When you sit down to plan out your blog posts (that is– IF you plan at all), do you stop and think about what style of content to write, how it relates to your audience, and whether it will best work for you on social media or search engines? In other words, there are several types of blog post content, and each should be used- lifestyle or niche blogger, it doesn’t matter. These are the five, and I’ll explain each type and its primary purpose.
- 1500 + word EPIC content
- List blog posts
- Super specific tutorials
- Weekly challenges or themes
- Short burst posts of images and/or video
1. 1500 + word EPIC content
No one can keep writing these types of posts week in and week out. These are meant to come out once a month or less. A post of this caliber:
- Beats out the competition for other articles on the topic
- Has lots of helpful information and visuals
- Has great resources that people come back to again and again
What is the point of this type of blog post?
You want it to rank as #1, #2, #3 in search engine results for a specific keyword. On this blog, I have approximately three articles that pull 80% of my traffic. If you ask around, most big bloggers will tell you the same. People search for information, find you, and if you’re good- they stay to read more. You need this type of content for SEO. I know that people say 300 words is plenty, but not for Google to make you number one. You have to show that you know what you’re talking about. It has to be meaty.
So maybe you don’t want to make a post that’s this long. For example, if you are a Mom blogger with a child with a handicap, maybe make a static blog page that has a long article about your child’s specific handicap with resources and links? Optimize it for that keyword and let it bring you traffic from search engines.
2. List blog posts
Who doesn’t love a list? They are super easy to read, usually fun, and slightly addicting. If you can make a list that’s a top 30, 40, or 50 — even better. Top ten lists can be lacking since everyone in their mother does top ten lists. Nonetheless, it’s an easy and fast way for you to get content to your readers– without taking up too much of their time either. These posts can easily be churned out once a week.
What is the point of this type of blog post?
If you go to Buzzfeed (which is a newsy type site to gather all the viral content on the Internet), you’ll notice how much of their content is in list format? That’s because lists do WONDERFULLY on social media, especially if they have a catchy title. So use the list type blog posts to get your content out on Facebook, Twitter, and Google +. These types of posts are far less likely to rank in search traffic, but can give you a boost through digital connections.
3. Super specific tutorials
- What is a substitute for aluminum foil?
- How do you roast walnuts?
- When is the best time to go camping in Maine?
Super specific tutorials can be short and to the point. They are usually easier to write than a provocative opinion piece or essay, so you can do these more often. Even if your blog is mainly fiction shorts, you can still work in a tutorial here and there (i.e. how to write the beginning of a story- then outline your procedure).
What is the point of this type of blog post?
Most people ask super specific questions when they go to Google or Bing. Just look at the last five searches you did. Was it for, “Way cool lifestyle bloggers that’ll make me laugh?” No. I’m sure not. The takeaway is this: blog posts (like lists) may go viral because of social media exposure, but they WON’T be the kind of posts that Google searchers like. You need both. Tutorials plus your epic content will help keep your blog searchable on engines.
4. Weekly challenges or themes
Most bloggers know– you need to invest in the blogging community. Going it alone is…well…lonely. Weekly challenges may be something like:
- Wordless Wednesday
- Crockpot Thursday (great weekly theme by FunnyisFamily)
- Blogging 30 day challenge
These types of posts are great for bloggers who need help getting into a groove. Oftentimes there are lots of bloggers participating, so you can be sure that you’ll get a few comments. They are also fairly easy to write.
What is the point of this type of blog post?
The point is to invest in the community of bloggers. Separate from social media or search engines, most big bloggers have a tribe. When you are struggling to get new content out, you can reach out to your community for guest posts. You can ask for a little comment love when there are seasons of low traffic.
5. Short bursts of images and/or video
Videos and infographics are increasingly popular and serve different purposes. Infographics are a way to deliver a lot of information in a short period of time. It is also highly shareable. Videos are great for keeping people on your site for longer than three seconds.. Once in a while, try a vlog. It’s a way to change it up for your readers…and you.
What is the point of this type of blog post?
It is to keep your readers on their toes. It’s a way to gain exposure on social media. And it is also a way to keep things fresh when the day in and day out of blogging feels hard.
Create a schedule
Now that you’ve identified the different styles of content, think about some upcoming posts and topics. Figure out which of those topics would do better as a list, a meaty article, or a tutorial. You should always have one epic piece of content you are working on in the background. It’s no pressure, just something you can take your time with and feel proud of once it’s published. When you feel like you HAVE to get something published, don’t rush the epic stuff. Make a list, participate in a challenge, or do a vlog.
When you are writing your tutorials or your epic content, do a little bit of keyword research ahead of time. In other words, go to Google and type as if you were the person looking. Get a look at the top results and see how you can beat them. Remember, even if you aren’t linking to content in your site, providing valuable resources is fundamental.
Use the themes and/or challenges to keep up your writing chops. The vlogs can insert personality into even the most dry of niche blogs (think personal video on a blog about plumbing– that could be funny). The tutorials are meant to nab keywords.
If you keep things varied (even if your topics are ALWAYS centered on a niche), you know that you are hitting all the major ways to attract traffic to your site. Happy writing!
