Here’s a really good question: what kinds of posts should I write to get more links and traffic?
It’s a question every blogger asks themselves. I want to answer it here by outlining 7 content methods that seem to work wonders on social media while also generating a lot of grassroots in-bound links.
Can you bring these powerful post types to your own blog?
1. Resource lists. The useful list of resources requires two ingredients: time and a good eye for quality. If a resource list seems useful many readers will bookmark or vote for it on face-value alone. If your blog is struggling, a useful resource list can be an effective way to spark up your traffic and links. Here’s an example of a well-done resource list:
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2. Lists of tips. Quantifiable lists of tips are really attractive to readers because they explain in just a few seconds what a visitors stands to receive in return for their attention. You see them everywhere — and that’s because they work. Here’s an example of a good list of tips:
3. Good advice. A quality advice-post generally sticks to one topic and provides in-depth info on it. In order to maximize the benefits, you’ll need to provide advice people are hungry for. Avoid over-saturated topics and try to work out what your audience wants to do but doesn’t yet know how. A good advice post can bring you a lot of success. Here’s an example of one such post:
Photo by Steve Webel.
4. Arguing a popular point of view. People like to have their world-view affirmed. If you can articulate something a lot of people agree with, those who agree with you will champion your post. Those who disagree will probably still link to you, because their response won’t make sense otherwise.
This method works best when the topic isn’t too divisive. A reader won’t abandon your blog simply because you like Facebook and they like MySpace. They might abandon ship if you argue that capital punishment is necessary and that view is something they strongly disagree with. Make sure you’re not going to lose as many readers as you gain. Here’s an example of this method done well:
5. Anything with a killer headline. When others link to you, it’s usually done in the space of a paragraph or even a single sentence. Bloggers don’t want to have to spend too long explaining what a post is about. Your headline should do most of the work for them. Sometimes a really outstanding headline is all it takes to get traffic and links. Of course, you’ll receive much greater rewards if the headline is matched by a great post. Here’s an example of this method in action:
6. Q&As with high profile people. Interviews with well-known bloggers always seem to get links, comments and traffic. The nice thing about this method is that the only work involved is writing questions and approaching bloggers. The success rates for getting interviews are pretty high as most bloggers love talking about themselves! Here’s a clever example of this method in action:
7. Best-of lists. At this time of year you’ll see a lot of ‘Best of 2007’ round-ups, though best-of lists seem to work well at all times. They’re effective because people are constantly searching for the ‘best’ of everything. It’s a term that promises high 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 links, traffic and debate. Here’s a good, recent example:
Can you think of any other types of blog posts which always seem to get links and traffic?
Read more posts like this one at Skellie’s blog, Skelliewag.org and track her posts here at ProBlogger by subscribing to our RSS Feed.
@ Arne: I think you can absolutely use all of them. As you long as the kinds of things you blog about are consistent, you can do it in as many ways as you like.
@ Roni: Good suggestion — a good contest can really transform a blog :-). And yep, asking for thoughts does help get more comments.
All good advice, but maybe I value more the posts that I know my audience will like than the posts that will bring me more audience.
I’m not so sure about tip nr.4.You forgot to mention that if a blogger dose not have some strong arguments to sustain his opinion,he will be treated as a freak who only writes for traffic.
I think Review Roundups are very good for getting traffic.
#1 is cool, I think every blogger should have as many resources as possible to become more effective in what he/she is doing. Thanks for sharing the resources link skellie.
Nhick
http://www.itrush.com
Thanks for the cool tips. These are very vital for newbies like me.
A How-To list is usually my favorite type of post to do. I love learning new things and then teaching other people once I’ve mastered them.
Niiiiiice post :) I have to do this post and get moreee traffic :)
Writing reviews and writing for spread information about any product only is also a good source to generate traffic. I write reviews about mobile phones on one of my blog. That blog have 500 organic and 100 refferal in average.
Exclusive news, giveaways and rumor control are good ways as well.
Two years ago there was a rumor going on about the death of famous christian family, but I am friends with the family. I posted a rumor control blog with a letter from said family and received tons of traffic.
Because my site is about books I do book giveaways. This year my first contest will have a well-known author critique someone’s first chapter.
I’ve used the list thing before “10 ways to use links to make money online”. Which was on like 10 blogs in a few days even though I only submitted it to 4 or 5 directories. I guess everyone likes internet income! It’s also a good idea to use a keyword or phrase for your own website in the article title.
Good post.
Sincerely,
Devin T.
VestRite Internet Practices
I’m still in the phase of learning to write link-bait posts.. your tips are awesome.. you got many comments and i’m sure people are writing about this posts everywhere too =) Love it! thanks!
Have you considerd using pay per play the concept is great…only 5 sec’s of an add..and 100% pay out..Added to a adsence site and the money can be substancial. Just wondering how long before it’s on all the biggest blogs.
Heres some facts about it, rell me what you tink in a future post…. http://epayperplay.blogspot.com/
More information on a popular topic. The highest trafficked post I’ve had recently dealt with a story that was covered on WND but with little information. I can’t say I dug up much, but an hour of internet searches did track down some of the missing details in the story. So I got a few incoming links and the link was passed through a lot of forums.
Great post. I can’t decide which of the 7 is my favorite. You put them all into context and have given me food for my blog for quite a while.
Great post! I think I just got an idea for a future blog post…
Hi Darren, thanks for the tips. Just like to share some additional comments for the 7 tips.
1. Resource lists.
Pros: niche, long term value
Note: sometimes too niche for a wide audience
2. Lists of tips.
Pros: niche, long term value, readers will appreciate the time taken from you to save their time. time is all we have, don’t we ? *winks*
Note: Advantage if implemented prior to trends
3. Good advice.
same as point 2
4. Arguing a popular point of view.
Pros: Reverse Psychology is proven to work, curious minds :)
Note: Don’t make it too personal that it seems like an attack rather than a comparison
5. Anything with a killer headline.
Pros: If this is a person, the headline is the beauty
Note: Be sure to provide quality content to supplement the headlines.
( think value value value, good headline + lousy content = instant noodles with good packaging but tastes like “yuck”
6. Q&As with high profile people.
Pros: If you watch Soccer or any sports, most of us want to see the best teams play against each other don’t we? Proven to work.
Note: This is subjected to trends (short to medium term), like stocks, hits to your post can either “rise” or “fall”
7. Best-of lists. –
Pro – Short Term but can be made into a series, month by month, year by year
Note: If you make a Best of list, back it up with some facts.
Hope it inspires some of you :)
Maynas Chua
http://www.maynaschua.com
I’ve found asking a questions often brings in lots of comments. I run a weight-loss blog and a post I wrote asking people what some of the weirdest things they binged on has gotten a lot of comments. Also, whenever I talk about new foods I’ve tried, people leave lots of comments with recipes I should make. Anything that encourages others to share their knowledge helps increase comments.
Hey Darren, nice points. Greetings.
One topic that always seems to work well for me Darren is blog posts about money — eg, how much to charge, how to determine what to charge, how much freelance writers really make, etc.
In my December newsletter, I did a roundup of salaries from around the web — basically just finding stories where freelance writers and bloggers report how much they make (and from which sources) and put them in the newsletter.
I received more subscribers and comments on that newsletter than any other from last year. And remember, this was December, typically a slow month for freelance writing activity (eg, reading newsletters, etc.).
In my experience, talking about money is where the money (eg, subscribers) is.
Sincerely,
Yuwanda Black, Publisher
http://www.InkwellEditorial.com
http://www.InkwellEditorial.blogspot.com
http://www.SEO-Article-Writer.com
http://www.SEO-Articles-for-Sale.com
http://www.money-making-videos.blogspot.com
Excellent guide for a meaningful blogging.
The list is very useful. Thanks!
You are absolutely right about the value of great headlines. I reviewed the book “They Call Me Nauty Lola” and got more traffic from that post than all others combined. I’m sure it had something to do with the adult-sounding title. hehe.
Good list.
I think there’s specialized variations of above:
– link lists
– step by steps
– top 10 lists
I think there’s also an additional set of patterns:
– question posts
– stories with lessons learned
– blog carnival
– timely hot topic
http://blogs.msdn.com/jmeier/archive/2008/01/06/7-types-of-blog-posts.aspx
Thank you for the resources Skellie!
Hi Skellie,
that’s a good post, i’ve found that writing such headlines does indeed bring in some good traffic.
thanks again… great stuff!
great post…i am hoping following your suggestion helps me bring visitors to my blog :)
Where are you Darren Rowse? you have all of this type?
yeh theres alot of stuffs you guy have helped me getting round.
And much of the things on this post is materialized just as i thought.
As a startup it will make a lot of difference to me. Though it may take time, but great for a long run. Fruits always come when the trees are watered. thanks
Great advice for getting traffic to your blogs with offering good info and photos on a focused subject.
Off topic…but FYI, I have nominated your blog for a 2008 Bloggie in the Lifetime Achievement category because of all the work you have done for other bloggers.
Nice list Darren, the resource list really works when you start the post with a number, something like – 10 Ways to Make Easy Money” or “5 Easy Tips to Speed Up Your Computer”…those usually tend to catch people’s attention…although most of these like some mentioned above need to be backed up with good sources.
Some very powerful stuff indeed!
It’s powerful, but some tips are depends on what kinds of blog you have.
[…] ProBlogger: 7 Types of Blog Posts Which Always Seem to Get Links and Traffic – Skellie provides some tips at post ideas for generating traffic and building interest. […]
Maybe I missed it as I rolled down this list but I didn’t see any mention of humor. If you write something that is truly funny or hilarious (the pinnacle of funny) it will enjoy a great run. Not that I would know from my own blogging experience. But I have seen it happen.
It involves, of course, a lot of creativity. You can’t just recycle jokes. Or maybe you can. I can’t decide and am feeling a lot of pressure just being here and writing a comment on this great blog.
Oh. Yoga. That’s the other thing that attracts lots of people. Especially if they can’t do drugs anymore for one reason or another.
Really nice post Darren…TQ
What a way to start 2008 Skellie!
These are POWERFUL suggestions.
Thanks!
Gisele
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I have an informational blog about airsoft, and now I wish that I had read this post before starting my own blog considering that informational blogs din’t even meet Darren’s list!
Good tips and good list Skellie, certainly for tips no 4.
Thanks
Thanks for using my photo of a taxi in Hong Kong. It is a little interesting where it is located in your post, is there a method to it’s placement?
You forgot to add one type of article that are articles like these.great post.thanx.
This is a great post – for people who want to make money blogging. I feel you’ve hit the nails on the head, and anyone who wants to bring more traffic to their blog or website can learn a lot from this post.
It’s just weird to me, however, that people are trying to make money from blogging by telling people how to make money from blogging. Isn’t that a kind of illegal pyramid scheme?!
Shawn – not sure it’s a pyramid scheme really. I know here at ProBlogger I’m making money by writing about making money blogging – but I make the majority of my money from advertising – companies wanting to align their brands with mine.
There are more pyramid scheme like things out there in the niche – I saw one ‘ad network’ recently that was basically one – but I’m not sure the bloggers writing on the topic are really doing it.
Thanks for the great blogging tips. I actually just recently started my SEO blog and am constantly learning about how blog promotion and SEO are different. This site has been a great resource. Thanks!
Well. It seems that just what I thought was true… Really was true. I know it’s easy to say, “yeah I always knew that.” Well why have you not said anything? I’m not going to lie, I only thought of 4 of those.
The real amazing part about this post is not just what you said… But also that, and how you said it. I love how everyone is always thinking something and rarely is it said. You said it. And how!
Wow, what a great post. That’s why I love this blog. I didn’t catch this post the first time around, but now I’m glad I did! Thanks.
thanks for using one of my photographs in your post (and for the attribution!)