Over the next week here on ProBlogger I’ll be exploring the topic of ‘compelling content’.
I’ve identified 7 principles of compelling content that I’ll be sharing (actually it could blow out to 9 as the more I think about it the more I realize there’s to say on the topic) but before I do I wanted to open up the opportunity for people to share their thoughts – undistracted from what I’ll share.
My hope is that in answering this question we’ll begin to set the scene for the posts that will come and that the series that follows will be more useful to everyone. I’d also like to use a few quotes from what you share in some of my following posts so please make sure you include your name and URL in the appropriate areas in the comments below.
So What Makes Content Compelling to You?
Looking forward to reading your thoughts on this question and sharing some of mine in the coming week. Make sure you’re subscribed to ProBlogger to be notified of the posts to come in this series.
I am assuming you mean what is compelling content to those of us who blog? (I wasn’t sure if you meant what is compelling content for us to read about here, because there is plenty!:)
For me, I can come up with compelling content that I personally like but I always go back to what will the people who are reading my blog want to read about.
I have a mom blog…yeah, I know, join the masses. Nevertheless, my kids are older and I work full time.
The world is full of serious issues and lots of moms do the whole product review thing. My goal, really, money or not right now, is to use humor. I’m still working and refining, I haven’t been bloggin long. But people started early on to respond to the humor when I added it in, and I’ve followed that trend.
So whether I am writing about a serious teen issue, or being a working mom, I’ve learned to use humor, it works for me, people are starting to look for it from me.
What makes compelling comment? Something that either brings people back or makes a new visitor subscribe. I might think it’s very compelling but if one of those two things doesn’t happen, I might have been wrong. Still learning, anxious to read what people say here.
When the content tells a story I feel compelled to read it. The story could be about a mistake or a benefit the writer has experienced. For me, it makes it more compelling if I can relate to the story as well. Perhaps I have experienced something similar.
Andrew
For me, images including videos in blog posts will help make your content more compelling to your readers.
I myself have not used much of videos in my post, I guess I have to start adding videos soon…
Content that teaches you something that you can walk away and hold onto. Any bit of information that you can apply to your life.
These are compelling to me:
1. Teaches me new ways of doing things, new ideas, approaches.
2. Helps me solve a problem that I have
3. Technical reason. The idea is not outstanding – can even be ordinary – what makes it exceptional is the writer’s fresh way of treating his content. A very well written post or piece of writing is always compelling.
4. Humor never fails to attract my attention. Not a day passes that I must have my fix of a little humor or entertainment. Hopefully the blogger provides that.
Content is compelling when it is new. New information, a new perspective, a new way of dealing with something.
Give me something to think about.
Content is compelling if it makes me change my lifestyle. If I read a blog and don’t learn something that will change how I behave after I leave the blog, then I never go back.
(I suppose that’s the key behind the bigger blogs, like Problogger, Copyblogger and Zen Habits).
-Something that makes me think
-Something that makes me laugh
-Something that looks beautiful
-Something that amazes
-Something I need to include in my hit show
“The 1st Question” for an answer, as I am always
looking for material!
Compelling content draws in the reader. It is original and unique.
Compelling content can also be something that sparks my interest. It makes me want to learn more.
Compelling content isn’t so much of quantity as it is quality. You can tell that effort was put into creating the content, and that’s what gives the content value.
Truly compelling content not only sparks my interest, but makes me want to share the insight I’ve gained with others.
Patrick
To me compeling content is that which just keeps me at the edge of my chair from the introductory paragrapgh to the conclusion. To do it has to;
-Solve a personal problem
-touch my fears
-contain some form of humour
-tell a story that I can relate with.
When the content is presented in a easy to digest manner. I would say that its when the content is answering a need I may have but that’s not always the case. Many is the time when I was totally absorbed in reading something I wouldn’t normally care about simply due to the way the writers personality came through. So i would say that perhaps more than anything, personality is king.
for further clarification of my previous comment: Personality doesn’t mean the writer has to be some personality superstar, but rather that their own uniqueness shines through.
For me compelling content is material I want to revisit multiple times over a long span of time. It’s material that can be referenced and referred to often as it is relevant to many situations and people.
Compelling content, to me, is something that drives me to action. During the whole article/video I am actively thinking about what the implications are for the information that I am given.
I have to have a real interest in the topic, personally or professionally. I don’t really read things I’m not interested in even if it’s required. If that happens then it’s got to be entertaining.
I try to inject my humor in my writings so they are at least mildly amusing, especially with examples. This helps aleviate the sometimes “dry” nature of the topic.
I couldn’t do that with the blog series I did because the posts were already really long, but I tried and will always regret not having more.
– Jeffery
For me, the compelling content needs to have following elements:
a.) Quality – quality content is the main element. Including many quality information gathered from multiple sources and own knowledge.
b.) Useful – it needs to be a useful or helpful to the targeted audience. People likes to learn something useful or helpful and
c.) Writing Style – for me, very important element is a writing style. I like to see contents that are written in the casual-style. I also like to see some humor and personal experiences in the content.
By my oppinion compelling content is something that everyone can relate to,some irresistible story with good title as the hook. Something that drew visitors attention.
I have simple needs … for me, compelling content:
* is actionable
* tells a story (or conveys an idea) that relates to me
* includes a good visual – I’m more likely to read a story that contains a photo or graphic than one that is just a block of text (though story may trump graphic if it is interesting enough)
To me compelling content is actionable content or rare insight. Actionable content is the stuff I read here, almost every post has something that I can immediately use in my own blogging.
Rare insight is the stuff I read in WSJ, NYT or blogs like Baseline Scenario, which gives me things to think about that I could never possibly have figured out on my own.
The most compelling content I come across comes from writers who aren’t afraid to be pirates demanding a ransom of truth from self. They aren’t annihilated by mean comments, because no matter how much hurt, they are more committed to microscopic honesty than to living bland, pain-free lives.
I am not talking about exhibitionism or people who trade on secrets to drive traffic to their sites. I am talking about those bloggers who let the dormant poet out of the tower of political correctness – who risk ridicule and rejection when they allow their ideas to flow from the Fountain.
Compelling content is sometimes tender, sometimes sloven. It is sometimes impulsive, but more often precise. Above all, compelling content is disclosure – of imagination, failure, success, sorrow, joy.
Content that is timely and practical. Examples, case studies, story telling – find all of that compelling in content.
Looking forward to reading further!
Simple.
Compelling content rouses that most precious human resource – action.
I’ve been ranting on about this for weeks. We don’t need more content. We need action.
I find two types of content compelling: content that teaches and content that tells a story.
If you combine the both then I think that is a serious ‘compelling content’ winner.
I look forward to reading the posts on this subject.
Karl
For me Compelling Content is content that makes me:
– ask a question
– consider a view
– instructs me on something new or an experience
Basically something that makes me either happy or angry. Im indifferent to almost everything else.
These are compelling to me:
1. Teaches me new ways of doing things, new ideas, approaches.
2. Helps me solve a problem that I have
3. Technical reason. The idea is not outstanding – can even be ordinary – what makes it exceptional is the writer’s fresh way of treating his content. A very well written post or piece of writing is always compelling.
4. Humor never fails to attract my attention. Not a day passes that I must have my fix of a little humor or entertainment. Hopefully the blogger provides that.
5. And most important of all… repetition!
Compelling content in my blog comes in two forms, and I’m gauging this by the number of hits and the number of comments.
The first comes from stories I enterprise based on the highs and lows of living carfree in the desert. People seem to love when I tell stories about of my day to day activities – whether it’s drama filled or more comedic relief. Sometimes I feel bad being so self-indulgent and sharing things that to me are just another day – but people love it!
The second most clicked on compelling content comes in a form I learned right here on Problogger.net – creating lists. I get so much positive reaction on those days, and the writing tip from Darren has definitely made my blog reach a new level.
Many things make many different kinds of content compelling.
One thing that makes content compelling is the fact that it is “compelling” to a great many others.
Hi Darren,
You’ve collected a lot of very good lists that focus on the attributes of the content itself: new, humorous, visually appealing, telling a story. Many of this echo the “SUCCESs” list (simple, unexpected, concrete, credible, emotional, story) in Chip and Dan Heath’s book, Made to Stick.
But I think we need to remember the reader and that inevitably leads to the realization that, for each individual reader, “it depends.” And it depends not just on who the reader is, but when you catch them. What is going on in my business and personal life today, what are my short or long-term goals, and many other factors influence what I may find compelling when you publish it. A wildly funny piece might not play well on a day I’m facing a tragic loss.
It may not seem like this helps us much, as the ones trying to create compelling content. But I think keeping this in mind can help us think think through which kinds of readers we are trying to reach, what the needs of that sub-group may be, and so on. With those things in mind, the task of deciding what makes our content simple, concrete, etc., should be easier.
Looking forward to your takes on all this!
Tom
Compelling content to me is not only the value of the content and what it does for me, but how it’s written.
I don’t like writing blog posts like I would for my final thesis. A lot of blogs publish posts as if they’re writing for a Science Journal or something.
I like it when it’s personal and it’s directed at me. It makes me pay attention to it more. It also makes me feel that the author isn’t just some kind of robot.
I write my own blog that way. I give advice on dating and just general self-help and I write my posts as if I’m talking to one of my friends. It’s very personal for both me and the readers.
Compelling content really depends on context. By context, I mean audience, medium, and timing.
The important of audience is pretty obvious – write what appeals to your readership. It’s also important to write in a style and on a topic appropriate to your medium. A novel may be very compelling in book form, but would be seriously out of place on a blog.
Timing’s the third thing I would consider .For example, an article about Christmas traditions would be compelling only around Christmastime. A breaking news story would likely only be compelling for a few weeks; after that it would be irrelevant for most people.
Compelling to me?
learn
laugh
re-set priorities
awareness
help
howto
reasoning
I enjoy content that logically lays out a problem and then shows me how to solve it. When it is well written, witty and timely, then that’s compelling.
Opinion content that evokes constructive dialog, that moves an issue or point of view along compels me to want to read and participate. Couple that with deep knowledge of a subject and a general caring for the readers, will hook me every time.
Compelling content helps me;
– solve a problem, sometimes a problem I didn’t know I had.
– teaches me how to do something, better or faster
– gets my creative juices flowing and my mind working
– helps me see things in a new light.
In general, the art of non-crass humor usually reels me in and keeps me coming back, no matter the subject.
Wow, this is an interesting question, and interesting to see some of the variation of responses!
For me, compelling content has two chief characteristics – a) it is significant and meaningful (not trivial) and b) it is interesting and important to me (as writer).
In other words, the content needs to have some importance – either it’s newsworthy or novel or meaty or matters somehow in the world (even if that “world” is a small niche. And the content has to matter to the writer. If I write about something but don’t really care about it, why should I expect others to take time to read it or care about it?
I’m sure there are lots of other factors that matter, but they boil down to these essentials for me.
Since I read a ton of mom blogs, I tend to go back to the ones that don’t constantly talk about their children. The bloggers that reveal more about themselves, and get intimate with their readers is what I appreciate the most.
I believe that compelling content is something that serves a purpose. Pretty basic I know, but while looking at business sites and other blogs, I tend to see quite a lot of unnecessary content that turns me off to particular sites. If you have compelling content that motivates people to visit your site, you shouldn’t need all the unnecessary links, etc. I think have an easily navigable site is also and important step to the illusion of compelling content.
In your case, compelling content would be based on sharing those little secrets that have made you a great blogger, and all other things you can observe while blogging actually, as far as I assume you live different experiences from other bloggers that have much more less traffic and success, and be sure that those experiencies are very interesting for bloggers, because all of we want to learn a lot from you.
Thanks for blogging.
Compelling content for me tends to include:
1) Solid data. I often search for things that I can link to or quote in my own writing to support arguments or expand information, and that needs to be highly reliable. So I look for blogs by professionals, posts that detail a topic and cite their sources, etc.
2) Unusual perspectives. I like to read about things that are weird and interesting. So I’ve got a friend who blogs about building puppets and other theatrical props, and several friends who post art-in-progress, and people whose political leanings are different than mine but clearly described, etc.
3) Partial overlap. I’m really keen on networking with bloggers who work in any of my main fields but cover a slightly different subtopic. Chances are, their audience and mine will be interested in both blogs, but we’re not duplicating exactly the same coverage so we aren’t competing directly. That’s ideal for audience expansion.
To me, compelling content is content which falls into one of the below:
1) Educates me on something I am interested in
2) Provides insight into something I am interested in
3) Helps me solve a problem
I am sure there are a couple of others, but those three are at the top of my list.
Wesley Craig Green
The Geek Entrepreneur
As a niche blogger in the quilting/creative arts – compelling content is beautiful, teaches me a new technique, or inspires me to create! Thanks Darren!
I agree with Mitch and some other commenters that compelling content is something you can walk away with. You can apply to your own life. The content teaches you something really important that you didn’t know before, maybe something that’s contrary to what you’ve always believed–like what we hear about how terrible it is to get old.
Compelling content is a subject matter based on a good story. Storytelling is such a great art form. I also read articles that help improve myself and my business. I enjoy lots of topics and enjoy video alot. That gives you a chance to see the person behind the word.
Karen
GrooverClinic
Compelling content is simple: Provides insight (also insider commentary), is educational, is well written and/or funny. I think “how-to’s” take the cake on the web, but there’s nothing better than a good laugh.
It depends on how I get to the content. If, like Problogger I have it in my reader I’m much more compelled by a community approach. Ask and answer, opinions, etc. If I get to something by a search engine I like the content to just be information without the extra “stuff” around it.
They both share in common that they need to:
a) Provide accurate and timely information/opinions
b) Original information/opinions or at least a new perspective on it
c) Easily understood
d) Well written content.
Great question, great comments. I like reading content that’s outside my area of interest as long as it’s concrete and conversational. Using a concrete style brings your ideas to life. Being conversational brings the writer to life and creates a human connection. That’s compelling.
Compelling content for me takes in several components.
1. Teaches me how to do something or shows a different perspective on something.
2. Helps to trigger creative ideas, whether its in my writing or in a particular situation I’m in.
3. Helps me to solve an issue or makes something easier to deal with, whether professional or personal.
4. Sometimes its even straight forward advice you read and then think, this is it – this will work – this is my answer! (These are often called my “Lightbulb Moments.” That is only one of my reasons I subscribed to ProBlogger.)
5. Also find resources and only short videos like 5 or 10 minutes long that offer detailed steps and/or clarification, to be helpful. (Not able to watch the longer ones.)
6. The writing needs to hold me, doesn’t necessarily need to be lengthy. Rather have quality than quantity of course.
7. For me, if the site creates an environment that promotes learning, prompts an action or a change, and speaks on a casual basis, I’m more apt to stick around or come back for more. (to clarify – the site needs to not be overly cluttered, must be easy on the eye with regard to colors, (that’s kind of a tricky one because I love color), easy to search and naviagate around.)
I realize the last point isn’t about the actual content itself, but for me it’s an important aspect of being able to deliver whatever message you’re trying to convey on your site and to your audience. If it (the environment) gets to be chaotic or aggravating – I’m gone. Look forward to seeing your take on this.
Note: Because you asked – Site is not functioning properly; being worked on. Hopefully it’ll be up very soon.
Compelling content is something unique that I couldn’t find anywhere else.
To me great content includes an interesting concept that draws me into the post. In addition, the writing style of the blogger is also important. I like to read posts that combine humor and straight talk.
I also prefer to read posts that will teach me something new or will make the light bulb go off in my head.