When publishing content, it’s important you write something which resonates well with your readers. There is so much content available online that putting together something full of substance is difficult. With so much spam floating around online it’s no wonder that people are quick to judge the quality of content on a blog or website. Recently, there’s been a trend beginning to emerge shifting from creating unique content to reviving older content putting together something more in-depth and resourceful. If your an experienced blogger, you’ve noticed five post types have done particularly well over the last several years. Focusing on creating content around these post types can increase user engagement and traffic.
Tutorials
People have been using search engines for years trying to find ways to solve a problem. For this reason, content which provides a complete breakdown on how to solve a problem has become very popular. Imagine trying to build a website or starting a blog and you need resources on topics, niches, design, etc. This information is available online for free and people are quick to share content which provides a complete solution.
While doing keyword research, find questions being asked by people and do a quick search to find your competition. For example, if I’m writing a tutorial on “how to build effective backlinksâ€, I’ll do a quick search in Google visiting the top 5 results. My goal is to skim through each piece of content making notes on how I can improve this tutorial. Next,
I’ll use my notes to create something better so it resonates well with my readers. If I noticed my competitors didn’t add images and videos, I’ll add them to my content to make it better providing a visual aid to my readers. Infographics are a great way to resonate well with your readers which you’ll learn later.
Numbered Lists
These are short and right to the point which is what people are looking for especially when they don’t have time reading 2000+ words. Not to mention, when people need information, their looking for the shortest way to get it and will skim through pulling out the important points.
Many bloggers argue that list posts have been played out however this is exactly what people are looking for. They need a quick “updated†list of resources. For example, if I’m writing content on the “Top 20 Social Media Networks†it’s better I list them in order from #1-#20 with a short description instead of writing out lengthy paragraphs.
Here’s a great way to generate a solid list post…
First, use tools like Topsy to check what’s trending online and related to your “keywordâ€. Topsy will display the content with the most “shares†from highest to lowest. Skim through the top “3†and create something better adding additional information and more in-depth. If “Top 30 WordPress Plugins†is at the top of the search results, you can create something which is “Top 50 WordPress Plugins in 2014â€.
Secondly, do a quick search to find out what’s displayed in Google as the number 1 result for your “keywordâ€. Google, after the recent algorithm updates, is putting more emphasis on high quality content. If you produce something better you’ll have a good chance of outranking your competition.
Infographics
In recent years using infographics as complete posts has become a popular trend. The trend can be attributed to the scientific study showing that our brains do less work digesting infographics compared to lengthy content. Its proven infographics are more likely to be read compared to text content and they efficiently get your point across. For someone trying to build engagement and increase traffic, it can be a vital tool used to build popularity.
Here are some reasons why infographics are so effective:
First, they are easy to understand because many people respond to visual aids better then reading content. Instead of having re-read content several times to understand the logistic behind each point, infographics have simply streamlined the process of comprehending what’s being presented.
Secondly, According to Wharton School of Business, 67% understood visual presentations with words better than just text alone.
Expert Posts
Very effective and can generate enormous traffic to your blog by doing a quick follow-up after publishing. The best way to gain knowledge is to ask those who have loads of experience. They can provide you knowledge on what works saving you both time and money. Next, their happy to “share†the post with their social followers which can generate huge amounts of targeted traffic. For example,
I had put together an expert post and I included 14 top pioneers in the industry like John Chow, Zack Johnson, Brian Dean, etc. When I finally published it on my blog, it was a complete success especially because 12/14 shared it right away on their social profiles. Some of the experts had 10,000+ followers on both Facebook and Twitter all relevant to my niche.
Guest Posts
Every online marketer will tell you that guest posts are the best way to generate a buzz and traffic to your blog. As blogs begin to grow, the owners have a hard time tackling several projects at one time so would often accept fresh new ideas from people starting out. In return for your hard work they’ll allow you to place a link within the author bio box which will be displayed towards the bottom of the content.
I’m surprised at how many people don’t take advantage of guest posting opportunities and from my experience it’s because they don’t know how to find the right blogs.
Here’s a quick checklist of things to do when searching for guest posting opportunities. Always start by doing a quick search in Google using the following terms after your keyword. For example, link building “become a contributorâ€
- submission guidelines
- accepting guest posts
- contribute an article
- guest post
- write for us
- become a contributor
 Visit each blog and generate a list of popular & relevant blogs which are accepting guest posts. Popular blogs have a large readership and following within social networks which can be essential in building your brand if you get published. Next, contact each blog owner asking them about their guidelines and suggest a few topics you have in mind.
If you’ve been asked to put something together, it’s important to follow these guidelines…
- Always write high quality content (very important)
- Follow formatting guidelines (H1,H2, H3, paragraph, meta)
- Follow image uploading and formatting guidelines
- Follow linking guidelines
- Always ask questions to ensure your following the requirements
Keep in mind that your building a relationship by guest posting and this can lead to more opportunities going forward. Put effort and the hard work will pay off!
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