What sorts of blog posts work? A typology of blogposts

You can write dull posts on a blog that no one will read

And you can write interesting posts on a blog that no one will read

But some posts work better than others

The answer (in brief) Memes Lists Piggyback Life blogging Detractor Breaking news Links Reviews Surveys Live blogging

Memes

Lists

Piggyback

Life blogging

Detractor

Breaking news

Links

Reviews

Surveys

Live blogging

Now we will: Explain each type of post give you examples Tell you how it works Rate how difficult they are to write And how much attention they can receive

Memes How do you do it? A list of questions that you found on another site You answer on your site and Nominate other bloggers to take the questions from your site and repeat ad nauseum

How do you do it?

A list of questions that you found on another site

You answer on your site and

Nominate other bloggers to take the questions from your site and repeat ad nauseum

For example Iain Dale takes on a meme, develops it and passes it on.

Iain Dale takes on a meme, develops it and passes it on.

Why do memes work? Because you are building a network (the site that links to you and the sites you link to) It’s been proven to stimulate debate by the other sites (or else you wouldn’t have picked it up) Difficulty: 1/5 Buzz: 4/5

Because you are building a network (the site that links to you and the sites you link to)

It’s been proven to stimulate debate by the other sites (or else you wouldn’t have picked it up)

Difficulty: 1/5

Buzz: 4/5

Lists A list of things, such as: Top 10 films this year 5 best holidays 10 favourite outfits 50 best games of football 10 favourite sportspeople

A list of things, such as:

Top 10 films this year

5 best holidays

10 favourite outfits

50 best games of football

10 favourite sportspeople

For example This frontpage of The Times shows that 2 of their 4 most read stories were lists

This frontpage of The Times shows that 2 of their 4 most read stories were lists

Why do lists work? They create debate Why wasn’t X in, why wasn’t Y higher Easy to read Compelling title Frequently used search term Difficulty: 2/5 Buzz: 3/5

They create debate

Why wasn’t X in, why wasn’t Y higher

Easy to read

Compelling title

Frequently used search term

Difficulty: 2/5

Buzz: 3/5

Piggyback Giving your view on a top issue of the day BUT You need to have a unique view either from your perspective, knowledge or research

Giving your view on a top issue of the day

BUT

You need to have a unique view either from your perspective, knowledge or research

For example

Why does it work? Lots of people are interested in the issue You can link to your blog from other sites talking about the same issue Difficulty: 1/5 Buzz: 2/5

Lots of people are interested in the issue

You can link to your blog from other sites talking about the same issue

Difficulty: 1/5

Buzz: 2/5

Life blogging Posts about your life, anything from: what you did at the weekend to Why you need to take the car to the garage It works when: You can give advice to other people in the same situation (what’s good to do in Bristol with young children, where’s a good garage to change your exhaust) You have a regular following of readers who want to know more about you

Posts about your life, anything from:

what you did at the weekend to

Why you need to take the car to the garage

It works when:

You can give advice to other people in the same situation (what’s good to do in Bristol with young children, where’s a good garage to change your exhaust)

You have a regular following of readers who want to know more about you

For example

Why does it work? Very useful for a small number of people Long term usefulness for search engine users It’s like writing an open letter to a group of friends Difficulty: 3/5 Buzz: 2/5

Very useful for a small number of people

Long term usefulness for search engine users

It’s like writing an open letter to a group of friends

Difficulty: 3/5

Buzz: 2/5

Detractor Criticise something A piece of technology A bad restaurant An unreliable tradesman Be careful of libel and defamation legislation; it still aplies

Criticise something

A piece of technology

A bad restaurant

An unreliable tradesman

Be careful of libel and defamation legislation; it still aplies

For example

Why does it work? Long term usefulness for a search engine Very valuable to prospective purchasers Choose a low profile product and your review will be one of a few Choose a high profile product and it could be useful for a journalist reviewing a product launch Difficulty: 3/5 Buzz: 2/5

Long term usefulness for a search engine

Very valuable to prospective purchasers

Choose a low profile product and your review will be one of a few

Choose a high profile product and it could be useful for a journalist reviewing a product launch

Difficulty: 3/5

Buzz: 2/5

Breaking news Just as it says on the tin

For example

Why does it work? It’s unique Other sites will (mostly) link back to you when reporting it You will get repeat visits as the story unfolds Difficulty 5/5 Buzz: 5/5

It’s unique

Other sites will (mostly) link back to you when reporting it

You will get repeat visits as the story unfolds

Difficulty 5/5

Buzz: 5/5

Links Provide links to low profile (or news) websites and blogs

For example

Why does it work? The other (smaller) sites will be grateful to you and link to your site Difficulty 4/5 Buzz: 2/5

The other (smaller) sites will be grateful to you and link to your site

Difficulty 4/5

Buzz: 2/5

Reviews of products, films, books, music etc.

For example

Why does it work? Many people see bloggers as more authentic than professional reviewers You can get traffic through search engines (though unlikely for frequently reviewed products or films) If someone really disagrees with you, it can create buzz Difficulty: 2/5 Buzz: 1/5

Many people see bloggers as more authentic than professional reviewers

You can get traffic through search engines (though unlikely for frequently reviewed products or films)

If someone really disagrees with you, it can create buzz

Difficulty: 2/5

Buzz: 1/5

Surveys What do your readers think about a topic?

For example

Why does it work? Engage your readers Create new content Difficulty: 2/5 Buzz: 1/5

Engage your readers

Create new content

Difficulty: 2/5

Buzz: 1/5

Live blogging Giving your thoughts during an event

For example

Why does it work? Engage readers in a minute by minute commentary Involve them in a developing event Hold your readers for the duration Difficulty: 3/5 Buzz: 3/5

Engage readers in a minute by minute commentary

Involve them in a developing event

Hold your readers for the duration

Difficulty: 3/5

Buzz: 3/5

In conclusion Memes Difficulty: 1/5 Buzz: 4/5 Lists Difficulty: 2/5 Buzz: 3/5 Piggyback Difficulty: 1/5 Buzz: 2/5 Life blogging Difficulty: 3/5 Buzz: 2/5 Detractor Difficulty: 3/5 Buzz: 2/5 Breaking news Difficulty: 5/5 Buzz: 5/5 Links Difficulty: 4/5 Buzz: 2/5 Reviews Difficulty: 2/5 Buzz: 1/5 Surveys Difficulty: 2/5 Buzz: 1/5 Live blogging Difficulty: 3/5 Buzz: 3/5

Memes

Difficulty: 1/5

Buzz: 4/5

Lists

Difficulty: 2/5

Buzz: 3/5

Piggyback

Difficulty: 1/5

Buzz: 2/5

Life blogging

Difficulty: 3/5

Buzz: 2/5

Detractor

Difficulty: 3/5

Buzz: 2/5

Breaking news

Difficulty: 5/5

Buzz: 5/5

Links

Difficulty: 4/5

Buzz: 2/5

Reviews

Difficulty: 2/5

Buzz: 1/5

Surveys

Difficulty: 2/5

Buzz: 1/5

Live blogging

Difficulty: 3/5

Buzz: 3/5

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