15 Types of Blog Posts: Learn When & How to Use Them
Have you ever found yourself looking at other bloggers and wondering how they always seem to have such interesting blog post ideas and things to say? Maybe you have just started your blog with some posts, but now you’re not sure where to go from here. If that sounds like you, don’t worry – you’re not alone.
Keeping up with a blog can be daunting, but it doesn’t have to be. In fact, one of the best parts about blogging is that there are no hard-and-fast rules. You can pretty much blog about whatever you want, whenever you want. However, if you’re looking for some structure and ideas, this post is for you.
Below, I’ll outline 15 different types of blog posts and explain when and how to use them, so that you never run out of ideas for your next blog post.
Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links, I will receive a commission if you purchase through these links (without any additional cost to you), which helps us maintain this website.
15 types of blog posts
1. How-to guides
The first one on the list is a how-to guide post. It’s a kind of blog post that shows your readers how to do something step-by-step.
This can be anything from “How to make a perfect scrambled egg” to “How to create a WordPress website“. How-to posts are popular because they’re helpful and usually pretty easy to read.
When writing a how-to post, make sure you break down the steps as clearly as possible. The last thing you want is for your readers to get lost in the middle of your post!
Best practices while writing a how-to post:
- Write short and simple steps.
- Use headings and subheadings to break up the text.
- Include images, screenshots or videos to help explain the step.
Here’s an example of a How-to post that I shared earlier “How to make bio-links with Canva“. You can check it out if you want to see how it’s done.
2. List-post
The list post is exactly what it sounds like – a blog post that’s in the form of a list.
List posts are some of the most popular types of blog posts because they’re easy to read and quickly give your readers the information they’re looking for.
List posts also tend to be more shareable, which means they can help you reach a wider audience.
List posts are perfect for any blogger who wants to give their readers some quick, actionable information. In fact, this very blog post you’re reading is a list post!
To write a good list post, make sure your list is relevant to your niche and that each item on the list is clearly explained.
You should also try to include images whenever possible to break up the text and make the post more visually appealing.
Here’s an example of a list post “11 best free blogging platforms” where I shared some of the blogging platforms that offer free blog hosting.
3. Checklist/Cheatsheet
A checklist or cheatsheet is similar to a list post, but it’s generally shorter and more focused.
While a list post might give an overview of a topic with ten or more items, a checklist will focus on just a few key points of a single topic.
For example, a checklist for starting a blog might include things like choosing a niche, buying a domain name and setting up hosting.
Checklists and cheat sheets are great because they’re easy to scan and usually contain very specific information that’s helpful to the reader.
Some great examples of checklist posts include “The Ultimate SEO Checklist” and “10 Must-Have Elements of a Sales Page.”
To write a good checklist or cheat sheet, make sure the information is well organized and easy to understand.
You should also try to keep the post as short and concise as possible. Remember, people are looking for quick, actionable information when they read these types of posts.
Here’s an example of a checklist post “5 Must-have Pages for a Website” that I shared earlier.
4. Infographic post
Infographic posts are blog posts that contain a lot of visual information with images. It might be a single image with text, or it could be a more complex design with several different elements.
Infographics are great because they can take complex topics and make them more digestible for the reader.
They are also very shareable, especially on platforms like Pinterest, which of course can be a great traffic source for your website.
When creating an infographic, make sure the information is clear and easy to understand. You should also try to use as many visuals as possible to help explain the data.
You can check out this post to learn more about infographics.
5. Video post
A video post is a blog post that contains a video and less text in the blog post. These kinds of posts are great because video content can be more engaging and entertaining than text-only posts.
They’re also a great way to show off your personality and build a connection with your readers if you’re comfortable with the camera.
The other way around would be to use a tool like InVideo to create explanation videos without showing your face.
You can add videos to your website by embedding your YouTube videos or directly uploading them to your website. However, the best practice is to embed it through YouTube or other video players.
And, if your blog is running ads through Ezoic, you can upload your video on Ezoic’s video platform and run it on your site. The great thing about using Ezoic is you can monetize your videos too. Learn more here.
To make a good video post, make sure the video is high quality and with clear subtitles.
You should also include a transcript of the video for people who can’t or don’t want to watch the video. This will also help with SEO because Google can index the transcript for keywords.
6. Personal story
A personal story would be a good touch to your blog post if your website is not a pure niche site.
Apart from that, personal stories also make your blog post more relatable, personal and interesting to your readers.
Personal stories can be something that happened in your personal life or something that happened while you were working on a project.
It can be about your behind the scene experience or your worst nightmare while working on a project.
To make an excellent personal story, make sure it is interesting, relatable and inspiring. It should also be something that your readers can learn from.
7. Case study
A case study is a blog post that goes into the details of a project or task you have done.
It can be about your personal experience or it can be about a side hustle you started, a business project, or even a school project.
The key thing about a case study is that it goes into the details of what you did, how you did it and what the results were.
It is a great way to show off your expertise and also help others who might be looking for similar information that you’ve worked on.
When posting a case study make sure to add any information that might be helpful for your reader.
This includes things like tools you used, resources you found, or any lessons you learned. And finally, be genuine and present your case study with perfect data.
8. Newsworthy post
Newsworthy posts are blog posts that talk about current events or your latest industry news.
These kinds of posts can be helpful because they show that you’re up-to-date on what’s happening in and around your industry.
They can also be a great way to start a conversation with your readers about timely topics.
When writing a newsworthy post, make sure to include links to sources so your readers can learn more.
You should also try to be as unbiased as possible when reporting on the news. If you have a strong opinion about the topic, make sure to label it as such.
9. Review posts
A review is a blog post that gives your opinion on a product or service.
Reviews are great because they can help your readers make informed decisions about whether or not to buy a product or use a service.
When you’re writing a review post, make sure, to be honest, and objective. Always state the pros and cons of the product.
Be as detailed as possible in your review so your readers know what to expect. Here’s an example of a review post “Bluehost review: My experience with Bluehost“.
Things you can add in a review post:
- Products/Service features.
- Your experience.
- The good and bad points of the product.
- The pricing.
- Your recommendation (whether you would recommend it or not).
When it comes to all the different types of blog posts, review posts usually bring the most conversions because most people visiting your website are looking for an opinion about the product before they make a purchase.
10. Comparison post
A comparison post is a blog post that compares two or more products, services, or ideas.
Just like review posts, comparison posts also help readers make informed decisions about which product or service to buy.
Comparison posts can be a bit more tricky to write because you need to be unbiased and fair in your comparisons.
You should also make sure you’re comparing products or services that are similar enough to be useful for your readers.
In comparison posts most of the time, content creators usually compare two different products but sometimes you can also compare more products in a single post.
11. Monthly stat post
Monthly stat posts are a great way to share your progress and growth with your visitors and readers.
They can also be a valuable resource for other bloggers and businesses in your industry.
Monthly stat posts are most effective when you have a significant amount of data to share. If you don’t have enough data to fill an entire post, consider using another type of post.
With a monthly stat post, start by creating a list of the metrics you want to include in your post. Then, write a brief paragraph explaining what each metric means.
Finally, share your thoughts on what the data means for your blog or business.
12. Problem and solution
Another great post type is the problem and solution blog post. This kind of post discusses problems and their solutions.
This post type is perfect for you if you want to help your readers solve a problem and you have a great solution to a problem that your audience is facing.
Make sure to:
- Clearly state the problem at the beginning of the post.
- Provide a detailed solution that is easy to follow.
- Use images, videos or infographics to help explain the solution.
You want to show off your expertise and help people at the same time.
13. Behind the scene
A Behind the scene post is all about giving your readers a behind-the-scenes look at your business or your creative process.
These kinds of posts are great because they help you connect with your readers on a personal level which can also lead to personal and meaningful conversations with your site visitors.
This can also increase conversions and sales because they make your readers feel like they know, like, and trust you.
Besides that, behind the scene posts are also a great way to show your readers that you’re an expert in your field.
And when your readers see you as an expert, they’re more likely to buy from you.
14. Controversial posts
Whether it’s a political issue or something more light-hearted like which celebrity is better, people LOVE to read controversial articles.
This type of post is great for generating discussion and getting people talking about your blog. Just be sure to moderate the comments so things don’t get too out of hand!
15. Interview post
Interviewing someone is a great way to get interesting, unique content for your blog. It’s also a good way to build relationships with other influencers in your industry.
There are a few different ways you can go about this – you can either interview someone via email or do a Skype or Google Hangout interview.
Once you’ve got your content, all you need to do is format it into a blog post and hit publish!
Additional blog post types:
While writing about the above 15 different types of blogs, some additional ideas came to my mind and I thought about including those lists as a bonus.
Let’s have a look at them.
16. Guest post
So the additional list starts off with the Guest posts. They are a great way to get your name out there and build relationships with other bloggers in your industry.
They are also a great link-building opportunity if you guest post on a high-quality blog of your niche.
But as we are talking about content for your own blogs, if you’re ready to accept guest posts, you can invite other bloggers to post as a guest on your blog.
Guest posts are a great way to build traffic (referral as well as organic) for your website and they also create new content for your blog.
Just make sure to let the guest blogger know the conditions they need to fulfil before they get approved to post on your blog.
And also don’t forget to edit and proofread all your guest posts before they go live on your site.
17. Local News
If you live in a small town or even a big city, and you have some interesting news to share about what’s going on in your area, a “local news” type post could be just the thing.
This is a great way to connect with your community and let people know what’s going on.
18. Parody posts
If you’re looking to have some fun with your blog, why not write a parody post? Parody posts are tongue-in-cheek, and often make fun of a serious issue or current event.
When writing a parody post, it’s important to keep it light and fun. Be sure not to cross the line and offend your readers.
Here are some simple ideas for parody posts:
- A day in the life of a… (insert profession or celebrity here)
- How to spot a… (insert type of person here)
- The 10 most… (insert adjectives here) things about… (insert subject here)
The examples above might not be the best examples, but I hope you get the idea.
19. Giveaways posts
Giveaway posts are a fantastic way to increase your blog’s traffic and engagement and it’s also one of the most used internet marketing tactics used by influencers and some bloggers.
By hosting a giveaway, you’re giving your readers the chance to win something valuable, which will not only increase the likelihood that they’ll keep coming back to your site but also that they’ll share it with their friends and followers.
When hosting a free giveaway, it’s important to make sure that the prize is something that your target audience would actually want.
For example, if you’re a beauty blogger, giving away a luxury skincare set would be more appropriate than giving away a gift card to a restaurant.
Additionally, you’ll want to set some rules for the giveaway, such as requiring participants to follow your blog and/or social media accounts and to share the giveaway with their own followers.
This will help to increase your reach and ensure that only those who are truly interested in your content are taking part.
Finally, be sure to promote the giveaway on your social media accounts and in any relevant forums or groups, as this will help to ensure that as many people as possible are aware of it.
20. Current events
When it comes to current events, timing is everything. But if you can be one of the first to blog about a hot topic – whether it’s a new law, a natural disaster, or even just a celebrity gossip story – you can score some serious traffic.
Just be sure to include plenty of links to reputable sources so your readers can get the full story.
And if you’re including your own opinion on the matter, make it clear that it’s just your opinion – nobody wants to read a biased account of the news.
21. Twitter posts
These kinds of posts are most often used by entertainment or a news site where they look out for controversial tweets, and announcements from celebrities or businesses and make blog posts out of those tweets.
Most of the time, they make blog content out of it by adding their own opinion, analysis or delivering the story from the tweets as news stories.
These types of articles, as I stated earlier, are great for news sites, however, if it fits your needs and your niche, you can add these types of posts too.
Pro tip: Blog series is a great way to keep your readers coming back for more. A blog series is a group of blog posts that are all related to each other.
Basics of writing a blog post you need to know
Now that you know the different types of blog posts, it’s time to look at some basics of how to write your blog post. Things like its style, length of the post etc.
Some basics you need to know:
- Start with a catchy headline: This is what will draw users in and make them want to read more.
- Write a great opening: The first sentence or two of your blog post should be attention-grabbing and make the reader want to keep going.
- Keep it short and sweet: People have short attention spans, so make sure your blog post is easy to read and doesn’t ramble on.
- Use images: People are more likely to read a blog post if it has images, so make sure to include some throughout your post.
- Use subheadings: This will help break up your text and make it easier for readers to skim.
- Write a strong conclusion: Sum up your main points and leave readers with something to think about.
- Edit and proofread: Before you hit publish, make sure you edit and proofread your post for any mistakes.
If you want to go deeper in learning how to craft a good blog post. check out one of my previous posts “How to Write a great blog post“.
Conclusion
So, there you are. The different types of blog posts you can write to keep your blog interesting, informative and interactive.
Remember, the key to a successful blog is to provide value to your readers. So, no matter what type of post you choose to write, make sure it’s something that your readers will find useful, interesting, or both.
The other thing you should be considering is after you’re done with your keyword research for your blog post, make sure the type of blog post you choose aligns with the search intent of your visitors.
Not all types of blog posts will be a good fit for your niche or business.
Lastly, if you have any other types of blog posts that you like, Let me know in the comments below.