Does blogging often feel daunting and intimidating? The longer you stare at a blank white screen waiting for an idea to inspire you, the more overwhelmed you become.
To help you get past the universal writer’s block that everyone faces at some point, we’ve put together 4 essential blog post templates. You’ll never have to start the blogging process from scratch if you keep these templates on hand.
1. The Classic List Post
List posts are also called listicles, and they can be special database lists of tips, techniques, strategies, tools – anything that makes sense as a list and doesn’t need to be in a specific chronological order.
List posts also tend to be extremely search engine friendly since they present information in actionable steps.
What to Include in a List Post:
Title
The title is usually formatted with the number in front of the topic. Here special database meterials are some common title formats:
- # TOPIC Tips
- # Reasons Why TOPIC
- # Ways to TOPIC
- # Types of TOPIC
- # TOPIC Techniques
- # Adjective TOPIC
Make sure your title is interesting and aligns with the content you’re sharing. You can make it more compelling by adding a benefit and a timeframe.
Example: 15 Habits That Will Improve Your Life Forever
Introduction
The introduction for list posts should be pretty straightforward. The beauty of the list post format is that it’s non-chronological, so readers can skim the list to find the tips that appeal to them.
Start with a hook and then introduce the topic. If your list is organized by categories, explain this in the introduction. Be sure to also include a sentence that gives an overview of exactly what you’ll be listing.
Example overview sentences:
“Here are 8 effective ways to grow your social media following.”
“Let’s look at 10 tips to help you snap quality photos for your social media accounts.”
Subheadings
Subheadings are crucial because they break up your content into manageable chunks.
When possible, make the subheadings descriptive and benefit-focused. Doing this will entice people to read each point. And be sure to hook your readers by starting with your best tip!
Bad Example: Exercise to Lose Belly Fat
Good Example: Torch Belly Fat with These 5 Exercises
List of Action Items
Your list should be bulleted or numbered so readers can easily scan it. Include visuals like photos, real-life examples, or screenshots so your readers can easily follow the steps.
Conclusion
Conclude the post by giving one or two final tips or encouraging readers to uae phone number take action. How can the reader use this information in combination with a product or service you provide? Include a call-to-action (CTA) with an internal link, so they can contact you for more information.
2. How-To Post
A how-to post is also known as a step-by-step guide. It breaks down how to do something in simple, easy-to-follow chronological steps.
This template is the perfect option when you’re teaching someone how to do something, and the process must be done in a specific order.
What to Include in a How-To Post:
Title
Most step-by-step guides have the same title structure: How To [Achieve Desired Outcome].
If you want to be more creative, try one of these variations:
- How To [Achieve Desired Outcome] (in # Steps)
- How To [Achieve Desired Outcome] (Additional Benefit)
- How To [Achieve Desired Outcome] (Even If/When [Common Obstacle])
Introduction
Give a brief overview of the topic in the introduction.
When the topic is straightforward, like “How to Take Quality Photos for Social Media,” you don’t need a much of an introduction. The reader will want to go straight to the step-by-step guide, and a long intro may cause them to stop reading.
For topics that have more depth and are harder to understand, you may need a longer intro that gives a definition or briefly explains your topic.