele Lee
Solid advice! ✍🏻 👍🏻
Ingrid
Great tips Jaya! The same is also true of novels 😊
Charity
I always have a hard time ending my blog posts. This is such great information on how to do so! Thanks so much for sharing!
Michelle (Boomer Eco Crusader)
This is really helpful Jaya. Beginnings and endings are the hardest things for me to write. In a writing course I took earlier this year, the instructor said to write the middle first and then go back and write the opening and closing. It’s a good strategy.
Jaya Avendel
I have never tried that strategy, Michelle but, the next time I am struggling, I will have to give it a whirl! 🙂
Frank @ Beach Walk Reflections
Good pointers. My previous blog life lasted over 11 years. Before ending, I contemplated it for almost a year – then even mentioned I was thinking about it (I’m guessing about 6 months out). Finally announced it with several months to go will following my established routine – and carefully brought it to the end with a planned closure.
I recall the final post was in early February – but in the early fall I knew that was going to happen because I drafted my ending. It felt right – so I continued with my plan. After 11+ years, I had a lot to say – including many thanks – and it happened that closure was 5 parts. Although I made sure the last post was positive, I was emotionally spent at the end.
Jaya Avendel
I am touched reading this post on one ending for you, Frank, and absolutely love that you did what felt right!
Frank @ Beach Walk Reflections
Thanks … my plan brought closure for both me and my readers. Looking back, both are important. I may have felt sad at the end, but reader comments made me feel like a million!
summer with monika
With songs the beginning kills … thanks for the blogging tips!