{"id":6844,"date":"2018-03-05T17:09:25","date_gmt":"2018-03-05T17:09:25","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/thedigitalsquad.com\/?p=6844"},"modified":"2018-03-05T17:10:43","modified_gmt":"2018-03-05T17:10:43","slug":"eight-types-of-blog-posts-every-business-should-use","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thedigitalsquad.com\/eight-types-of-blog-posts-every-business-should-use\/","title":{"rendered":"Eight Types of Blog Posts Every Business Should Use"},"content":{"rendered":"

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So you sit down to come up with topics for your next couple of blog posts and…nothing. You draw a total blank.<\/span><\/p>\n

Sometimes business blog post ideas come hard and fast like a heavy rain. Other times you have a total mental drought on what to write about next.<\/span><\/p>\n

Don\u2019t sweat it! There are a couple of blog formats that can work well for just about any subject. Adding them to your repertoire can make coming up with your next blog post topics as easy as falling off a unicycle.<\/span><\/p>\n

In fact, you can use this list to plan your blog strategy for months in advance. If you make some of these blog post types a recurring monthly series, for instance, you can know exactly what you\u2019ll write about at least half the time.<\/span><\/p>\n

So get out your notebook or spreadsheet and jot down the following eight great blog post formats that have a way of working well in just about any context. <\/span><\/p>\n

(Note that the letter \u201cX\u201d stands for any number of list items you end up using. We\u2019re also using [Topic] as a stand-in for whatever subject or focus you\u2019re writing about.)<\/span><\/p>\n

1. Best Practices in [Topic], X Killer Tips for [Topic], X [Topic] Hacks You Didn\u2019t Know About, X Steps to Get Better at [Topic] Etc.<\/span><\/h3>\n

Everyone loves lists. They\u2019re a top-performing content type, especially on social media<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

Why are lists so effective? Well, let\u2019s list a few reasons.<\/span><\/p>\n

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  1. They\u2019re quick and easy to read, even if you\u2019re just skimming.<\/span><\/li>\n
  2. It\u2019s an engaging format that\u2019s easy to get into. You won\u2019t find huge thesis introductions or the like.<\/span><\/li>\n
  3. They cover a broad range of topics, ideas, practices, etc. efficiently.<\/span><\/li>\n
  4. They implicitly promise a certain amount of value. You\u2019re not just getting one<\/i> tip, you\u2019re getting X of them!<\/span><\/li>\n
  5. They have variety. If you have a list of \u201c10 Things You Need to Do to Feel Better at the End of the Day,\u201d a reader can hate seven of the suggestions but still find huge value in the last three.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Of course, not just any list can fulfill this criteria when writing your business blog. The lists you write must contain actual value and usefulness.<\/span><\/p>\n

    That\u2019s why blog posts that promise self-improvement do so well. Just reading the list of hacks, tips, best practices, etc. will suddenly make you better at doing that thing you wanted to do.<\/span><\/p>\n

    Try to distill or retool certain topics you want to cover into helpful lists. They strongly communicate that the article is worth every bit of the reader\u2019s time. They also pack tons of value into a small space.<\/span><\/p>\n

    2. X Top Trends in [Topic]<\/span><\/h3>\n

    Everyone wants to stay current. That\u2019s one of the biggest reasons we go online and read content. We want to find out what\u2019s new and exciting. We also want to avoid being left behind if the latest trends are going to soon become standard practices.<\/span><\/p>\n

    Keep your audience abreast of things happening in your industry with lists of top current trends. These post types work especially well with seasonal timing, such as \u201cX Trends in Social Media for 2018\u201d or \u201cBrands Are Preparing for the 2018 Holiday Season Already Thanks to These X Trends.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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    The beauty of the term \u201ctrends\u201d is that it\u2019s incredibly vague. <\/span><\/p>\n

    A trend can be a best practice for something people use already. For instance, many businesses use emotional photos when sharing blogs on social as a standard practice because such photos are effective at getting engagement<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

    A trend can also be something relatively new, like how many businesses have started using live video broadcasts for behind the scenes looks, live announcements, Q&As and more.<\/span><\/p>\n

    Trends also include bold new ideas bursting onto the horizon. For instance, some small businesses have realized that they can be the first thing a smart speaker like Amazon Echo or Google Home suggests if they focus their SEO strategies on voice search.<\/span><\/p>\n

    In a way, listing trends is similar to offering tips and hacks, but with stronger connotations of being timely and keeping up with the Joneses. You can also discuss hot new topics that get people\u2019s adrenaline pumping.<\/span><\/p>\n

    Make a pledge to reveal current trends at least a few times a year, and you\u2019ll help your audience stay hip and always on the cutting edge.<\/span><\/p>\n

    3. Roundup of Top Resources in [Topic]<\/span><\/h3>\n

    Even if you wrote a blog every single day, you\u2019d never have as much content or cover as many subjects as some of the best content publishers out there.<\/span><\/p>\n

    That\u2019s why it\u2019s ok to send people away from your website from time to time in order to give them the exact information they need. If you can point them towards an excellent resource, then they will appreciate the huge favor you\u2019ve done them.<\/span><\/p>\n

    Sharing great resources also has the added effect of some of their prestige rubbing off on you. \u201cOh man, I didn\u2019t know how many free classes there were for coding online,\u201d someone might say, \u201cbut this business pointed me towards Codecademy<\/span><\/a>, and I\u2019ve been using it every weekend!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

    Think of it like suggesting great films to a movie buff. They\u2019ll be impressed that you knew something they didn\u2019t. The better quality thing you point them towards, the more prestigious you become by association.<\/span><\/p>\n

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     <\/p>\n

    So what kind of resources work best?<\/span><\/p>\n