The easy 6-step process for setting up a Shopify Blog Post Template

Want to create a Shopify blog post template that ranks and engages your audience? You're in the right place.

In this guide, we’ll walk you through a simple 6-step process to craft a blog post template with a Shopify page builder that:

• Optimizes your content for SEO

• Boosts reader engagement

• Establishes a strong call-to-action

• Converts readers into new customers

By the end, you'll have a proven framework to create blog posts that drive traffic and conversions for your Shopify store.

Ready to dive in? Let's get started.

6-step process for crafting a Shopify blog post template that ranks

One of the easiest (and fastest) ways to create Shopify blog posts is by using a Shopify page builder. This is because using a page builder, like Instant, will allow you to create posts from a library of pre-built templates in an all-visual writing environment. Plus, you can integrate diverse content types, including products, videos, images, and more, into your posts. 

Using this six-step process, you’ll be able to:

• Develop a proven formula for creating high-quality blog posts

• Boost your search engine rankings and drive targeted traffic

• Engage your audience with compelling content and a user-friendly layout

Tools requirements to get started: 

• A Shopify plan that supports the Online Store module 

• An Instant Page Builder account: you can publish your first blog post for free with the free plan (or pick the Starter plan for unlimited blog posting for $39/month). 

Now let’s dive into the process:

Step 1: Define your blog post structure for optimal readability

A well-structured blog post is essential for keeping readers engaged and making your content easy to consume. You want to create a clear, logical flow of information that guides readers from the introduction to the conclusion.

By starting with a pre-made template from Instant’s Template Library, you can take advantage of structures that have been proven to work for SEO and readability! Here’s how to begin crafting your blog post structure in Instant: 

How to set up your Blog Post Template in Instant

1. Inside the Instant Builder, in the left side panel under Layouts, click on the Blog posts plus (+) icon. 

2. Next, click on the Template Library to select a pre-made template that you can customize to match your brand and needs.

3. Select a template that fits your needs and add it to your project.

Now, you have a blog post template that you can customize inside the Visual Canvas! 

Tips for structuring your eCommerce blog post

Here are some tips to keep in mind when working on the layout: 

• Use a simple, easy-to-follow outline

• Include a table of contents for longer posts

• Incorporate transitional phrases to guide readers through the content

Begin with an attention-grabbing introduction that hooks your audience and sets the stage for the rest of the post. Use short paragraphs, bullet points, and plenty of white space to break up the text and improve readability. This helps readers quickly scan the content and find the information they need.

End your post with a satisfying conclusion that summarizes the key points and leaves readers feeling informed and inspired to take action.

For example, check out this blog post by Mette Sanker:

This is a recipe post for a forager-influencer to promote her new book and other related products. It's simple, easy to read, and has a subtle but effective CTA to promote a product within the blog.

Now that you have created the perfect foundation for your blog post - it’s time to customize it!

Step 2: Optimize your Shopify blog post formatting for engagement

Once you have a solid structure in place, it's time to focus on formatting your blog post for maximum engagement. 

• Break up long blocks of text with relevant subheadings that clearly describe the content of each section. This helps readers navigate the post and find the information they're looking for.

  
  

• Incorporate high-quality images, infographics, and videos to visually enhance your content and break up the text. Visual elements can help illustrate complex concepts, provide examples, and keep readers engaged.

  
  

• Highlight key takeaways, statistics, or quotes using pull quotes or call-out boxes. This will draw attention to important information and make your content more memorable.

  
  

• Embed relevant products for quick conversions. Adding products to your blogs is one way to convert your blog traffic into customers. For example, in a gift guide blog, you could include product sections so shoppers can instantly add these items to their carts. 

To quickly customize your Blog Post Template, you can drag and drop any of the 200+ sections from Instant’s Template Library onto the Visual Canvas to edit. Here’s how to add them to your blog: 

How to customize your Shopify Blog Post Template with sections:

1. Inside of the Instant Builder, navigate to the Insert panel on the left side: 

2. Open the Template Library. 

3. Pick a section to add to your blog post. 

4. Click on the content in the visual canvas to edit it (E.g. to add in text, connect your Shopify products, change an image, adjust the style to match your brand, etc). 

Step 3: Implement SEO best practices in your Shopify Blog Post Template

Incorporating SEO best practices into your blog post template is crucial for improving your search engine rankings and driving targeted traffic to your blog. Start by researching and strategically placing relevant keywords throughout your content, including in the title, headings, and body text.

Here’s an SEO checklist for your Shopify blog posts

• Use a focus keyword in the title, headings, and throughout the content.
  
  

• Ensure your post meets the ideal word count for your target keyword.
  
  

• Include relevant LSI (Latent Semantic Indexing) keywords to provide context.
  
  

• Optimize your meta title and meta description to accurately reflect the content of your post.
  
  

• Use descriptive image alt text to help search engines understand the context of your visual content.
  
  

• Include internal links to other relevant pages on your website, as well as external links to authoritative sources that support your content.

Once you have an idea of what you’d like to include, here’s how you can make these adjustments inside of Instant: 

How to optimize the SEO of your Shopify Blog Post Template in Instant

1. Inside Instant, go to the left Layout side panel, and click the three dots next to your blog post, then select Blog Post Settings. 

2. Inside the Blog Post Settings, you can: 

• Set the post name (e.g. “Top Five Hacks”)

• Create the handle (e.g. “top-five-hacks”)

• Select the type of blog or subject category within your Shopify store to publish this post under (e.g., "News").

• Assign an author to the post

• Select or upload a featured image, which will be visible when sharing the post on social media.

• Write an excerpt: Add a summary or teaser for the blog post.

• Add an SEO title (up to 70 characters).

• Add an SEO description (up to 320 characters). 

• Preview your SEO settings: Check out how these will appear on Google to ensure they are enticing potential visitors.

Now that you’ve perfected your Blog Post Template for SEO, it’s time to improve the written content for maximum conversions: 

Step 4: Craft compelling headlines and subheadings

You can edit your blog post copy and text directly inside Instant’s Visual Canvas. Simply click on the text you wish to edit in the template (or add in more text elements in the builder!). 

Here are some things to keep in mind when optimizing your blog copy: 

• Your headline is the first thing readers see, and it can make or break their decision to click through and read your post. Write clear, benefit-driven headlines that pique curiosity and entice users to learn more.
  
  

• Use numbers, power words, and emotional triggers to make your headlines more compelling. For example, instead of "Tips for Better Sleep," try "7 Proven Strategies to Help You Sleep Like a Baby Tonight."
  
  

• Keep your headlines under 60 characters to ensure they display properly in search results and social media shares. Use a similar approach for your subheadings, making them descriptive and engaging to keep readers moving through the content.

Bonus: Headline writing tips

• Write multiple headline options and choose the best one

• Ask ChatGPT to come up with variations of your headlines 

• Test different versions of your headlines using Instant’s A/B testing tool

• Use headline templates for inspiration and structure

Step 5: Establish a strong Call-to-Action (CTA)

Well-written and crafted Shopify Blog Posts are where content and commerce come together. Adding in well-positioned and relevant CTAs is your chance to turn your blogs into revenue generators.

Here’s what to keep in mind when crafting your CTAs: 

Your blog post should have a clear purpose, whether it's to educate, entertain, or inspire action. 

• Determine the desired action you want readers to take after consuming your content, such as signing up for your newsletter, making a purchase, adding an item to their cart, or sharing the post on social media!
  
  

• Place CTAs strategically throughout the post, including in the introduction, at the end of key sections, and in the conclusion. Use action-oriented language and create a sense of urgency to encourage readers to take the next step.
  
  

• Ensure your CTAs stand out visually by using contrasting colors, bold text, or eye-catching buttons. Make them easy to find and click on both desktop and mobile devices.

Step 6: Proofread and polish your Shopify Blog post

Before publishing your blog post, it's essential to proofread and polish the content to ensure it's error-free and engaging. Check for spelling, grammar, and punctuation errors that could distract readers or undermine your credibility.

Ensure your post maintains a consistent brand voice and tone throughout. This helps create a cohesive experience for readers and reinforces your brand identity.

Preview the post to confirm proper formatting and readability across different devices and screen sizes. Make any necessary adjustments to optimize the user experience.

Proofreading and polishing checklist

• Read the post aloud to catch awkward phrasing or unclear sentences

• Use a proof-reading tool like Grammarly or Hemingway Editor to identify errors and improve readability

• Have a colleague or friend review the post for feedback and suggestions

• Use Instant’s Viewport Feature at the top of the Visual Canvas to see how your blog looks across different screen sizes

Once you’ve previewed and polished your blog template, here’s how you can publish it to your Shopify store (note: Instant and Shopify must be connected already for this to work!). 

How to publish your Blog Post Template to Shopify: 

1. Publish: Click on the Publish button in the upper right-hand corner to make the blog post live on your Shopify store.

2. View the published post: After publishing, a notification will appear at the bottom of your screen. Click on View blog post to navigate to the live blog post directly from this notification.

3. Verify in Shopify: Go to Shopify’s Online Store section, find Blog Posts, and locate your newly created post to ensure it is correctly published! 

Now, your Blog Post Template is published to Shopify, and ready to be shared with your audience!

Crafting your Shopify blog post template for success

By following these six steps and incorporating them into your Shopify Blog Post Template, you can create high-quality, engaging content that ranks well in search engines and resonates with your target audience. Consistency is key, so be sure to use this template for every blog post you create to streamline your content creation process and maintain a high standard of quality.

One easy way to reuse this template that you’ve just created is to duplicate your Blog Post Template in Instant, and simply change the text/images/content for your next blog! 

With Instant’s Starter plan, you can publish an unlimited number of Shopify blogs for only $39 per month. This makes it easy and affordable to scale up your blog process, for maximum impact! 

Get started with Instant today, so you can begin turning your Shopify blog into a revenue-generating SEO machine.