Opinion blog post template
An opinion post argues for a position and backs it up. Use it when you disagree with common wisdom in your field and can defend why, so readers leave with a clear view to agree or argue with.
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The template
Replace each bracketed prompt with your own words. The headings give you the structure; delete any section your post does not need.
[Your Bold Claim or Perspective]
[Open with a strong, clear statement of your position. Don't hedge -- say what you believe and why you're writing about it now. What made you feel this needed to be said?]
The Way Things Are
[Describe the current situation, conventional wisdom, or status quo that you're challenging or commenting on. Ground your opinion in observable reality so readers see you've done your homework.]
Here's What I Think
[Lay out your argument clearly. What do you believe and why? Use evidence, personal experience, data, or examples to support your position. Be specific -- vague opinions are forgettable.]
Reason 1: [Supporting Point]
[Develop this point with evidence or examples.]
Reason 2: [Supporting Point]
[Build on your argument. Each reason should add something new.]
Reason 3: [Supporting Point]
[Your strongest or most surprising point often works well last.]
The Counterargument
[Address the strongest objection to your position honestly. Acknowledging the other side makes your argument more credible, not weaker. Explain why you still hold your view despite this counterpoint.]
What This Means Going Forward
[Explain the practical implications. If you're right, what should people do differently? How should this change how we think about or approach the topic?]
Over to You
[Invite dialogue. Ask readers what they think. A strong opinion piece should spark conversation, not just broadcast. End with a question that encourages thoughtful responses.]
Example: Why Every Small Business Owner Should Answer Their Own Email for a Month
The same template, filled in, so you can see how each section reads.
The Way Things Are
As a small business grows, the owner is often the first person to stop reading customer email. It makes sense on paper: time is short, and someone else can handle it.
Here's What I Think
Before handing it off, owners should spend one month answering every customer email themselves.
Reason 1: You Hear Problems First
Customers describe their frustrations in their own words. Reading those words directly shows you what a summary report would smooth over.
Reason 2: You Learn How People Describe Your Product
The phrases customers use are the phrases your website and marketing should use. You only notice them by reading closely.
Reason 3: You Can Hand It Off Better
After a month, you know which questions repeat and which need judgment. That makes it far easier to write clear guidance for whoever takes over.
The Counterargument
The strongest objection is time: an owner's hours are expensive, and email can eat a day. That is why the proposal is one month, not forever, and why the goal is to hand the job off better afterwards, not to keep it.
What This Means Going Forward
Treat the month as research. Keep a simple note of every repeated question and every surprise, and turn it into your support guide.
Over to You
Do you still read your customer email? Tell me in the comments whether you agree, or why it would not work for your business.
Tips for writing this kind of post
- State your position in the title or first line. Readers should know where you stand immediately.
- Give each reason its own section, with an example that makes it concrete.
- Answer the strongest counterargument, not the weakest one.
- Invite disagreement at the end, and reply to the comments you get.
Common mistakes
- Hedging so much that the post has no opinion left.
- Attacking people instead of ideas.
- Reasons that are really the same point said three ways.
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