Sad to say, a basic blog post isn’t always a thing to get you great traffic - your content needs to stand out. If you want to drive more traffic to your WordPress site, you need to publish fresh, engaging content that builds your brand and gives people a reason to return.
However, devising ideas for posts isn’t easy, and your time is precious. You don’t want to risk spending hours on posts that go unread and unshared. To help you out, here’s a list of 11 types of content that will keep your visitors coming back for more:
Table of Contents
Have you ever bookmarked a blog post because it provided you with a perfect overview of a complex topic? If so, you’ve experienced the power of authority posts for yourself. These posts, which are usually several thousand words long, can take hours or even days to put together.
So, why should you bother? There are two key reasons. First, authority posts establish you as an expert in your field, bolstering your reputation and encouraging people to buy from you. Second, they are excellent for your site’s SEO. Google loves well-written long-form content. Blog posts with over 3,000 words generate significantly more traffic. Third, your visitors will share your post with their friends, thereby driving more traffic to your site.
Most of us use the internet to research tips, tricks, and how-tos. Whatever your niche, your WordPress blog gives you a valuable opportunity to win fans by passing on your knowledge.
If you need some inspiration, skim through forums devoted to your subject area. What problems do people face? Can you help solve them? Reader comments on previous posts are also a good source of material.
Step-by-step posts, complete with photos and screenshots, require time and effort to prepare but will pay dividends in terms of traffic and conversion rates. You could also offer video tutorials. Remember that people retain up to 95% of the information they learn from videos, versus 10% of the information from text. This makes video the most effective way to basically teach anyone anything.
Sharing a list of external resources gives your readers the impression that you are well-read on a topic. Make sure each link opens in a separate window; you don’t want to encourage viewers to click away from your site altogether.
You can create resource lists that detail your favorite books, online courses, blogs, videos, and tools. Briefly describe each resource in a few sentences, explaining how it has helped you.
You don’t have to go with popular opinion to win loyal fans. In fact, expressing a controversial opinion can boost your follower count. This tactic also allows you to inject a bit of personality into your writing. Don’t produce inflammatory content for the sake of it, but if you have a unique perspective you’d like to share with the world, go for it!
Podcasts offer an alternative to text and videos. They are simple to produce, and you don’t need to invest in expensive technology to get started. Because you are speaking to your audience instead of typing, they will feel a greater sense of connection. Bear in mind that some people prefer to read rather than listen, so it’s a good idea to publish transcripts on your website.
Case studies are the perfect way to demonstrate abstract principles in action, and can make for compelling reading. If you offer a product or service, why not use a case study to illustrate how it makes people’s lives better? Doing so will inspire your audience to imagine how they could enjoy the same benefits. Incorporate statistics where possible as proof.
Everyone appreciates the chance to learn from an expert. By sharing a video or written interview with your readers, everyone wins. Your visitors get valuable information, you will win their loyalty by sharing high-quality content, and the expert will benefit from the exposure. They will probably share the interview on their social media channels, thereby driving even more traffic to your site.
Has a recent release taken your industry by storm? If so, there are probably a lot of people out there wondering whether it’s worth the money. Reviews are wonderfully useful information if well-written.
Either write your own review, or ask someone with first-hand experience of the product to offer their opinion. If you are an affiliate marketer, you can use reviews as a natural way to share links.
Always maintain your integrity. Don’t recommend a product or service unless you think it offers genuine value, and always disclose your affiliate status. If you advise your readers to invest in a subpar product, you will soon lose their respect.
Give your readers a platform by inviting them to take part in a survey. You can ask them for their thoughts on a pressing issue in your industry, or give them the chance to vote on the subject of your next blog post. Keep your surveys short, and report back with your findings; your readers won’t be happy if they give you a few minutes of their time and receive nothing in return.
Online visualized information has increased by 9900% since 2007, and for good reason. Well-designed infographics are beautiful, informative, and succinct, making them well-suited for sharing on social media. Be sure to watermark your creation, and include a link to your website and social media profiles. If you don’t feel confident in your design skills, either outsource the job or take some basic online tutorials.
Most people don’t have the time to keep up with multiple blogs. By collecting the best posts on your topic, you are doing your readers a valuable service. Keep them abreast of the latest news in your industry by writing a weekly round-up of posts you find especially inspiring or informative. Don’t feel you need to include a specific number of posts; go for quality over quantity.
Use both quantitative and qualitative data when analyzing how your content is performing. Use Google Analytics or a similar tool to track what kind of content appeals most to your visitors. You should also pay attention to their comments, both on the post itself and on social media. The best blogs are those that respect their visitors, solicit feedback, and adjust their content strategy accordingly. Follow these principles, and you will build a loyal following.
Author bio:
Elisa Abbott is a freelancer whose passion lies in creative writing. She completed a degree in Computer Science and writes about ways to apply machine learning to deal with complex issues. Insights on education, helpful tools, and valuable university experiences – she has got you covered;).
