Last Updated on by Michael Brockbank
When writing blog posts, there are several key types that have great potential for engaging an audience. And today, I’ll dive into the top forms of content that work exceptionally well and how you can implement them on your own.
Just keep in mind that the style of content you want to create is only the beginning. You still have to write it in a way to attract an audience through search intent.
It’s all about offering quality information and serving a purpose.
What Forms of Content Work Best?
Now, there’s nothing wrong with creating a new post in WordPress for anything that’s on your mind. However, not all pieces you create will have a positive impact in terms of generating an audience.
In fact, you may even find some pieces you write may never attract a single visitor. It all depends on what people want to read and how you put that content together.
1. Listicles
Listicles are a combination of lists and articles. Hence the term, “listicle.” These forms of content center around showing a list regarding a specific topic.
You’re reading one right now, actually. I am showing you a list of the best types of content to create.
Lists are great because they give people many solutions to an issue. On the plus side, it also gives you a chance to create even more content down the road.
Take this post, for instance. I’m showing you seven forms of creating content. Yet, I can create a blog post for every item in the list to go further into how each one works.
2. Reviews
Reviews are among some of the most popular types of content on the Internet. That’s because 95% of people read reviews before making a purchase.
If you become a trusted source for your specific niche, your reviews could drive everything from traffic to affiliate sales. That is if you decide to sell the product you’re reviewing.
Some creators have gone so far as to combine reviews with listicles. For example, you could create a post of the “10 Best Cameras to Use on YouTube” and then dive deep into each one.
The downside to reviews is that some can easily and quickly become outdated. A review today about the 10 best video cards to use for gaming isn’t going to be the same in five years.
But there’s no doubt, reviews are exceptionally potent for driving quick traffic.
3. Q&A Articles
A “Question and Answer” article is one where you try to provide the best explanation for a question someone might ask in a Google search. Quick and easy answers often work best. But diving into the details of a question can really draw an audience.
And Q&A articles are some of the best performing forms of content on WriterSanctuary.
For instance, I have an article answering how much money you can make on Textbroker. Then, I go into detail about ways to improve and every step I take to make that money.
So you see, it takes more than just a quick one or two-sentence answer to build momentum. People often love related details, especially if you break down how to improve the experience.
4. How-Tos
Tutorials, or How-Tos, are easily among the most effective articles you can write. Especially if you know what you’re doing and are a good teacher.
The How-To is nearly a staple of the Internet because everyone looks for ways to do something themselves.
In fact, one of my clients generates more than 200,000 visits per month from WordPress tutorials…that’s not including the regular blog content or listicles we create.
The bottom line is showing someone how to do something, especially if there are pictures or videos attached, works incredibly well for driving traffic to a blog.
5. Infographics
Infographics are images you create that are based in a statistical or educational context. And since humans are a highly visual species, infographics work well in a myriad of situations for driving traffic.
Infographics can be branded, shared, and even embedded with links back to your website.
But there is a catch to creating an impressive visual. You have to collect the data and build one. This process alone makes it one of the most time-consuming forms of content on the Internet.
However, the end result could be a massive influx of traffic for the blog. That is as long as you create an infographic people want to read.
If you want to generate a great infographic but don’t have editing software, Canva helps with infographics as well as a slew of other visuals for your blog. And it’s free to use.
6. Vlog or Video Embeds
Although blogs are far from dead, you can’t deny the effectiveness of video content. This can come in the form of personal vlogs or videos made to accentuate your blog posts.
For example, I often create video versions of my blog posts and embed them on the site. That way, visitors can either read or watch the material.
Keep in mind that 85% of users watch videos in the United States on a variety of devices. You can vastly expand your audience base just by adding a simple YouTube channel.
Case in point, I reach just as many people on YouTube as I do in Google search. In my situation, it was definitely worth embedding video content on the blog.
7. Stories or Poems
And lastly, being creative is another major reason why a lot of people create blogs. In the United States, almost 28 million adults claimed to read poetry in 2017.
Speaking of which, one of my stories from 2016 still gets quite a bit of attention on this website.
Blogging and creating free tales people can enjoy helps promote yourself as an author. If you have any books published, it also gives you a chance to sell more copies, if people really like reading your works.
My point is that a successful blog doesn’t have to be strictly business.
Which Forms of Content Are Better?
The best types of content for your blog really depend on you and your audience. Not every blog is going to have room for listicles and how-tos.
You may have to try a bit of trial and error to find the best combination. You may find stories to be exceptionally more popular than an infographic.
This is where knowing your target audience is going to be the most effective. What kinds of things do these people want to read, and can you deliver the best quality of that material?
Take some time and create a persona of the perfect person who you’re trying to engage. Is he or she into DIY, or are they interested in the quick solutions of a listicle?
It may sound a bit silly, but it does work to help you keep this “perfect visitor” in mind when writing content.
Something I often do is create different forms of content targeting specific individuals who I know personally or who have asked me a question recently. Then, I try to help as best I can with the information I provide.
In most cases, this has worked to attract quite a few people in Google search.
So, the best types of articles you should create will center around who you’re trying to reach and what you’re capable of creating.
How Long Should These Forms of Content Be?
There is a bit of a debate about the perfect length of a blog post. While some experts say you should aim at 2500+ to get into the top position of Google, there is more involved than just typing a smattering of words.
In fact, the perfect length for a blog post depends mostly on the topic and the searcher. I’ve seen articles in the number one spot for certain search terms that range in the 300-word range.
Most of the articles I have that are at the top of search results have fewer than 1500.
Short-Form Posts
A short-form post is one that has fewer than 1200 words but is highly detailed. These forms of content are focused more on providing quick and easy results for specific search terms. And many short-form posts will appear on the first page of Google.
Like I said, it’s all relevant to what you’re covering and who you’re trying to target. Knowing search intent and what people are looking for is key for any style of writing.
Long-Form Posts
Writing a long-form post usually consists of more than 2000 words and goes far deeper into the overall context of a topic. They take much longer to produce but are often popular because of the sheer amount of information provided.
If you’re writing on a topic and can’t seem to fill enough words to reach 2000, don’t push it. Visitors and Google do not appreciate fluff and filler just to make a certain word count.
Writing Evergreen Content
An effective method for writing content is by looking at the long term of a blog post. Evergreen content is that which can remain relevant for long periods of time. The information within can hold true for many years, depending on the topic.
In contrast, news articles are often not evergreen content because the available information can change rapidly.
The reason why so many people like writing evergreen content is because the article can still drive traffic for many years. While news bursts can bring in a lot of visitors overnight, evergreen content can be maintained for decades.
I see at least one article from 2010 or earlier every week while researching various topics.
Some titles for evergreen content examples consist of topics like:
- How to Care for a Norfolk Pine in Colorado
This article would cover how to care for a tropical tree in Colorado, which should remain consistent until a better process is discovered. - 7 Ways to Prepare Roasted Garlic Chicken
Recipes rarely change, depending on the cook. Something like this is still theoretically valid for centuries! - Review: Is the Corsair K95 Mechanical Keyboard Worth the Money?
This type of article would break down whether the keyboard is a good investment. Just keep in mind that product reviews can lose momentum depending on the product, brand, and industry. - Can You Make Money Online Selling Crafts You Make at Home?
This is an example of a Q&A that should have statistical and verifiable information to answer the question. This is another kind of topic that could lose traction depending on sources and the online market.
What if You’re Building an Author Blog?
When it comes to creating a blog as an author, you’re probably going to share more updates, insights, and perhaps interviews. Of course, you can also write up reviews of apps or services you’ve used to publish your book.
While some forms of content might not work the best from an author blog, there are others that may work exceptionally well. Try out a few different types of content and see what works best for your readers.
You could go so far as to write Q&A-style articles inspired by questions readers ask you directly.
There’s a Sea of Topics Waiting for You
There are a lot of different forms of content you can create for your blog. The one that works best for driving traffic depends on what you write about.
It may take a few months to see which is the most effective. But the rewards, in the end, will be far worth the effort.
- How I Am Balancing College While Maintaining All of My Projects - March 26, 2025
- Why You Should Consider the Weekly Writing Contests at Reedsy - March 24, 2025
- Can You Use vidIQ for Blog Ideas? It’s Not Just for YouTube - March 21, 2025