NESx CAMRA – Blog Post Guidelines
The recent proposal to develop a content management strategy to improve the branch website included the suggestion that we launch a new blog (a dedicated part of the website where we offer articles, personal commentaries or other types of content) to raise our profile. The blog posts can be produced by anyone in the branch who fancies writing about something that interests them. Beer-related, of course!

We don’t want to get into ‘teaching grandmother to suck eggs’ territory. But for those unfamiliar with the world of blogging, we set out below some quick tips for blog post writing. They’re not exhaustive. And certainly not mandatory (with the exception of copyright). But are simply intended to help get you started. Good luck!

The origins of blogs
Blogging originated in the 1990s as people started posting online diaries or ‘weblogs’. A term which was soon shortened to ‘blog’. Strictly speaking, the blog is the platform and the blog post the article, although they’re often used interchangeably.

Length
When people first started blogging, posts were short. Often as little as 100 to 200 words. As the form evolved, they got longer. And digital marketing experts will tell you the ideal length is typically around 1,400 to 2,500 words. But it depends very much on the sector and what readers want. So, make them as long as or as short as the topic, and your preferences, dictate!

Title
An eye-catching blog post title often makes the difference between people reading or not reading a post. Think about what interests your readers. Pique their curiosity. And keep the title simple and to the point.

Content
Decide who your audience is: active members, non-active members, beer specialists, newbies… And identify a subject that will likely interest them. Consider structuring your content around the following points:

• An introduction that grabs your audience’s attention with a bold quote, funny anecdote or challenging question.

• Development of the body of the post using clear language, an active voice, avoiding over-complex or lengthy sentences, steering clear of fluff or jargon, offering original insights. If appropriate, insert links to relevant external sources to bolster your arguments.

• Wrap the piece up with a conclusion that ties everything together.

• Run a final edit on the post, checking for spelling and grammar mistakes and awkward syntax. (Grammarly.com is good for this.) Reading your draft out loud is also a good way to check readability. Even if people (or the cat) give you a funny look!

• Decide on a tone of voice that resonates with your readers: informal, funny or serious, depending on the context. But always keeping it authentic and bringing warmth and humanity into the writing to help readers connect with the real you.

Make the content reader-friendly
Use headers and short paragraphs, and bullet points where appropriate, to break the post up into bite-sized chunks and make it easier to read. Use an appropriate header photo to make the post more visually appealing. And use photos or other graphics in the piece if they support the content.

Copyright
Ensure you follow copyright rules on any photos or graphics used in the piece. This usually means using your own photos, using images that are in the public domain, following the terms of a Creative Commons license on Wikimedia Commons, or using one of the free stock image websites (eg Unsplash.com or Pexels.com).

Alignment with CAMRA aims
The Social Media Co-ordinator reserves the right to edit blog posts before they are published, or choose not to publish them, if they are not aligned with CAMRA policies, aims and objectives, or breach the branch constitution, and to ensure the material fits the goals of the blog.

New Posts
Members can submit new posts via email (or discuss ideas for new posts) to ku.gro.armac.xSEN@aidem.laicos

NESx CAMRA August 2026