Every website owner wants to drive more traffic to their website. One great way to increase traffic on your website is to create engaging content for your audience through a blog. But if you have a limited budget or lack a content writer, how can you use a blog to drive website traffic?
In regards to driving traffic to your blog, there is no one-size-fits-all solution that will increase engagement. Different types of blog posts serve different purposes, for both the company and the customer. Because there isn’t a clear solution, the most effective type of blog post for your blog will depend on various factors, including your niche, audience, goals, and where your audience is in the buyer’s journey. In this article, we'll explore 6 types of blog posts that will increase engagement and drive traffic to your website.
List-based posts (which is what type of blog post you are currently reading) are a great way to provide readers with valuable information in a feasible and straightforward format. Readers enjoy list-based articles because they can scan the content easily while still consuming the important pieces of information without having to read through mounds of content.
If you are writing a list-based post, your topics may sound something like: "The Top 5 Saas Companies in 2023" or "The 10 Earliest Signs of Injection Mold Failure". A good list-based post will include a numerical value (representing the number of list items) followed by an enticing topic your readers will be interested in.
Remember that many of your readers who are interested in this type of blog post want to learn about the issue at hand quickly, and oftentimes they don’t even realize they are experiencing a similar problem.
You will want to generate list-based content that is educational and compelling enough for your readers to continue their buyer’s journey with you. Here are some of the ways that you can do that:
Create your list based on a valuable topic for your readers. Your goal should be to generate awareness about the topic, your brand, and potentially your products and services.
Keep the list focused. Your list post should have a clear focus that follows what the reader is expecting.
If the title of your post says “10 Ways to…” then your post should include 10 supporting list items.
Ensure that list items are related. If they're not, your list will appear random and confusing, making it difficult for your readers to follow.
Keep list titles short and concise. Don't include any filler terms or fluff that may deter your reader from what they are looking for.
Order the list logically. Your list should flow just as any other article would. Some common ways to organize your lists are alphabetically, chronologically, and by popularity or importance.
One of the most common types of blog posts that can help you drive traffic to your website is how-to posts. These types of blog posts provide readers with step-by-step instructions on how to complete various tasks. How-to posts are a great way to share expertise with readers and help them achieve a specific goal.
You could create how-to posts on theoretically any inquiry your audience may have that you can offer a solution for. They could be small inquiries, such as “How to Grow Your Saas Client List” or they could be more complex such as “How-to Keep Your Injection Mold Operational”
Oftentimes, how-to posts are used during the awareness phase of the customer journey. We recommend publishing how-to posts to educate your audience about topics they are interested in learning about.
Here are a few professional tips to keep in mind if you're thinking about writing a how-to post for your blog:
Make a list. Make a list of the steps the reader will need to take in order to complete the task and outline them in the order that they need to be completed in
Write each step in a clear and concise manner. Take the time to explain to the readers what each step is for and provide details on how they can complete it.
Consider using numbers or bullet points to make your information scannable.
Include relevant content. Incorporate any relevant photos, videos, or infographics that a reader may find helpful while completing each step.
Comparison posts are a helpful way to supply your readers with valuable information about two or more different things. These types of blog posts compare and contrast products, services, offerings, and more, to help readers make a decision.
Some examples of comparison posts include: "Advantages of Thermoforming Over Injection Molding" Or this example from HubSpot, "IaaS vs. PaaS vs. SaaS: Here's What You Need to Know About Each".
When a prospect reads this type of blog post, they are typically at decision-making turning points in their customer journey as they narrow down their options to make a final decision. Be sure to provide clear opportunities for conversion throughout these types of blog posts.
When writing a comparison post for your blog, keep the following things in mind:
Choose your main subject. Choose a main topic, then decide the two aspects or variations of that topic you want to compare. Ensure that you have enough information to compare and contrast both topics.
Similarities and differences. Create a list of the similarities and differences between the two things you are comparing. This will help you prioritize your focus.
Pick an approach. Decide which approach you want to take. There are a few different ways to approach a comparison post. You can either focus on the similarities between the two things or focus on their differences.
While you should mention both the advantages and disadvantages in your comparison, focusing on both approaches together can confuse your readers and make them unsure about what to do next.
A case study is a comprehensive summary of a project, product, or service that has been implemented by a company. A case study typically includes information on the challenges faced, the results obtained, and the lessons learned.
Case studies are an excellent way to showcase your company's successes and achievements. Creating a blog post that showcases a case study can help companies attract new customers and improve their relationships with existing ones by building trust and rapport. A case study blog post can also be repurposed for social media posts, eBooks, infographics, or presentations.
Keep in mind that case studies are often used to help potential customers feel confident when they are making a purchasing decision. To write a strong blog post featuring a case study that converts readers, there are a few factors to remember:
Make sure you choose a strong case study. One that is well-written and thoroughly researched.
Don't make it a sales pitch, in a case study, let the results speak for themselves. A case study should be informative and helpful, not a pitch for your product or service.
Keep it short. Case studies can be long, but for the purposes of a blog post, aim to present your most important findings in approximately 1,000-1,500 words.
Include supporting data. A case study is more credible when the claims are supported with accurate, visible data that your readers can see.
Roundup posts are a great way to compile information from multiple expert sources into a single article. Roundup posts typically feature various insights, including quotes, tips, and advice from experts in a specific field or industry.
Currently, roundup posts are the least common type of content being published, but these types of blog posts are some of the most effective when it comes to content marketing. Here is a relevant example of a roundup post from AZ Big Media with the topic of “17 inventions that haven’t been invented yet (that people want).”
During the buyer’s journey, it's natural for prospects to seek expert advice on a topic they are interested in. The prospect has clearly defined their problem and is considering all available approaches to solving it. When writing a roundup blog post, keep the following in mind:
Pick a topic. Decide on a topic for your roundup post that your readers will enjoy.
Ask thought-provoking questions. Avoid choosing topic questions that can result in a yes or no answer. To get the most insightful answers, you need to ask insightful questions.
Do your research. Research to find the best spokespeople for your chosen topic. This could involve reading blog posts, watching videos, or listening to podcasts to help you narrow down your list of experts.
Include others. Invite contributors to add valuable insights to your topic and compile your collected information into an informative blog post.
Share credit. Remember to give credit to all of the experts who contributed to your research in your blog post!
The Problem/Solution post is a specific type of post that offers a detailed solution to a problem that your target customers are facing. These types of blog posts can be a great marketing tactic to reach potential customers that have a problem that you can solve.
Offering practical and proven solutions to a pressing issue provides value for your readers. One way to do this in a blog post is to offer helpful advice or tips such as "How to Build a Repeatable Sales Process” or “How to Rank on the First Page of Google”.
Creating a compelling solution to a prospect's problem can help move them along in the buyer’s journey (hopefully in favor of your company). To help move readers into the decision stage by using a problem/solution post, remember to do the following:
Name the problem. Identify a problem that your readers are likely to be facing.
Suggest solutions. Offer a valuable solution to that problem. Why is this the best solution for their problem?
Provide direction. Outline the steps readers need to take to implement your suggested solution and see their desired results.
Educate. Offer additional resources and tools that will help your readers solve their problems.
Encourage. Encourage your readers to take action by implementing your solution. Include a call to action on your blog to guide your readers on their next step.
As you can see, various types of blog posts can help drive traffic to your website. Remember, there isn’t one type of blog post that is the best for every company. Take the time to research how your audience consumes content. What kind of content are they looking for? What are they researching online? What stage of the buyer's journey are they in?
If you want to drive higher traffic to your website with your blog posts, these 6 types of blog posts will do the trick. Make sure to write posts that are interesting, informative, and inspiring to your audience. By publishing well-written content that is aligned with your target audience, you can attract and retain new visitors more effectively in 2023.
If you need help, contact us at 800-834-4910 or get in touch with an Inbound 281 blogging expert.
Mark Parent : September 30, 2016 4:15:51 PM EDT
Julia Payne is an expert in tech growth through marketing and Founding Director of Incisive Edge, one of the leading inbound agencies in the UK.
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