Blog post type: What are the different blog post types [2023 List Guide]
Writing blog posts isn’t the only part of the process, but deciding what blog post type to use as the structure for writing is as well.
This article will cover the different blog post type(s) you can use to cater to different search intents.
What are the different blog post types?
- Listicles – list blog posts
- How to guides
- Tutorial posts
- Checklists
- Cheat sheet
- Infographics
- Interviews
- Guest blog posts
- New articles
- Personal stories
- Case studies
- Review articles
- Comparison posts
Blog post type #1. Listicles – List posts
List posts, otherwise known as listicles, are a popular blog post type. Independent of your niche, there’s always a list to be made.
Plus, people love going through lists. For example, imagine a list of the “Top 10 blogs” is displayed to you.
You’re interested in blogs (Assume you’re the target audience for this post), and you already have a good idea of what the top 10 blogs should be.
But, there’s a possibility you may be wrong, or you may have missed out on specific blogs.
So, your curiosity about whether you’re correct will drive you to check the list out to verify.
This psychological concept works with all lists.
Another reason why listicles are popular is that it gives a user a quick idea on a certain topic.
Whether it be the top 10 grinders, best laptops, etc. Listicles are also the main blog post type used for affiliate marketing.
Because you can create a list of products or services you are affiliated with and provide users with information on them.
In return, you end up getting commissions.
Listicles perfectly match a user’s search intent to determine the different options that are available to them for a product, service, or process.
Listicle examples
- 27 Ways to wear your socks
- 13 best methods to get rid of a cloth stain
- 101 podcasting software
Blog post type #2. How to guides
How to guides or tutorials are informative blog post types.
These blog posts focus solely on answering a certain question in depth. Essentially, it becomes a guide that users can refer to for any issues or questions they have.
They are often used to rank via SEO because of the following reasons:
- They’re a long piece of content (More content = More topic coverage)
- They build topical authority (Since it covers a certain topic in depth)
- These are often the most shared piece of content (More shares = More traffic = Rank boost)
How to guides should perfectly match a user’s search intent to understand a certain topic and/ or process in full depth.
How to guide examples
- How to set up a blog
- How to do an engine check without a mechanic
- How to build a python program from scratch
Blog post type #3. Tutorials
Tutorials are also of the informative blog post type.
But they focus on describing a process in depth and answering any questions along the way.
They’re considered very helpfully as they instruct what a user should do step by step.
An example of a tutorial would be a recipe blog post explaining how to cook a particular dish.
Tutorials should focus on a user’s search intent to provide all the steps of a process that they can follow just by reading the post.
Tutorial examples
- Chicken curry tutorial
- Origami paper fan tutorial
- Step-by-step tutorial to tie a clove hitch knot
Blog post type #4. Checklists
A checklist is an interactive blog post type. They focus on keeping users on track when they’re going through a process.
Checklists aren’t common in the form of a blog post.
Rather websites convert them into PDFs that users can access after subscribing to their email list.
Checklists match a user’s search intent to go through a process and have a list they can check off to make sure they’re on track
Checklist examples
- Blog post editing checklist
- Warming up before an exercise checklist
- Groceries checklist for a rotisserie chicken
Blog post type #5. Cheat sheets
Cheat sheets are also an informative blog post type, and provide a summary on a certain topic.
They are quite common to listicles but can be in the form of a simple blog post depending on the topic.
Cheat sheets match a user’s search intent to go through a process and have bite-sized information to help them out during the process. Or it should prepare them for the process.
Cheat sheet examples
- Mechanical design exam cheat sheet
- Software interview cheat sheet
- Presentation cheat sheet
Blog post type #6.Infographics
Infographics are visual blog types that are paid with any sort of content.
They explain a certain topic, but from a visual perspective. Which is far more appealing, and engaging than its text counterpart.
It takes a lot of effort to create one. But, very few websites create them, so it’s an easy way to stand out amongst your competition.
Since it’s visual, it has a much higher share rate and is a great way to build backlinks (As other sites want to display it on their site, and will link back to you)
Infographics match a user’s search intent to understand content in a quick, simple, and visual manner.
Blog post type #6. Interviews
Interviews are an informative blog post type but are more user-focused.
Such blog posts will be based on an interview where several questions are asked on a topic and are complimented with expert responses.
User loves going through such content since expert opinions are always unique and valuable.
Imagine you love the topic of cars, and there’s a blog post based on an interview with Elon Musk. I’m sure you’d be interested.
Interviews match a user’s search intent to gain advice and opinions from experts on the topic.
Blog post type #7. Guest blog posts
Guest blog posts can be any blog post type, but they’ll be placed on other websites.
These blog posts will be written for another website. In return, as an author, you will be placed in front of a new audience, and your site will get backlinks.
Guest blog posting is one of the top methods to build backlinks to your site.
Blog post type #8. News articles
A news article is a time-sensitive blog post type.
They’re based on a current event taking place, and benefits users with in-depth information about an event (which is superior to the information a news channel will provide).
They are also a great method to get traffic to your site, as long as you’re one of the first sites to write about the topic (before the giants put out a blog post).
News articles match a user’s search intent to learn about time-sensitive information in depth
Blog post type #9. Personal stories
Personal stories are experience-based blog post types. They’re focused on providing users with the writer’s experience on a certain thing.
Such posts only work for audiences that know you well and want to learn from you.
Usually, personal content is seen more in the video format, on youtube, but it can still work in the form of a blog post.
Blog post type #10. Case studies
Case studies are informative blog post types based on research findings.
Users love to see such content to get real data, metrics, and statistics, instead of looking at someone’s opinion on the matter.
Though, such content is hard to rank, as no one searches for case studies directly. Rather, if it’s shown to them, they’ll read it.
Blog post type #11. Review articles
Review articles are opinion-based blog posts. Such blog posts aim at providing information on a product or service, and whether it’s a good choice to purchase it.
Some blog posts will have reviews on different products/ services and compare them so a user has an option to select from.
Such articles are highly searched for (and are also very competitive to rank with)
Reviews articles match a user’s search intent to learn about a product, service, or process. This involves user experience, benefits, pros & cons, prices, etc.
Blog post type #12. Comparison articles
Comparison articles are informative blog post types. Such a blog post will compare 2 or more entities(it can be anything).
The comparisons will involve introducing the entities, their benefits, and how they do when compared to the other entities.
Such articles help users decide what entity they should take sides with.
Comparison articles match a user’s search intent to determine which is the better option based on a proper competition on the option’s features in all categories.
