What’s your goal for your blog? Do you want…
- more traffic?
- more readers?
- more page views per visitor?
- more subscribers?
- more comments?
- more social network shares?
- more readers taking action on what you share?
- more content you can repurpose?
- more readers who become clients?
- more readers who want to partner with you?
And… more readers who fall in love with you?
Achieving nearly every one of those goals boils down to two steps:
(1) Creating content that’s so good (read: actionable content they can do something with) your readers want to bookmark it to refer back to later. That’s the kind of content that will get them sharing, taking action, getting results and loving you.
(2) Getting the word out about that content so your ideal readers can find it!
So what types of content can help you make that happen with a little spice and variety?
1. Create tutorials, “how to” posts and step by step guides.
Share detailed information that gives your readers actionable content they can implement and get results from.
2. Curate great content from other sources.
Share the best resources (books, websites, blog posts, tools, etc.).
3. Host challenges and competitions.
Inspire and motivate your readers, create community for them, and position yourself as a leader.
4. Design tools and templates.
Give your readers an “easy button” by creating the tools and templates they need to apply specific strategies or tactics in their life or business.
5. Share in-depth case studies.
This is a great way to showcase your clients–or your own–success. Dig into how you accomplished something and the steps you took, tools you used, and what results you got.
Do these types of content take more time to create? Yes. Is it worth it? Absolutely!
Take a look at the blogs you find valuable and see if their content falls into the 5 types above. I betcha it does.
Your Turn!
Which of these content types spark an idea for you? What blog posts could you write that fit one of these?
Is there one of these types of content you’d like me to share more about how to create? Let me know!
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Hi Michelle!
Readers love “how to” tutorials and step-by-step guides as it saves them a lot of time. The 2nd step in your post should read “create great content…”
Hey Nicole, yep, anything we can share that helps people save time is valuable.
I did mean curate, actually. :) As in “select, organize, and look after the items in (a collection or exhibition).” (Mirriam Webster’s definition) So creating a list of the top 10 books or websites or resources to help people achieve X, or do Y. Be a filter for your readers, essentially, and lead them straight to the GOOD stuff.
I’m still trying to figure this one out Michelle. I should have it pinned down by now, however, confident entrepreneurs never give up, they may change course, implement new strategies, even throw in the towel on a business and star a new one, but they never give up on their entrepreneurial dreams.
On a regular basis I post from Ted talks (one of my faves) and I love sharing infographics. In my newsletter, I share a lot of motivational videos. My challenge – writing blog posts that my readers bookmark because of the value it adds to their professional and/or personal lives.
Recently, I had a light-bulb moment and I believe I’ve finally figured out the type of posts “budding entrepreneurs” need. Your blog posts have influenced my light-bulb moment, so I want to thank you – blogger extraordinaire – for that.
It’s a journey. Always working to do better with this myself, too. :)
I love TedTalks. Infographics can be great, too.
Glad you had a light-bulb moment – those are awesome!!
This is really interesting. This is very helpful indeed. Thank you for sharing this.
You’re welcome, Cassie. Thanks for commenting.
Michelle, I’d love to learn more about creating challenges and competitions, and also anything on building your small community out there.
Thanks for the great ideas!
Cool! I’ll see what I can put together around those. Thanks for sharing, Delia.
Michelle,
I was just thinking about working on some type of challenge the other day, I still need an idea for it but there seems to be a lot of scope.
I’m hoping to put some case studies together too, but I just don’t have enough time on my hands, doh!
There IS a lot of scope in creating challenges, isn’t that cool? You might ask your readers/clients what the biggest thing they’re stuck on is to see what kind of responses you get.
Case studies are great! If you don’t have time for a really detailed one, maybe just one quick, “here’s a tactic that got result X, go try it!” could work for you.
Hi Michelle,
You have new looks here. I always like in-depth case studies kind of post. In fact I am in the go to make some of them.
As a constant reader of different blogs, the first thing that I usually browse are video tutorials of “how to’s” and step by step guides. I’m sure it is not just me. A lot of people do love this.
I love the new design! And I love this list. I can’t get my head around how I would do this for my readers. I would love to create an app or a how too, but I have no idea where to begin.
Actually, I do. A reader recently told me that she loves list posts that she can print out and take to the store with her. I created one purely because I didn’t have time to go into details on each item on the list. I’m going to try and do more of these to see how people respond.