20 Types Of Posts That Are Proven To Drive More Traffic To Your Blog
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25 min read
Table of Contents
- None Of This Content Can Fail…
- A Year’s Worth Of Content
- #1: How To’s
- #2: Personal Stories
- #3: Case Studies
- #4: List Posts
- #5: Resources and Links
- #6: Wake Up Calls
- #8: Product Reviews
- #9: Opinion Pieces
- #10: Infographics
- #11: Monthly Reviews
- #12: Round-Ups
- #13: Podcast Transcripts
- #14: Interviews
- #15: Videos
- #16: Guest Blogs
- #17: Blog Series
- #18: Breaking News
- #20: ‘Epic’ Guides
- Bloggers Block Be Gone…
- How Many Topics Did You Think Of?
Bloggers block.
It doesn’t matter if you’re a seasoned pro or a first time writer.
When it comes it’s the most frustrating feeling in the world.
I write blog posts for a living – trust me – it doesn’t get any better the more you do it either.
As a Blogger then, it’s useful to have a fall back plan for when those times do come.
Because growing your business takes priority over smashing your head off the keyboard.
This article is the ultimate contingency plan.
Because, as the famous author Stephen King once said: “Amateurs sit and wait for inspiration, the rest of us just get up and go to work.”
This, then, is the place you come every time you can’t think of a topic to write about.
When content is the last thing you can think of.
When you’ve found a place not even Coffee can save you from.
But what makes it so ultimate?
None Of This Content Can Fail…
Yeah. You read that right.
All of the types of posts outlined in this article are three things:
- What your readers want to read
- Proven to work
- Fool proof to write
No matter how bad your bloggers block is, there is a topic here that will work for you.
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A Year’s Worth Of Content
In this article there are 20 different types of blog post.
If you can think of three different articles for each one, you have a years worth of blog posts.
So, as you go through this article, try to write down two or three ideas for each section.
Some will give you more ideas, some will give you less.
But if you can write down all of that content now, you have 60 blog posts to fall back on this year.
No matter how bad your bloggers block gets you will have something waiting to be written about.
Now, doesn’t that sound great?
If you’ve not already grab a pen and paper (or flash up Evernote) and get ready to take some serious notes.
The next couple of thousand words are going to be fun…
“[How To’s are the] most popular post types and one that arguably brings the most value to the reader”
- Karol K (Online Business Design Blog)
#1: How To’s
What do you use the Internet for?
Occasionally it’s for checking Facebook, E-mails and the latest sports scores.
But mostly, it’s to learn something.
Even if that’s what Joe Pesci’s childhood album was called.
In fact, take a look at Google Trends of last year. Most of them are: ‘How To?’ ‘What Is?’, ‘Who Is?’.
If that’s what you use the Internet for, it stands to reason that your audience does too.
To be honest the only reason they read your blog is because they want your answers to their questions.
So give them the answers they’re looking for.
Pick an aspect of your niche, and creates a step-by-step guide on how they can get better at it.
This is a technique successful blogs use to create powerful connections with their audience.
Just like the guys at Copyblogger.
The trick here is to give away some valuable insider knowledge (if there is such a thing) and show you reader how to implement it to themselves.
And this works for any niche too:
- Cooking: How To Prepare Summer Squash
- Alcohol: How To Brew Your Own Beer
- Employment: How To Write A Resume
- Finance: How To Save Money In A Bad Economy
If there is something in your niche your audience wants to do, there’s a How To blog post to go along with it.
For your newer readers, this is also a great way to establish yourself as an authority with them.
If you can show that you do, honestly, know what you’re talking about, they’re more likely to pay attention to you.
In Short: How To’s are the bread and butter of your blog. Your readers – and everyone who uses the Internet – are looking for solutions to their problems. Establish yourself as an authority by solving them.
“It’s not only about what you publish. It’s also about who you are”
– Jon Morrow, Boost Blog Traffic
#2: Personal Stories
It’s true to say that your audience doesn’t really care about you.
They care about what you can do for them.
For example, I love Timothy Ferriss books but I would really struggle to pick him out of a police line up.
That’s just the way it is.
However, if you have a personal story that relates to the reader – or, even better, emotionally affects them – then you have their attention.
A great example of this comes from Jon Morrow, the owner of Boost Blog Traffic.
One of his most viewed, shared and commented on blog posts is, ‘On Dying, Mothers and Fighting For Your Ideas’.
The post’s focus is on why being a blogger is important to the reader.
But, it’s intertwined with a story of a mother that just would not let him die.
It relates to the reader. It’s emotional. It’s powerful.
The whole business model of Tiny Buddha is based on these stories too.
And that’s a site with in excess of 1.5 million people connected to it.
In order to make these posts work – and not have them come across as self-serving bullshit – is to always relate it back to the reader.
Ask yourself the question, “What does the reader gain from this?”.
If it’s nothing more than a good anecdote it’s a waste of your time.
But, if it’s something powerful, valuable and engaging, you’re onto a winner.
There are two approaches here: the first one, as you’ve just seen, is to pour your heart out onto the page.
The second one is about something you’ve achieved that the reader can copy.
For example, this post from Robbie Richards is still a personal story – it’s how he grew his mailing list – but it offers insane value to the reader.
Whichever one you choose (that’s your decision to make) always remember to bring it back to the reader and offer lots of value.
In Short: People are more likely to connect with a person than a business. Which, as a blogger, plays into your hands. Show your readers your human side and share with them what you’ve been through. Just, always make it relate back to them.
“A case study puts the value in action, taking users on a specific journey through the usage of a specific product or service”
- Sarah Bauer, Navigator Multimedia
#3: Case Studies
Have you ever tried to teach someone you’re close to, but they just don’t listen?
But then, someone else says exactly the same thing and they hang on every word?
This is the blogging version of that.
It’s really easy to illustrate a point you’re trying to make, by showing the reader what someone else has done.
For this, I’m going to direct you to one of my own posts: What Bedroom Marketers Can Learn From Million Dollar Affiliates.
Every post on Nichehacks, in one form or another, teaches the importance of value. How to add it to your reader and how it will make you a lot more money.
But when it’s shown to you through what someone else has done, the multi-million dollar company Skyscanner, it just seemed to click.
This is because you, the reader, can what’s being said in practice.
And you can take your own lessons – not just the ones I pointed out – from it too.
How does this work for you?
With this simple formula:
Successful Person (Or Business) + Your Opinion + Actionable Steps = Blog Post
Do your research.
Take the time to find people or businesses who are worth profiling.
And then write about them.
Your audience will love it.
In Short: Case Studies let you get your point across by using someone else as an example. Readers love information that’s easy to digest, like this. Create a study that highlights what you want to say, from a familiar company or person, and you’re onto a winner.
“Lists are easy to read. The format naturally breaks up the content into sections giving it structure. It’s also easy for visitors to skip ahead to points they really care about on the topic being covered”
#4: List Posts
These are a staple of the Blogosphere. Why?
Because people want to read them.
It’s an unexplained scientific phenomenon.
When your audience see’s a list, they want to read it. No if’s, but’s or questions asked.
Just like you’re reading this one right now.
List posts are a great way to ‘Trojan Horse’ your way into people’s minds.
You can grab them with a catchy title, and then hit the with a cold hard gut punch of knowledge.
They’re also great traffic builders because of how likely they are to get shared.
I like to split list posts up into two sections: the valuable and the viral.
Valuable posts are like this one from QuickSprout, outlining 10 clear and concise points for marketers to pay attention to.
Viral posts are more like the ones you see on Buzzfeed, like this one, that serve no purpose other than to get lots and lots of shares and draw attention to their brand.
This depends on your brand, image and the content of your site.
My advice? Get somewhere in-between the two.
Create content that will push buttons, create talk and get shared.
But for every ‘viral’ point, be sure to add a valuable one too.
In Short: Trojan Horse Thinking. Use a list post to grab their attention. Make them click through. Tell them what you really want to say. Or, give them something to share. Either way, you can never have too many list posts.
“The key with this is to link to something of value – something that your readers will find relevant and helpful to them”
#5: Resources and Links
Resource posts are almost the same as list posts.
They are presented as a list, but contain little content of your own.
Instead they provide real, valuable content from other sources.
These are great if you’re new to a topic and want to share with your readers what you’ve been learning over the past few weeks.
You can also leverage these posts slightly to get the attention of other authorities in your niche. Share and share alike, as they say.
Collecting the content for these types of post is usually pretty easy.
You could, realistically, do one or two of these a month and nobody would bat an eyelid.
Try creating a Bookmark folder on your browser for a topic and each blog post, eBook or guide you find that’s worthwhile, stick it in there.
In a few days – at the most a few weeks – you’ve got enough content to create a really valuable blog post.
And all you’ve had to do is format it and hit the publish button. Neat, huh?
In Short: if you’re really struggling for content – or can think of a way to leverage an in style topic – resources are the best way to do it. Collect content over the month. Add context and personal flair. Bang. You’ve got yourself a valuable blog post.
"The Wake-Up Call is a tough-talking post whose purpose is to snap the reader out of behavior that’s destructive, misguided or simply isn’t in line with their claimed goals."
#6: Wake Up Calls
Is there something your audience really slacks on?
This is where you give them the kick up the ass they need.
Honestly, call them out.
You don't have to get all Full Metal Jacket about it. But you need to show them the error of their ways.
For example, 7 Reasons You'll Continue To Fail As A Niche Marketer In 2015 from Jawad Khwan.
Or the infamous, 20 Ways To Be Just Another Mediocre Blogger Nobody Gives A Crap About by Jon Morrow are total wake up calls.
They take what you're doing wrong - virtually every day - and give you the words you need to hear to make that change.
These types of posts are great for engagement and value.
If your reader walks away thinking, "Damn, I need to take a look at myself", you're onto a real prized post.
Take a moment to think about different things your audience may be neglecting right now: their website traffic, their posture, their personal hygiene, their grammar or their job applications.
Anything they should be doing, call them out on it.
Just be sure to give them something actionable to work with to change their behaviour in the future.
All rant and no help makes for a pointless post.
In Short: Wake up calls strike a nerve. They're where you get down to the real truth behind why your audience isn't finding success - in whatever niche it is - and you call them out on it. Say, "Hey, stop doing that - it's killing your chances of..." and then give them some advice they can use to change it. They'll love you for it.
“Often what your audience seeks from you is direction. If they have a question, they want someone to answer it—or at least get them on the right track.”
– Rich Brooks, Social Media Examiner
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#7: Checklists
yone wants a magic pill.
That one thing that’s going to take them from their crappy situation to new heights.
This is your chance to give it to them.
Checklists work well because they add a tonne of value and share the secrets of your success.
They are the step-by-step guide, no nonsense approach of everything needed to achieve success.
They’re different to How To’s and Tutorials because they aren’t open to interpretation. There is no room to miss a step or try something different.
These are the exact steps you need to take to get from Point A to Point B.
If you don’t you die fail.
Your best approach for these is to keep it simple, easy and actionable.
The easier the reader can achieve it the more they’re going to thank you for it.
For example:
They’re all simple and easy to do. But to someone who has no idea what to do, it can be truly valuable.
In Short: Checklists are the ‘magic pill’ for your readers. If you can show them, step by step, how to get from Point A to Point B you’ll establish yourself as an authority and see a big boost in traffic. Just remember to keep the topic as easy to achieve as possible.
“Reviews can be highly powerful posts that have a great longevity”
#8: Product Reviews
Product reviews are about as old as writing itself.
In fact I think the first tablet ever written said, “John, these chisels are crap”.
Maybe not.
But people always want to know what a product is like before they buy it.
If someone wants to invest ‘X’ amount of dollars in product ‘Y’, then they’re more likely to do it if ‘Z’ tells them to (or not to).
Z, of course, being you. Not the boss in Men In Black.
These posts have some benefit to you as well as the reader:
- Free Stuff:People will give you free access to their product if you write a review for them.If you get good enough following some people will even give you free stuff and pay you affiliate links for it.
- Great Content:If the product is really important to your audience, they’re going to stop and listen to what you have to say.It’s one of those posts you’re almost guaranteed to keep their attention for a while.
- Google Traffic:SEO is dead (long live SEO!).But these posts are great for attracting some interest on Google.If people are actively looking for a review, and they stumble across your site, you may just gain a new fan in the process.
- Authority Karma:Authority Karma – which I may or may not have just made up – is where you get some credit with the authorities in your niche.They’ve made a product. You help them sell it; they’re more likely to help you in the future.
Product reviews sometimes fall into your lap – especially if someone really wants a lot of reviews – but if you’re not well known it’s better to be proactive.
Try contacting product owners before their launch and offer to help.
Then, when you get a few under your belt, that’s when you start to reap the rewards.
In Short: Product reviews are great for everyone. Your readers. Potential readers. Your network. Other blogs. Search Engines. As long as the product is relatable to your audience you can’t really go wrong.
“The only thing I'm interested in when I read an article you write: when you cried. When you lost.”
#9: Opinion Pieces
Pick a fight and run with it.
That’s what blogging is at it’s roots, isn’t it?
You started your blog for a reason.
You had a fight to pick and you wanted to show people how they could be doing something differently.
Opinion posts are a great way to do just that: show the world your perspective.
You have the platform, so why not?
These posts are designed to cut your audience down the middle.
To create discussion. To offend people. To rally people to your side.
To get inside their minds and cut through the noise.
When it comes to writing, you’re pretty scared of offending people, aren’t you?
You want everyone to like you, what you say and to picture rainbows and unicorns whenever they think of you.
Well, buddy, that’s not going to happen.
If you don’t put yourself on the line and say something that might challenge their beliefs, then you don’t stand a chance of being successful online.
You’ll fade into the background just like everybody else.
Don’t want that? Didn’t think so.
A great example to learn from is James Altucher.
Whilst his blogs do contain a lot of value, he writes from the heart.
And he’s not afraid to tell you exactly what he’s thinking or you need to hear.
His work leaves a lasting impression on the reader, whether it’s the first or 100th blog post you’re reading.
On a metric side of things – before I get too flowery – posts like this attract a lot of attention.
They’re usually highly: commented on, shared, and sought after to read.
Just like this one from Bret Contreras, who calls out another Guru in the fitness industry.
Strike a nerve. People will love it or hate it. Either way, it’s great publicity.
In Short: Be offensive. For the first time in your life, don’t worry about what people are going to think. Say exactly what you mean. It will divide your audience. But it will also attract more of the traffic you deserve.
“Infographics get shared more, viewed more, and loved more than most other content types”
– Neil Patel, QuickSprout
#10: Infographics
As much as I loathe Infographics, blog readers love them.
So it’s a great (but sometimes costly) way of creating content.
Unless that is, you go down the root of using someone else’s Infographic as your content.
That’s not plagiarism – they usually have a link back – and if you’re truly in the depths of writer's block despair, this could really save your skin.
There are Infographics for all niches:
If it’s a niche you can be pretty sure that there is an Infographic for it.
Embed one into your post. Add a little context. Ask a few questions.
All of a sudden you’ve got the makings of a blog post.
I’d save these posts for ‘must use’ situations: low traffic, writer's block, short on time, etc.
But (despite my ingrained hated for them) they are a great addition to your toolbox.
In Short: Your readers really love Infographics. They don’t even care if they’re your own. Find one that’s of real value, add your opinion and ask some questions. Now, you’ve got a blog post just waiting to be shared.
“Reports […] help me track my own progress while teaching you what to do and, more importantly, what not to do”
#11: Monthly Reviews
These are really big in the Internet Marketing scene right now.
But, they have the potential to be big in all niches. And they should be used a lot more widely.
These split into two categories:
- Monthly Reviews
- This Month In…
Let me explain.
Monthly Reviews
This is what you’ve achieved this month: followers, subscribers, incomes, goals, targets – anything you have done with measurable success.
Like Matt Woodward does every month on his blog:
This Month In…
This is where you can do a round-up (more on those in the next section) of all your content for the past month. Or, what’s been going on in your niche.
Think of these as somewhere between resources, link posts, and ‘get out of jail free cards’.
They’re also quite useful to direct people to your content, or worthwhile content, they might not have seen just yet. Definitely one for the Online Magazine owners.
In Short: Put your money where your mouth is. Or show your readers you really are invested in your topic. Whichever fits your brand. But always go the extra mile to add value. If you can do that this is one less blog post a month to worry about.
“A properly executed link roundup can put your blog on the map.”
#12: Round-Ups
Ahh, Round-Ups.
These go down a treat with readers. Why?
Because readers are looking for that magic pill and well-presented information.
Basically, these are the TL;DR (Too Long; Didn’t Read) of your Niche’s daily or weekly life.
For example, if you look at Business Insider’s Twitter feed each morning, you’ll see a tweet like this:
Simple. Eye-catching. Effective. What more could you want?
For your readers on the go – or if you’re in a fast-moving niche, like Business or Sales – they can be a great resource for your readers.
They also add a tonne of value if done right.
Before creating one, think about these points:
- What does my audience need to know today?
- Has someone else said it better?
- Does this just fill a space, or does it add value?
That last one is critical. If it’s a blog post for the sake of a blog post it’s time to bin it. Posts like that are see-through.
But, if you can add value to it, go ahead.
If you feel like you’re clutching at straws though, don’t bother.
Tony Gentilcore, the second fitness guy on our list, does this perfectly.
Each week he has a segment called, Stuff To Read Whilst You’re Pretending To Work. Where he ‘rounds up’ the best blog posts in his niche of that week.
And it’s definitely a fan favorite.
Do this right and you’re onto a winner.
Do it wrong and it could be what drags your blog down. Only you can decide which happens though.
In Short: These really are extra mileposts for your blog. They let your reader connect with what you’re doing instantly. They’re a great source of value for more than just the reader too. They’re a great opportunity to connect with other bloggers.
“I’ve included transcripts for my podcast sessions ever since the beginning, and I’ve had a really great response to them” – Pat Flynn, Smart Passive Income
#13: Podcast Transcripts
Your audience is split into three categories: listeners, readers and doers.
Take any large group of people and they’re split exactly the same way.
Some will love your podcast and listen religiously. Other either don’t want to or can’t find the time to.
Podcast transcripts are a great way of bridging that gap.
You are essentially turning your Podcast episode into a blog post.
Double the content, double the fun, right?
This is great because you’ve already got the content. You just need to get someone to transcribe it.
Which can be cheap and easy with forums like Elance around.
Or you could do it yourself for free.
However, pick your words carefully here. If you were to write:
[David]: No, John, people don’t like eating spinach. That’s the biggest problem in the health food industry.
[John]: Haha, no, David. People do like spinach, just not the people you talk to.
For the whole thing it would be hard to read, full stop.
A lot of what is said doesn’t translate to the page as is. And you’re going to bore your reader to death.
My advice here then, would be to just highlight the show notes.
Those main, gut punch, topics that were discussed and how they impact the reader. Highlight them, address them and show their clear benefit to the reader.
You could bring a 30-minute podcast down to 500 words if you really felt you wanted to keep it brief. Which, depending on who is on your show, could be a really good idea.
In Short: Not everybody wants (or has time) to sit and listen to your podcast. Some of your audience may not even be able to. Take the key points you made and turn them into a really valuable blog post. Your more on the fly audience members will thank you for it.
“Interviewing successful people in your niche is a great way to boost traffic to your blog”
– Nicholas Tart, IncomeDiary.com
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#14: Interviews
Interviews are perfect for giving some of the sexy insider information to your readers.
You can pick the brain of an authority in your niche.
Drive the point home with take on things. And get some of that Authority Karma I mentioned before.
In all seriousness, Interviews, if done right, can be a brilliant way of getting traffic and attracting new interest.
Like in the world of print, lots of people buy an issue of a magazine because there is an interview with someone.
You can create these interviews in any format. Video. Podcast. Transcripts.
As long as the interviewee is happy for you to do so.
Getting these interviews isn’t as hard as you might think either.
It just takes a little: research, patience and being extra nice to their personal assistant.
It also helps if they have a product or service they want to plug.
They almost always do.
Keep these points in mind when you’re actually interviewing:
- Plan: know what you’re going to ask before you’ve even asked it. Getting in touch to find out if there is anything they’d like you to touch on is also worthwhile.
- Don’t Be A Robot: You should have a list of questions. But they don’t all need to be asked in that order or that sequence. Instead go with the flow of the conversation and always ask a follow up question to an interesting answer.
- Have Specific Take Away’s: What in it for the reader? Because they’re definitely not just here to listen (or read about) you having a nice chat with your buddy.
If you can nail all three of these points, you’ve got a winning formula for a good interview post.
Now all you’ve got to do is go out and find the right person…
In Short: Interviews can add lots of value to your reader. They can expand your audience. And they can help you connect with other bloggers too. Help someone sell a product and you’re going to be in their good books forever. Mostly, though, you’ll be able to add a whole new perspective to your audience.
"In the age where online reality is replacing actual reality in every facet of our lives, having YOUR face behind YOUR virtual real estate is paramount for people to feel close(er) to you.”
– Dino Dogan, Social Media Examiner
#15: Videos
Earlier I touched on the fact that all of your audience is engaged differently.
So, if you’re good in front of the camera, or find something interesting to share, than you can reach a new section.
It also doesn’t hurt to be able to connect with people on a massive search engine either, does it?
The beauty of this medium is it’s really easy to embed them into your blog posts.
In the same way you saw with Infographics earlier.
You can also save a lot of time: you could create, upload and post a five minute video in less time than it takes you to write 500 words.
Add a little context to the writing around it – especially if a video from elsewhere – and put your own personal touches.
Then you’ve got a winning blog post in record time.
Again, much like I said to you in Interviews, be sure to have a specific take away from your video.
It’s not always easy for people to watch videos from start to finish (thanks Vine and your 6 second videos), so get to the point right away.
In Short: Play to your more visual learners. Create (or find) a video of value and you can increase your traffic tenfold. This is a place most bloggers dare not go. If you’re brave enough an abundance of traffic awaits.
“I believe guest posting is the single most important strategy for growing your blog readership and platform.”
#16: Guest Blogs
You’ve definitely heard a lot about the benefits of you guest posting.
But probably never heard the benefits of having people guest post for you.
Which is a shame because there are plenty:
- Connect with a new audience
- You don’t need to create content
- Fresh perspective
- Networking opportunities
- More free time for other areas
There’s not actually many reasons you shouldn’t look for guest posts.
There is only one downside however…
Some guest posters suck. And I mean they suck.
Whatever they think makes good content is nails-on-a-chalkboard for the rest of us.
Sorry if you’re one of those people, but it’s true. Go buy a copy of Elements Of Style.
For you as the blogger that means one thing: you can’t let your standards drop.
Be thorough and don’t just throw up any old content because it’s going to save you time. If it’s not right send it back.
The writer can either edit it or come back at you from a new angle.
But if it’s not good enough it doesn’t go on the site.
As a Freelance Blogger, you can probably tell, this is a pet peeve of mine. Set your standards high, or hire someone who knows what the hell they’re doing.
That being said, there are a lot of great guest posters who will want to be on your site, they’re the ones you really want to spend your time on.
In Short: Guest Blogs are a great way to free your time. Add some new ideas to your blog. And connect with other bloggers audiences. But, remember this: do not lower your standards. Bad content is worse than no content.
“By building a series, you get the opportunity to build something of value to people instead of just reacting to the day’s news and/or your passing whims.”
– Chris Brogan, OwnerMag
#17: Blog Series
Occasionally you’re going to hit a goldmine.
You’ll have an idea that is just so good you can’t fit it all into one blog post.
Moments like these are heaven. All you have to do is make them tie seamlessly together.
These are great for solving the bigger problems of your readers.
If there is a pressing issue that everyone struggles with, this is the medium to do it.
You can take a big, overwhelming, topic and break it down into easy, digestible chunks.
This takes a lot of the pressure off the reader – and you as the writer – and makes things much easier to manage.
You can also cut back on post length if you feel the need to, so you can go a little longer.
Beware though. Too many of these types of posts can be a little confusing for your current (and new) readers to get their bearings.
So use them sparingly and spread them out across the year.
I also like the idea of having a Monthly Challenge. Where you have 30 smaller blog posts, all with an actionable tip, that carry on into the next day.
If it goes down well you might have just created a new product.
In Short: If you know your niche you’re going to have ideas that can’t be contained to a single post. Use that to your advantage and turn it into a series. If they’re valuable and actionable your audience will love them. Use them sparingly throughout the year though; so you don’t confuse your new audience.
“Publish an Alert only when you judge that news may move a market or influence client decisions”
– Reuters, The Kings Of Journalism
#18: Breaking News
Stop the press!
This just happened. And you need to hear about it. Or your blog will implode, the world will end and Phil Collin’s will be #1 in the charts again.
…Caught your attention, huh?
I figured 4,100 words in you probably needed a little of a boost to wake you up.
Breaking News can do the same thing for your blog too.
If something of true importance just happened in your niche, it’s worth letting your audience know all about it.
You don’t have to be first.
But you’ll probably be a first to your readers anyway. This can take many forms:
- Changes to your (or another) site
- A major announcement from a big player
- A new book that changes everything
- A death, birth or celebrity occurrence (if it fits your niche)
- Anything that’s new and noteworthy
If you can find something that’s on the pulse of what your readers want to know about you’re going to see a big spike in: comments, views and shares.
Some of these posts will flop – and that’s okay, trust me – but when you do get the right one it’ll take on a life of it’s own.
In Short: Got news that important to your audience? Use it. Be the first person to tell them. You’ll catch their attention. Get shared. Extend your reach. Just make sure it is news, yeah?
“Timing is everything”
#19: Topical Posts
These are a bit like breaking news stories.
Only you play on current events to get people to read content you want to write.
Instead of reporting on the news, you let the news (or current happenings) drive traffic for you.
It doesn’t have to be just news.
It can be: holidays, events, moments, conferences and concerts.
Anything your reader will care about or that helps you make your point.
Jeff Goins used Christmas Eve.
You can use anything, anybody and events from all across time to illustrate what you’re trying to say.
But, the more topical it is, the more likely people are to read and share it.
In Short: Create a post that is on the pulse. Think: holidays, news, changes, celebrity happenings. If someone can relate to the headline they’re more likely to click it. Use current affairs to help you make your point and your post might just go viral too.
“Think of [guides] as an epic blog post. It goes beyond the length, style, and approach of an ordinary blog post.” - Neil Patel, QuickSprout
#20: ‘Epic’ Guides
This is something I admire Stuart for.
And a lesson lots of bloggers stand to learn from.
These posts are list posts, resources, checklists tutorials and opinion pieces all rolled into one lovely blog post Burrito.
These are guides where you put everything on the page.
There is no thinking, ‘I don’t want to give away too much’ or ‘I just don’t have the time to create that post’.
You just sit down and write everything you know about the reader’s problem and how to help them.
Take anything you’d normally say, times it by 10 and give away as much information as possible.
These posts can be anywhere from 1,000 to 10,000 words in length.
And you’re giving all the information away for free.
Now, I can already feel you looking at the screen thinking, “James, you’re insane, I’m not doing that”.
And I can totally understand why. But your blog is built on value.
It’s all about answering the question: What’s in it for me?
Because that’s what your reader is asking when they read each post.
Epic Guides can do just that.
They help you establish yourself as an authority pretty quickly.
When they see that you’re able to walk the walk, as well as talk the talk, they’ll stick around for a lot longer.
My question to you then, is: are you willing to put it all on the page?
If you want a blog that’s successful. Drives traffic.
And has an audience of loyal readers. Then, you better be.
In Short: Share everything you know to solve someone’s problems. Go above and beyond the call of duty. Put all your knowledge on the page. You won’t lose custom for it. Instead you’ll gain a lot more loyal fans. Which is the aim of the game, right?
Bloggers Block Be Gone…
You’ve learned the dirty little secret of blog writing.
The one that bloggers – and Freelance Bloggers – don’t want you to know. That all good blog’s are made up of these posts.
The ones your readers love. The ones that get bookmarked.
The ones that get linked to for years to come. The ones that make you stand out.
They can all be found in this post.
You now never have an excuse of coming up with content again.
To discover 200+ profitable niche markets click the image below now...
How Many Topics Did You Think Of?
At the start of the article (a while back, I know) I asked you to try and think of two or three different articles for each section.
How many did you come up with?
Were you able to create a years worth of content? Six months? Three months? The whole of next month?
If you didn’t think of any, I’d recommend going back through and focusing only on ideas this time.
Then drop me a comment and let me know how you did…
1 Comments
@Theresa
August 24, 2021
8.24.21
4:47 PM
@Jamesjohnson, Thanks for sharing the worthy content which is very effective. Which Types Of Posts are better to drive more traffic to the blog.