What is your favorite part of the weekend? Let me tell you mine! Bowl of popcorn, cold beer, the company of my friends, and the game of my favorite football (sorry folks, must keep our European friends happy) team on the television.
Unfortunately, due to the recent events, I can no longer enjoy these magical weekends, and I am sure many of you feel the same way. So how can we keep our thirst for sports satisfied?
We can exercise and play video games. But is that enough for sports aficionados? No! – At least not for me. To get my extra dose of sporting emotions, I relive past triumphs by reading and writing about them.
Here is how you can write a captivating blog that will allow you and your readers to enjoy sports even though stadiums are closed and competitions are put to a halt.
Don’t Be Afraid to Travel Back in Time
Everything New Is Actually Well-Forgotten Old
Sports blogs are diverse and can tackle multiple subjects. From the best players in the game and the most memorable moments to the most unjust arbitral decision, and anything in between. This can make it difficult to choose a topic.
To make things easier for me, I stick to sports that I know and understand. Also, I tend to write about events that happened before I was born, so I can enjoy a new experience even though it has happened a long time ago.
This, however, doesn’t mean that recent events should be ignored. Sharing your emotions about a moment that you have witnessed with your readers can be extremely satisfying.
Know Your Audience
Do Your Research
Don’t treat your readers like rookies. Most of them know their sport and don’t need an explanation about what a goal, touchdown, or home run is. However, you should also assume that they do NOT know everything. Give context where it is necessary but don’t go into too many details.
Always do your research before you start writing. You cannot objectively or even subjectively share your opinion about a competition, singular moment, or player that you haven’t witnessed or know anything about.
We are fortunate to live in times where information is at the tip of our fingers. To gather materials, I watch YouTube videos, read sports news, browse through numerous sporting blogs, and even watch documentaries. All this allows me to not only get acquainted with my topic but also experience emotions that I can transfer in my articles and share with my followers.
Share Your Emotions but Be Professional
Like Athletes, You Must Be a Role Model
Sports elevate adrenaline and allow people to experience emotions that they normally don’t. I still vividly remember the night of the “Remondata”, March 8, 2017, when FC Barcelona beat Paris Saint Germain 6-1 to come back from a 4-0 loss from the first leg. An unforgettable Champions League scenario that got me so pumped up that I couldn’t fall asleep until 6 a.m. Unfortunately, I had to get up for work at 8 a.m.
As a blogger, it is your job to transfer those emotions in your article through engaging storytelling. Don’t be afraid to open up and share with your readers your pre-game excitement, worries during the match, and happiness of the victory. The more genuine you are with your emotions the higher the chance for your followers to relive that particular moment in time.
When you’re writing about sports events, not all emotions will be positive. While it is good to express your disappointment in your team’s failure, you should never use foul language or swear. Be courteous towards your opponents because that makes you a better writer, displays good sportsmanship, and shows respect towards your readers.
For a Slam Dunk, Combine Soft and Hard Articles
Diversity Is the Foundation of All Successful Teams
The ability to combine individual talents for the benefit of a group is at the core of all legendary teams. Each player brings his stone to the edifice and contributes to the final triumph.
Blogging is similar. You cannot solely rely on one type of article to earn the interest of readers. You should write different types of blogs on various topics to not only retain your current followers but also attract new ones, some of which may not even be sports fans.
Combining soft and hard articles is an effective way to diversify your blog. But what are soft and hard articles?
- Hard articles — Hard articles are read quickly and present the most important facts first. Journalists call them “inverted pyramids”. The first paragraph offers information about who, what, where, when, why, and how, while the next paragraphs provide additional details. Readers can just read the first paragraph to understand the entire content of the article.
- Soft articles — Soft articles are usually longer and examine a trend or larger issue. When they are well written, they can be captivating, motivating, and educational. They also allow writers to showcase their creativity and express their thoughts.
As a copywriter for a content writing agency, I use soft articles to develop topics that are trendy and sought after. For example, I would write a lengthy blog about the NBA playoffs, the Super Bowl, or the FIFA World Cup.
Alternatively, I use hard articles to mention secondary events that readers want to know about but don’t want to spend more than two minutes reading about them. A perfect example is the game for 3rd place at all football World Cups.
Be Social
Sports = Unity
If you have a comments section on your blog or use different social media platforms, don’t be reluctant to exchange with your followers. You may learn something new and relive past moments through their perspective.
Even if your opinions don’t match, sports are about bringing people together and what better way to spend your time than to talk about sports when all competitions are paused.
“Sport, like all of life, is about taking your chances” – Roger Bannister
Talk to you soon!
Koko
