Many of the clients you’ll work for as a freelance writer will require different blog post formats. And your ability to follow their format is what makes you a versatile writer.
This article explains the main blog post formats your client will require. Actually, these are almost all the formats there are when it comes to blog writing.
It may be a long read but it is an interesting one, trust me.
Let’s get on with it.
How to Format Your Blog Posts
- Start with a strong title
- Make your blog post easy to skim through
- Include a table of contents
- Add visuals
- Include relevant links
- Highlight your CTA
Start with a strong title
Having a catchy title will catch the reader’s attention. People are more likely to click on your blog article on social media and in organic search results if the title is creative.
According to Optinmonster, blog titles with 6-13 words attract the highest traffic.
Put the keyword in the title if you want your article to show up in Google searches. For example, if you want to rank for the keyword “Blog Post Format”, consider titles such as “Best Blog Post Format for Freelance Writers: The Worst Thing You Can Do.”
Once you’ve decided on a title, make it stand out at the top of the page in a large, easy-to-read typeface.
Make your blog post easy to skim through
When reading an article, readers expect to be able to solve their problems or find the steps needed to complete a task immediately.
Make your blog material skimmable by breaking sentences and paragraphs to provide more white space on the page, preventing text from overwhelming readers.
To break up your text, use bullet points.
See also: 7 Different Types Of Journalistic Writing To Consider For Your Career
Use headings and subheadings
Headings provide readers with structure and direction, helping them to quickly understand the content of a blog post without having to read it from beginning to end.
Headers, often known as H tags in SEO, refer to the HTML tag that regulates the order of titles. An H1 tag is used to represent the topic or title, an H2 tag for headings, and an H3 tag for subheadings.
Use a variety of headers in your posts; they not only make your writing simpler to read, but they also help search engines understand and prioritize your content.
Headers should be brief, simple, and direct.
Bold or italicize key information
Bolden it if there is something important you want the reader to remember or take away from your blog post.
When skimming a text, bolding a sentence allows readers to quickly identify key information.
Avoid bolding entire paragraphs or having too many sentences close together. To emphasize the message, bold the major ideas that stand alone and make sense.
It is also possible to highlight text with italics, but only for certain words or quotes. A sentence or paragraph should not be fully italicized because this makes it difficult to read.
Include a table of contents
A table of contents allows the reader to quickly understand what to expect when they click on your post.
Your headings and subheadings are grouped into a table of contents, which shows how you organized your post.
The table of contents alone will give the reader a good sense of the length and depth of your work. Include hyperlinks from your table of contents to each relevant section. Using that, readers can swiftly navigate to the content they want to read.
Add compelling images
Images increase the number of views on a blog post by 94%. Visually appealing images, infographics, charts, and graphs can help break up text while also making it easier to understand.
What is the point of a blog if it isn’t easy to read? In fact, 32% of marketers believe image content is the most important type for their firm.
An interesting featured image is an excellent way to begin your post. Next, add photos to the text by aligning or centering them within your article.
It is possible to go a step further and include videos as well. When compared to simple text, video content has a 50 times higher probability of garnering organic visits. Only 19% of bloggers use videos, so include one to help differentiate your material from the rest.
Include relevant links
Internal and external links not only improve your blog’s search engine optimization but also direct visitors to more information on a topic covered in a post.
Bold or italicized links stand out because they are often color-coded differently than the rest of your text.
Links to other blogs or products can be included.
Read also: How to Start eCommerce Content Writing & Become an eCommerce Writer
Highlight your CTA
Your blog post’s calls to action should be clear. When requesting a reader to complete an action, such as filling out a contact form or subscribing to your blog’s mailing list, be as clear as possible.
You can include CTAs at the end of the post, in the opening paragraph, or as a pop-up window as the user scrolls to the bottom of the page.
You don’t want to irritate the reader, but you do want them to be aware that this blog piece contains an action item that they can perform if they so desire.
Types of Blog Post Formats for Search Success
There are different formats for a blog post. Below, we have itemized them and given some directives on how they operate.
- The listicle
- How-to post
- Comparison post
- What-is post
- Case study
- Product Showcase
- Thought leadership post
- What not to do post
- The beginner’s guide
- Interviews
The listicle
This popular blog post format is where writers present the information in an easy-to-read and numbered list.
List posts are very common, especially in niches where readers seek ideas.
The tile will start with a number. You can mention the desired outcome the article is intended to achieve. To write the title effectively, get inspiration from top-ranking pages.
Now to the introduction; keep it short. Ensure you use facts and statistics that will establish trust in a few sentences. Remember to add a table of content that is clickable and will aid the reader in jumping to that part of the work.
While listing, use heading 2, then number them appropriately. To get the attention of your readers, make the information for the listings benefit-focused. Don’t give generic information.
In the conclusion, keep it short with one or two final tips.
Aside from listicles, copywriting is a form of writing that deals with concise posts, the goal is to persuade readers to buy a product.
How-to post
This blog post format educates the readers on a certain skill, like how to monetize a blog. When a reader lands on your page, you want to ensure that you address their primary question.
Comparison post
In this post, two items—typically products—are compared side by side.
For example, has vs. have. It is used to compare the uses of the two words, their meanings, and examples.
What is post
This blog post format details explanations. They respond to inquiries like, “What is a blog post?”
You will include a thorough explanation of the subject, examples, applications, advantages and disadvantages, linked ideas, answers to commonly asked questions, and much more.
Case study
This article goes deeply into a topic, such as a customer’s success with your product.
Case studies include testimonies and emphasize the benefits and value of the product or service.
Product Showcase
You can showcase a new product and explain how a consumer can use it on your blog. For instance, these blog examples showcase the blogging features offered by Wix and offer helpful motivation to other bloggers.
Thought-leadership post
The articles feature unique concepts written by a professional in the field. Their goal is to influence readers’ opinions and get them to think about a topic in a different way.
These articles are very interesting and easily shared on social media because they can start a conversation and encourage readers to consider a topic from many angles.
For instance, our blog post on closing the digital gap highlights the reasons small companies need to contribute to increasing internet accessibility.
See also: 17 Highly Effective Ways To Get Freelance Writing Clients
What not to do post
In this post, you’ll highlight the common mistakes people make when starting a new thing. common pitfalls people experience when undertaking something new.
For example, there are blog posts on writing mistakes every writer should avoid. It is a typical what not to do post.
The beginner’s guide
The best blog post format for anyone new to a subject is a beginner’s guide. It gives a thorough explanation of the topic.
For example, an article about blogging for beginners provides an overview for those who have recently started or most likely do not yet have a blog.
Interviews
One way to spice up your blog and bring a new perspective is to interview a professional. The interview is written and posted on the blog.
This blog post format can list the questions and answers.
Step-by-step guides
This is an informative post that gives an in-depth explanation. Following the step-by-step guide, you can gain an understanding of how the topic works. If it is a service, you can learn exactly how to carry it out.
The title will use the format of how to. You will mention the desired outcome and list the number of steps required.
After the title, the next step is the introduction.
Make the reader understand you know what the topic is about. Present the solution as concisely as possible. Give stats to verify the solution you offered.
See also: What You Need to Know About Creating an Effective Freelance Writing Contract: Sample Template & Tips
Blog Post Format for Freelance Writers FAQ
There is no one “correct” format for a blog. However, there are some general guidelines that you can follow to create a well-formatted blog post:
Start with a strong title. Your title should be clear, concise, and attention-grabbing. It should accurately reflect the content of your blog post.
Use a clear and concise writing style. Avoid using jargon and technical language. Write in a way that is easy for your readers to understand.
Break up your text into paragraphs. Paragraphs should be no more than 3-4 sentences long. This will make your text easier to read and scan.
Use subheadings and bullet points to organize your content. Subheadings and bullet points can make your text easier to read and understand. They can also help you break up long sections of text.
Use images and videos to break up your text and make your blog post more visually appealing. Make sure that your images and videos are relevant to your content and that they are high quality.
Proofread your blog post before publishing it. Make sure that there are no errors in grammar or spelling.
For a blog, there is no single “correct” format. To create correctly formatted blog content, you can use the following general guidelines:
Create an interesting title first. Your title should be clear, concise, and engaging. It should accurately depict the information in your blog post.
Write understandably and concisely. Avoid technical terminology and jargon. Make sure your writing is easy for your audience to understand.
Use short paragraphs. A paragraph should contain no more than three or four sentences. Your writing will be easier to read and scan.
Use bullet points and subheadings to organize your work. Using bullet points and subheadings can make your writing easier to read and understand. They can also help you break up longer text into small paragraphs.
Images and videos help to improve the visual appeal of your blog post. Ensure that your movies and images are of high quality and relevant to your topic.
Proofread your blog posts before publishing them. Check that there are no spelling or grammar errors.
Write high-quality content.
Publish consistently.
Promote your blog. Share your blog posts on social media and reach out to other bloggers in your niche.
Respond to comments on your blog posts
It takes time to build a successful blog. Don’t get discouraged if you don’t see results immediately.
Have fun. Blogging should be enjoyable. If you’re not having fun, it will show in your writing.
The most popular blog format is the list post. List posts are easy to read and scan, and they provide readers with valuable information in a concise way.
Conclusion
We hope you enjoyed reading this article.
To recap, these are the main formats for a blog post that freelance writers should be aware of;
- The listicle
- How-to post
- Comparison post
- What-is post
- Case study
- Product showcase
- Thought leadership post
- What not to do post
- The beginner’s guide
- Interviews
References
- Elna cain – freelance writers blog post format
- Freelance writers guide – freelance writers blog post format
