Six Types of Blog Posts That Always Get Read

~ Cristian Mihai

Be honest. You’ve asked yourself many times what are the types of blog posts that folks read.

After all, you’re doing this because you do want your words to matter, right? You do want folks to read your words and ideas and maybe even act on them.

So, what are the types of blog posts that always get read? Oh, and can you use these powerful types of articles on your own blog?

Let’s find out, shall we?

1. Lists, lists, lists

Example: 50 Ways to Become a Better Blogger

Writing a great list post demands two main ingredients: time and patience.

Lists are attractive to readers because their headlines explain in just a few seconds what they’ll receive in return for their attention.

You see them everywhere — and that’s because they work.

2. Good advice that helps your readers solve a problem

Example: Do Not Try This At Home: The Worst Blogging Strategy Ever

Your readers are struggling with a certain issue. You know how to fix it. You provide them with the kind of advice that will help them solve this issue.

What’s even better than this?

Writing about a problem your audience doesn’t even know exists. That right there’s a recipe for success.

 

3. Arguing against a popular point of view

Example: Are You a Blogger or Just Blogging?

People don’t like to have their world-views shattered. Jordan does a wonderful job destroying the myth that anyone can blog right from the opening lines of his post.

If you are good enough and confident in what you have to say and you change someone’s mind, you’ve got yourself a reader for life.

4. Any post with a killer headline

Example: How to Be a Boss at Blogging When You Have 0 Followers

Here’s the thing: your readers don’t have much time. They’re busy. They do not want to spend too long trying to figure out what your post is about. In fact, they’d like to know right away what your post is about.

Your headline should do most of the work for them. Sometimes a phenomenal headline is all it takes to get traffic and comments.

Of course, you’ll receive much greater rewards if the headline is matched by a great post, so always aim not just to deliver on the promise you make in your blog post’s title, but to over deliver.

5. A rags to riches, defeat to victory type of story

Example: The Story of a Writer

We all love the underdog winning. The buzzer beater. The guy who gets punched over and over again, yet doesn’t give up.

If you can share such a story, your readers will love you for it.

6. Best-of lists

Example: Are You New to The Art of Blogging?

To be honest, I’m a bit sneaky about this type of posts. Yes, you could do a classic best-of, hall-of-fame type of blog posts, or you could write a post that serves as an excuse to link to your best blog posts.

For instance, this:

The Art of Writing an Amazing Blog Post

This post allowed me to share what I considered to be my best blog posts across all my three blogs.

The truth is that people are constantly searching for the ‘best’ of everything; it’s a promise of quality. It also generates interest because ‘best’ is subjective — what’s best for you might be mediocre for others.

Ranked lists always seem to generate lots of traffic and comments.

What do you think are other types of blog posts that always seem to get people reading them?

58 thoughts on “Six Types of Blog Posts That Always Get Read”

  2. I’ve got a question. These definitely seem like great ideas, but I can’t help but feel that some, especially #2, come across as really “click-baity” headlines. And I could be wrong but I feel like people are starting to ignore such headlines for fear of getting nothing out of the experience. Is this a legitimate concern?

    Liked by 5 people

    Reply

    1. Well, my example has a click-baity title but the idea was that the post itself should offer good advice.

      And people still click on thos headlines. They ignore bad titles, that’s for sure. Curiosity helped us become the dominant species on this planet.

      But I do state in my other point, about headlines, that you need to over-deliver on your promise.

      So the only thing you should be concerned about is not being good enough to provide your readers with content that is worth a brilliant headline.

      Liked by 4 people

      Reply

  5. Great advice Cristian! The list works well and the solution to readers problems is always a straight forward way to get clicks. My problem is reaching for the killer creative title, but it turns into an obscure weird title that no one cares about. It’s oddly difficult for me to stop making bad, ridiculous titles. I like stupid things, but it doesn’t help readers choose my posts above others (talking to myself).

    Liked by 8 people

    Reply

      2. Well, I am reading your blog post, if that makes sense. Because I have no idea who Greg Morse or Tyler Huckabee are, if they even exist in the realm of men, so I had to go read your blog post. Anyway. Yeah, kind of a strange title.

        Liked by 1 person

      3. Right, I thought maybe the audience would know the names or not know the names and be intrigued…but it’s so wordy. There’s also a point where I think nothing sounds good and it just needs to be published.

        Like

      4. Well, try to play this curiosity card a bit more. Yes, we want to be intrigued by a title, far more than we want to know what it’s all about. A bit of mystery does wonders.

        You could add some adjectives to those names, something that gives us an idea who those people are. For instance someone would interview me and write: “An Interview with blogger extraordinaire, Cristian Mihai.” Something like that. Actually, that happened, so…

        Liked by 3 people

  9. Thanks for the information. It is very helpful for people like me who do not mind writing, but are too spread out in their interests. I also consider writing an acquired skill, and is learning to enjoy it after many years using it just because my work and studies required it.

    Liked by 3 people

    Reply

  20. 3. Arguing against a popular point of view

    Unless you’re doing a political blog this may not work out. Whichever side you take you are bound to lose half your audience or the comments devolve into name calling and insults. This is why I do only non offensive wholesome humor cartoons on my blog and no political , religious or social commentary editorial cartoons. I happen to be a conservative Christian and used to post things of a political nature on facebook but found my viewership dropped by 70% so I never go there on my blog. I think my followers remain with me and followers are increasing by word of mouth because my silly, corny, funny cartoons are a relief from the daily political vomit to which we are exposed and perhaps they find my simple humor refreshing.

    Liked by 3 people

    Reply

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