10 Quick & Easy Formats to Use for Your Blog Posts

Are you running out of ideas for your blog? Or maybe you’ve been churning out the same type of posts and your web visits are already taking a plunge?

Whether you want to increase web visits or sustain your audience’s interest, you can use any of these ten blog formats to hook them in and spice up your content.

But first, make sure you’ve identified your target audiences or buyers. Think about their most pressing concerns and what questions they often ask. 

Then create a post that can help solve those issues, using one of these blog formats.

1. How-To Articles 

People turn to the internet whenever they need guidance, and this makes detailed instructions beneficial for your site’s SEO. 

Whether you’re selling a product or service, you can come up with a how-to blog post to teach your buyers. Show them different ways or applications of your product. 

If you offer software, teach them how to maximize its features. You can even create posts that are specific to your audience’s skill level, crafting separate articles for beginners and advanced users.

2. Expert Tips

The Internet is flooded with advice, and people are becoming more discerning when picking tips to adopt. Featuring tips from well-known, successful experts serves as proof that the advice has been tested or applied by credible individuals, and they actually work.

When writing these blog posts, you can list tips from one famous expert, such as Evan Carmichael’s compilation of Warren Buffett’s investment advice. 

An alternative is to focus on one issue and feature answers from different specialists. TwelveSkip took this route in the post 23 Influencers Share How To Get On The Radar of Influential People In Your Industry that included tips from Neil Patel, Lewis Howes, and Pat Flynn. 

Another example is the Social Media Examiner post Social Media Marketing Tips from the Pros that combined actionable advice from entrepreneurs, content managers, podcast hosts, and published authors. The post had also been a clever segue to their social media marketing event. 

3. Announcements

If you’re launching a new product, holding an event, or providing limited-time offers, one of the best ways to promote it is through a blog post. Sharing it on your website and other online channels helps create excitement or anticipation for your event. 

Aside from including details like the date, venue, contact details, and sign-up instructions, grab this opportunity to discuss how your products or service will benefit your customers.

For example, if you’re running promos on HVAC products, educate your future clients about the lifespan of their units and the benefits of upgrading their system or replacing outdated ones.

You can also share some lessons you learned while creating a product, which can help readers who are on the same boat. One example is Marie Forleo’s post and video on what she wished she knew before writing her manuscript. The post wraps up with a question on where readers pre-ordered her book and a chance to get an advanced signed copy.

4. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Aside from how-to questions, there are probably tons of queries your target customers are typing in search engines. This is your chance to provide the information they need, while also positioning your company as a reliable, trustworthy expert in your field.

When making FAQ posts, your content can focus on one question, or you can group related queries and address them in one article. Aside from adding the post to your blog, consider including them in your website’s FAQ or Help section, where your audience can easily find it.

5. Listicles

Listicles are numbered lists sharing multiple tips or products in short, easy-to-digest paragraphs. These make them so much easier to scan, which is ideal for busy audiences or those looking for quick, straightforward answers. 

Make your listicles enticing by putting a number on the title (such as 10 Quick & Easy Tips) so readers know what to expect, then deliver on that promise. Make it a worthwhile read and include images like infographics to help readers visualize your points and encourage shares.

If your goal is to build internal links, consider doing roundup lists and include links to your blog posts where you cover each item in detail. 

If you’re aiming to get more backlinks to boost your SEO, create a longer listicle. Aim for quality long-form content of over 1,000 words. Moz found out that these longer posts often get more links and shares than shorter articles. 

6. Case Studies

Case studies feature a client’s experience with your product or service. It shows your readers how you’ve helped them reach their targets or increase their sales, thus helping you establish your expertise. Additionally, you provide readers with proof that your offer or solutions have been tested and delivered stellar results for other clients. 

Case studies have multiple SEO benefits too. Being original content, people who want to cite your results will have to link to your site or at least mention your company’s name in their article. These also boost your featured clients’ search engine results, as their name comes up multiple times on your case study as well as on posts of other writers who cite your article.

7. Dos and Don'ts

Supporting your clients and audiences in their goals involves not just telling them how to do things, but also what to avoid and why, and what to do instead. 

One excellent example is Bel Marra Health’s article on yoga for osteoporosis patients that includes poses these individuals must avoid and other reminders. 

8. Interviews

Like case studies, interview-based blog posts enable you to publish content your readers aren’t likely to find anywhere else. 

Interviews can be done face-to-face or purely online, such as through emails and voice calls. Ask your interviewee to share a story about their business, the lessons they learned, and advice they’d give to your readers.

You can even create multiple types of content from one interview. Aside from creating videos and infographics, you can pull out lessons from the interview and add these to your next expert tip blog post or listicle.

9. Reviews

Aside from customer feedback, buyers check online reviews before making purchases, especially high-ticket items or subscriptions.

Take this opportunity to review a product or service’s features and limitations, and highlight who or what businesses it can best serve. Include images to help readers visualize the product features, or screenshots to give them a preview of the software’s dashboard.

10. Comparisons

Like reviews, comparison blog posts help your readers make an informed purchase. But while reviews focus on just one product, comparisons present two or more alternatives. As such, it helps bring your readers (or future customers) closer to clicking the “buy” button.

Your comparison posts can juxtapose different products you have. For example, if you sell garage doors, present the door types you have and list each one’s pros and cons, and factors clients must consider when selecting one.

You can also feature your product vs. another company’s, allowing you to highlight your strengths. Find a way to approach this positively, as slamming or criticizing your competitors will only give your readers a bad impression of you.