How can you drive traffic to your site and position your brand in front of as many eyes as possible? The answer seems shockingly simple: high-quality, engaging blog posts. But creating blog content that’s clickable is not always so easy. Blogs can quickly become tired domains, packed with re-hashed ideas and yawn-provoking content. So, how do you step out of the blogging slump, or if you haven’t started blogging yet, make sure you never stumble into the slump in the first place?
Diversification. Nobody wants to read the same type of blog post every week. By mixing up your formatting and including several blog mini-series, you can not only attract readers initially but also keep them checking in from week to week to read your new posts. Read on to discover 10 different types of blogs expert writers use to enhance their content strategy.
1. List-based articles
You’re probably familiar with list blogs (you’re reading one right now). They’re sprinkled generously all over the Internet with headlines that scream out at you. 10 Ways to Kick Belly Fat to the Curb! 4 Things You Have to Know Before Going on a Job Interview!
List blogs present digestible bits of content and can be quickly scanned, so even if a reader isn’t interested in reading every word, they can still walk away from the experience with the main points under their mental belts. List formats are also highly shareable and lend themselves to easy reference and heightened audience interaction – “Check out this new blog post, especially point number 2.” “Just finished this blog – what does everyone think about numbers 3, 7 and 8?”
2. Checklists
Most of us have used a checklist before, from packing for vacation to going to the grocery store. Why is it so satisfying to scratch a checkmark next to each to-do box? Successfully completing tasks triggers a sense of accomplishment in the brain, and small, doable steps help boost confidence and keep people motivated throughout the entire process.
If you’ve never published a blog post before, it can seem overwhelming and unmanageable. Where do you start? A checklist of things to include in your blog post helps lessen the anxiety and provides project parameters that are actionable. When creating your checklist blog post, make it printable, so your readers can physically check off each step as it’s completed, or use digital checklists for on-screen tracking.
3. How-to guides.
How do I freeze my credit? How do I get a passport? How can I get rid of ants in my home? These are all examples of popular search queries. Your content marketing strategy should include well-written blogs that answer questions your target audience is asking. How-to blogs are a great way to accomplish this, since their structure aligns with people’s search results. If your blog title and body serve as a mirrored answer to a frequently posed query, your chances of ranking for that query increase greatly.
Effective how-to guides should be broken down into simple, clearly labeled steps. This set of actionable items elicits a similar psychological response as checklists – people like being able to track their progress and move through a larger project in incremental degrees.
4. FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)
Is your customer support staff getting asked the same types of questions over and over again? If so, it’s probably time for you to create a FAQs post. Unlike customer support employees who have limited availability throughout the day, a FAQs blog post can be accessed 24/7. Compile a list of the questions that your customers or clients ask you the most and turn it into a thoughtful blog post. Potential and existing customers can then reference this post to find the answers they need promptly, rather than wait for a customer service representative to get back to them.
You can do a single comprehensive FAQs post, but it’s usually better – and more readable – to create a FAQs series of blog posts grouped by topic. Consider taking submitted questions from the comments section and featuring them in next week’s FAQs post for real-life examples.
5. Q&A interviews
There’s a reason why Barbara Walters, Oprah Winfrey and Larry King are all household names. People are compelled by quality interviews. We want insight into the movers and shakers of the world, and interviews provide the stage where we can briefly peek behind the curtain. Who are the ‘movers and shakers’ in your industry? By interviewing influencers and thought leaders in your business space, you can significantly extend your blog’s reach.
Industry influencers usually have followers flocking behind them. When you interview an influencer, they’ll generally share the published blog with their own followers, who in turn will be alerted to your presence and may begin following you as well. Not only do interview posts widen your reach, they also boost your brand’s credibility. When you’re tied to highly reputable and well-respected names, the positive associations tend to extend to you too.
6. Curated content
Interviewing thought leaders will certainly enhance your blog’s optics, but how can you become a thought leader yourself? Industry influencers always have their ears to the ground – they can hear the slight rumble before the rest of the herd. To establish thought leadership, you need to be tapped into the conversations swirling around the blogosphere.
Curating content from fresh, interesting voices in your digital community helps you develop your personal brand. You may be wondering – isn’t making a list of other people’s work just riding their coattails? To avoid this, you need to add value to the curated content in the form of your own personal commentary. When you connect your readership with information you know they’ll be interested in, people will begin looking to you for insight.
7. Infographics
65% of the population consists of visual learners. If your blog strategy isn't incorporating infographics and other visual elements, you’re potentially losing the attention of a majority of your audience. Infographics increase learning by upwards of 400%, and people are 80% more likely to click on an infographic than an article.
Text-heavy articles can be purposefully broken up with graphics that represent ideas and data, giving readers a visual pause to prevent fatigue from setting in. Infographics are also an excellent way to reinforce key points by emphasizing stand-out blog bytes with eye-catching imagery and easy-to-grasp charts.
8. Video blogs (Vlogs)
What’s the 2nd largest search engine behind Google? YouTube – a video sharing platform. If you want to tap into a massive gathering ground for potential customers, YouTube is the place to be. Studies done by Usurv and Simply Measured found that people are 1,200% more likely to share videos than both links and text combined.
With high-megapixel cameras built into most smartphones now, it’s easier than ever to shoot high-definition videos without studio equipment. Hesitant to begin because you’re struggling with writer's block? Vlogs are wonderful places to repurpose your existing blog posts.
9. Case studies
If you’re looking to upgrade your vlogging equipment with a digital camera, how do you decide which camera model is right for you? Odds are, you look at the manufacturer’s specifications and then check out the reviews. Before people make purchasing decisions online, they want to see what other people’s experiences were with the product.
It’s easy for a brand to boast about themselves – after all, they have a lot of money and time invested in their own success. More powerful than a bragging brand are raving reviews. The same holds true for your brand. Case studies that show how a customer or client of yours had their needs met and challenges overcome with your product or service speak volumes. When choosing case studies to feature, make sure to use measurable data and work in specifics. How much money did Jake save when he hired the financial consulting firm? How many full-time employees was Sally able to hire after working with a temporary staffing agency during a rush period?
10. Company culture
Being invited backstage at your favorite band’s concert is an exhilarating moment. Getting a glimpse of the musicians when they’re unplugged simulates a sense of intimacy. Just like people want to see the human behind the rockstar, they also want to see the people behind the corporate mask.
Blog posts focused on your employees and company culture put a friendly face on your organization and naturally promote trust and loyalty in your readers. Company culture blog posts take many forms, from employee profiles to team-building activity recaps to office upgrades and beyond. Posts that highlight your talented team and employee engagement events work to reveal the humanity and relatability of your business.
About Virtucom Group
Consistent business blogging yields results – more clicks, more subscribers and – ultimately – more conversions. Whether you’re writing an automotive blog, an accounting blog, a healthcare blog or a home renovation blog, blogging for business and content development are useful for any industry. Follow the content writers at the Virtucom Group blog as they share digital marketing tips and discuss website content writing services that can optimize your business blog.
