Blog Post
Templates
There are many different types of blog posts,
but listed below are the templates for the four most common:
- The List Post
- The Step-by-Step Guide
- The Beginner’s Guide
- The Expanded Definition
This is a
classic blog post template, often known as the "Listicle". It usually
comprises a list of anywhere between 10–30 items that have a reason to be
listed (such as tips, techniques, myths, strategies, etc.). This type of list
is usually used for displaying non-chronological information.
To use this template:
Your title should be numbered for the number of
items listed in the article. Your article must have a specific benefit or purpose to make it compelling. Your title should be attention-grabbing.
Possible examples
"X Important Tips to Achieve [Desired
Outcome]"
"X Reasons Why [Problem] Still Persists
Despite All Your Attempts"
"X Myths You Need to Stop Believing"
Your article should begin by establishing trust
with the reader by introducing the problem the reader has and proving the
benefit the reader will get from reading your article. Your introduction should
be as short as possible. It is advised to include a linked table of contents
with jump links so readers can skip right to the tip that interests them if
they would like to.
These are important to give readers an overview
of what that specific section is about. They also break up your content into
manageable chunks. Subheadings should be descriptive and reveal a clear
benefit. This will boost the perceived value of each section to help grab
readers’ attention to read the section. It is up to you to choose whether or
not to number your subheadings. Subheadings should be in head level 2 format.
Action items are sometimes overlooked in how
important they can be. These are the steps a reader will have to take to
complete or achieve each item on your list. Action items are simple:
just include the step-by-step information to help readers follow your steps.
Often it is helpful to include photos or video visuals.
It is important to wrap up your blog post. You
can decide how you want to do this, but most lists end by listing a few more
final tips. Your conclusion should leave readers wanting to actually use the
information they have received from your blog. You can also encourage them to
interact with your post, such by liking, sharing, and commenting.
The Step-By-Step Guide
This is a guide that follows a series of steps
chronologically to ultimately achieve the desired outcome. These guides are
invaluable for people wanting to learn how to do something that needs to be
done in a specific order.
To use this template:
Your title, very simply, needs to include the
phrase "How to" to communicate with readers that this is a
step-by-step guide. Make your title interesting by providing some context.
Examples include:
"How to [Achieve Desired Outcome] Even if
[Problem]"
"How to [Achieve the Desired Outcome] and
Still [Additional Benefit]"
To establish trust and credibility, it is
recommended that your introduction use the PSP technique. This is where you
outline the problem that your readers are facing, which you are
talking about. Then, you pose a solution to this problem and
back it up with proof of your experience with
using this solution successfully. For instance, putting the PSP technique into
action would look like this:
Problem: "Have you been trying to [insert
problem readers are facing]?"
Solution: "The answer is to [insert
solution]."
This is how our team managed to solve our
problem of [insert how the aforementioned problem affected your team]. We now
[include results of using said solution successfully]."
Use Heading Level 2 for your subheadings.
Subheadings are very useful in breaking down your content into manageable
portions; Step-By-Step Guides, they help divide the process into steps to
be followed chronologically. These steps should be numbered. It is recommended
that each step begins with a verb in the present tense where possible.
For example,
"Step # 1: Wake up in the morning.
Step # 2: Drink a glass of water.
Step # 3: Meditate.
Step # 4: Have breakfast. "
At the end of your guide, summarize the process
you just explained. This will help refresh your reader’s knowledge. Keep your
conclusion concise and to the point.
This is a trendy blog format as it
functions as a comprehensive but not intimidating educational resource. It
needs to be written in a beginner-friendly manner, including everything a
beginner would need to know.
To use this template:
It is important that your title immediately
appeals to beginners. While indicating what topic your blog will be covering,
you should include the words "Beginner’s Guide" or "for
Beginners" to indicate that your article is geared towards beginners.
Possible examples
"Essay Writing Tips for Beginners."
"A Beginner’s Guide to Blogging"
Your introduction is very important. You will
need to make sure you reinforce why your beginner readers need to know whatever
it is you are writing about. You must:
- Encourage your reader: acknowledge that
the topic may be complex and that while beginner guides are long, explain
that the topic is not as hard to grasp as they would think.
- Use simple language: explaining terms
simply from the outset allows readers to feel at ease knowing they will
not have to face complex terms and jargon before they are confident in
themselves.
- Outline your content: This allows readers
to get a preview of your content to see the benefit of reading your blog.
This is where you go through everything your
reader will need to know and other questions they may want answers to, too. Use
subheadings to separate your main ideas or answers to questions into manageable
sections. It is advised to use Heading Level 2 (H2) subheadings for each
subsection, but for sections that require longer explanations, H3-6 subheadings
under each H2 will break up the content further into smaller steps. Smaller
steps are easier to follow.
In your wrap-up, you can leave the beginners'
links to more resources and further reading. Of course, feel free to remind
readers how good a resource your guide is and how important your topic is.
Thus, leaving some final words of encouragement can be a good way of concluding
your article, leaving beginners well equipped to continue to learn more.
This type of blog post is an in-depth
explanation of the meaning behind a word, thing, or concept. These types of
posts are invaluable as they help readers understand what certain things are,
what their features are, and why these things are important.
To use this template:
Simply begin your title using the "What
is/are" format. It is recommended that you add context to make your
content interesting. For example,
"What is [the concept] and why is everyone
talking about it?"
"What is [the term]?" A quick
introduction
Begin
your blog with the definition of your concept. You can include a picture of the
results of a Google search for the term if you would like. You can elaborate on
this definition yourself—whatever it takes to make sure that your definition is
comprehensive and easy to understand. This section would be a few sentences
long.
The remainder of your article should now go
ahead and elaborate on the concept/term you are discussing. Think of other
questions related to the concept readers might have following learning its
definition. It is recommended to use the ‘People Also Ask’ function available
in Google to get a sense of what follow-up questions people may want answers
to. Compile a list of them and answer them in subsections using Heading Level 2
subheadings. This will break up the content into manageable sections.
This would be a brief wrap-up paragraph that summarizes
the key takeaways of the article. You could link to further resources on the
topic, which will encourage readers to broaden their understanding of the
topic.
