I’m usually a trooper when it comes to pain…but this wisdom tooth extraction has just not been treating me very well. Thanks for understanding that I still need a couple more days to recover before getting back on the saddle and writing blog posts again. Don’t worry, I’m not going anywhere!
Today, however, I’m happy (and very lucky) to feature a guest post from one of my favorite writers online, Kim Roach from Buzzblogger.com. She always produces fantastic material that’s quick to read. She’s already proven so with her first guest post that was published on SPI back in April of 2010.
If you write at all online, this is a post to bookmark for future reference – guaranteed.
Please give Kim a warm welcome, enjoy and share!
Do you ever get writer’s block?
I mean do you ever sit down at your computer with that blank screen mocking you in the face?
As a blogger, I’ve done this on more than one occasion.
Sure, I use all kinds of tricks to get the ‘ol inspiration motor running…
- I keep a list of running article ideas.
- I browse all of my favorite blogs scouting for possible ideas.
- Tweet my followers for ideas.
- If I get really desperate I’ll whip up a nice bubble bath and some wine
But sometimes you just need a good hook.
Something fresh and unique!
So today I’m going to give you 17 Copy-And-Paste Blog Post Templates that you can use as your own.
Happy Blogging!
1. Make a predictions post.
These are incredibly fun, especially towards the end of the year. Or the beginning of a new year
Take a look at what’s happening in your market. What’s hot? What are the current trends? And create a blog post around those with your predictions for the new year.
Not only are these types of posts a TON of fun but they also position you as a leader in your market.
So whip out the ‘ol Magic 8 Ball and publish your predictions!
2. Things You Might Not Know About Me
This is a blog post that I recommend EVERY blogger do.
One of the fastest ways to start truly engaging with your community is to give them a peek behind the curtain. Let them see who you are BEYOND just business.
The fact is that we are living through the humanization of business and people are extremely interested in the person BEHIND the business itself.
More than ever… we crave RELATIONSHIPS!
People don’t want cheesy marketing messages… they want YOU.
Your story… Your life… Your own unique personality infused into everything you do.
Your readers will be attracted to your weird quirks because they make you human.
When your flawed your real.
That’s one of the biggest pieces of advice I could give you this year.
Give people a peek behind the curtain.
- 24 Things I’ve Never Told You
- 33 Things I’ve Never Told You
- It’s My Birthday and I’ll Blog When I Want To
- 26 Life Lessons I’ve Learned in 26 Years of Living
- 30 More Life Lessons From 30 Years
Business is about HUMAN connection. And the only way to truly connect is by being completely you.
Your emails, your videos, your articles, every piece of content should be branded with your own, unique personality.
3. Why I Don’t Do ‘X’.
People LOVE controversy. That’s why the news channels thrive on ’bad’ news. Kind of concerning but knowing this can help you instantly increase your email open rates, improve your headlines, and get your articles read.
One of my favorite ways to do this is to use the headline:
Why I Don’t Do ‘X’.
I recently used this in an email entitled “Why I Don’t Do SEO”.
As you can imagine, it got QUITE the attention because I was debunking a hot topic within our industry.
You can use this same strategy on your own blog:
- Why I Don’t Do Diets
- Why I Don’t Do Online Dating
- Why I Don’t Do Article Marketing
This one is an instant winner when used properly. Plus, it’s just a lot of fun!
People are looking for something fun, unique, and different.
By providing them with something valuable AND entertaining, you’ll be the one that gets read.
4. (Famous Person Guide) to (Blank)
Another great place to get article ideas is to tap into the media. Take what’s hot right now in the news and tie it into your market.
Here are a few examples:
- The Steve Job’s Guide to Time Management
- The Justin Bieber Guide to Dating
- Harry Houdini’s ‘Secret’ to Unusual Marketing
- The M.C. Hammer Guide to Social Media
Tap into the hot topics that are ALREADY inside the mind of your prospect.
5. Case Study
No one can resist a good case study. It’s like a good story.
People love to get a behind-the-scenes look at EXACTLY how someone has achieved a certain goal.
Some examples include…
- [CASE STUDY] 1 Article = 7,640 Visitors
- How I paid off $15,000 in 9 months by selling my ‘Stuff’ on Ebay
- How I Lost 21 Pounds in 30 Days
- My Journey To The #1 Spot in Google
If you want to quickly become the market leader in your industry, whip out a few case studies and let people follow along on your journey.
6. Product Showdowns.
Here’s a twist on the traditional product review post. Instead of just reviewing a product – we’re going to do a product showdown comparing 2 similar products and sharing the pros and cons of each.
Some examples might include…
- Optimize Press Vs. Kajabi
- Rapid Action Profits VS. JVZoo
- Tweet Adder Vs. Tweet Attacks
- Odesk Vs. Fiverr
You’re providing extra value by comparing similar (and possibly) competing products. Helping your reader to decide which one is best for them.
You can take this a step further by sharing how you personally are using the product. Anything you can do to get beyond the boring, overdone, traditional product review. The old ways of affiliate marketing are dying. But add your own unique twist and you’ll quickly start to see the difference.
7. ‘X’ Things You Must Do After (Blank)
Here’s a super simple one that’s almost always an instant winner. It’s fun and easy to write. Entertaining for your reader and it plays on our natural curiosity.
- 7 Things You Must Do after Writing a Blog Post
- 7 Things You Must Do After Every Workout
- 3 Things You Must Do After Every Date
8. How To (Blank) in (X Number of Days / Hours)
Here’s another extremely powerful template that’s similar to the case study post above…
- How to Generate 427+ Visitors in 24 Hours
- How to Get 1,200 Facebook Likes in 3 Days
- How to Lose 12 Pounds in 7 Days
- How to Get the Perfect Date in 7 Days
Use either one of these templates to knock-out a killer blog post when your strapped for ideas.
9. Experimental Posts
The only thing better than living an exciting life is to live vicariously through someone else’s exciting life. You can bring this entertainment factor to your blog by doing experimental posts.
This is basically where you set an interesting goal for yourself and post updates on your progress over a 30-day period.
Here are a few examples to get your brain rolling…
- May’s Trial – Quasi-minimalism
- August’s trial results: Gaining time by losing email addiction
- My 30 Day Weight Loss Journey
- My 30 Day Email Detox
- My 30 Days of Online Dating (Wouldn’t that be interesting
10. Comprehensive Pillar Posts
This one never gets old. If you’re looking to establish your presence online, one of the best things you can do to stand out is to start creating some epic blog posts.
A ‘pillar’ article is generally longer than the traditional blog post (1,000+ words). This sort of ‘flagship content’ is a comprehensive article dripping in value.
Building a raving audience of fans online all starts with mind-blowing pillar content.
Content that makes people think. Inspires. Creates value. Provides a new perspective. Pushes people out of their comfort zones. Challenges your readers. And creates nothing short of a braingasm!
Because of this, people can’t help but share it with others via Twitter, Facebook, StumbleUpon, etc… So when done properly, your pillar posts should bring in a new burst of readers as well.
Here are a few examples of ‘pillar’ posts:
- How to Create a Facebook Landing Page
- The Ultimate Guide to Facebook Marketing
- 21 Steps to 1,000 Visitors Per Day
- 500+ Places to Syndicate Your Content
11. (Insert Desired Benefit) That No One Talks About
As humans, we naturally want to listen in on ‘insider information’.
Kind of like when you were little and you tried to listen in on your sister’s telephone conversations. We love listening in when we’re not supposed to That’s why this template works so well…
- Traffic Strategies That No One Talks About
- Weight Loss Secrets That No One Talks About
- Dating Advice That No One Talks About
12. Blog Post Roundup
Here’s an easy one that you can whip up quickly when you’re running short on time. List the top 10 blog posts from the year. Or the top blog posts from around the web that week. Or simply do a ‘Best Of’ post for your industry. This could be the best Twitter posts, forum posts, best blog posts, best news items, best product releases, etc…
Whip up any combination of your choice. You could even do this on a weekly basis. People love these types of posts because it keeps them in the loop on what’s going on in the industry without having to do all the searching themselves.
Kikolani.com does a really good job of this in their ‘Fetching Friday’ posts…
13. Things I Wish I Had Done Differently
These types of posts are almost always a hit because people love to read about other people’s ‘mistakes’. Plus, they provide a ton of value for your readers and help them to avoid common pitfalls.
Give your readers a look behind-the-curtain. Be authentic and transparent and people will love you for it.
Some example headlines might include:
- 10 Lessons I Learned in 2011
- 7 Things I Wish I Knew When I Started
- 12 Things I Would Do If I Were Starting From Scratch
14. The Tools of the Trade
Give people a behind-the-scenes look at the tools you use in your business. People love these types of posts. If you want to take it one step further, shoot a video of your office. You’ll create instant engagement with your readers.
Here are a few example headlines you could use…
- The Top 12 Marketing Tools I Use in My Business
- 7 Marketing Tools I Couldn’t Live Without
- 18 Must-Have WordPress Plugins
- (LIVE Video) A Look Inside My Office
15. Ask / Involve the Reader!!
Engagement is quickly becoming one of THE most important marketing metrics in business.
All of your content should be a reflection of the wants, needs, desires, and frustrations of your reader.
There are LOTS of different ways to do this. You can create an “Ask the Reader” type post where you ask an engaging question and start interacting in the comments. Or you can challenge your readers to achieve a specific goal that month and report back with their results.
Here are a few examples…
- Ask the Readers: What’s the Most Effective Thing Youíve Done to Build Traffic this Year?
- You Asked, I Replied ViperChill Answers #1
- First Annual Thanksgiving “Give Yourself a Plug” Day!
- Announcing The Million Dollar Blog Project: Build a Profitable Blog Along With Us
- Share Your Best Post Ever!
Challenge your readers:
16. Debunk Industry Myths.
Every industry has its fair share of myths, legends, and misconceptions.
People love nothing more than debunking common beliefs. Plus, by pointing what’s WRONG in your industry, you also position yourself as a leader.
Some examples here might include:
- Top 7 Dieting Myths Debunked
- Why I Hate the Atkins Diet
- 7 Lies You’ve Been Told About Dating
- Why Pickup Lines Don’t Work (and what to do instead…)
Talk about what’s WRONG in your industry. Nothing gets more attention than controversy. But you must do it right. Debunk with style
17. Comment On Industry Gossip
Every industry has it’s own circle of gossip. Writing about these hot topics is one of the best ways to increase readership and tap into the conversation that’s ALREADY taking place in the
mind of your prospect.
You can get your fill of juicy gossip browsing the major news sites, in related forums, related blogs, and in your inbox.
This sort of timely ‘news’ (i.e. gossip) makes for great content.
- New fad diets
- Famous people on such-and-such diet.
- The Truth About Product X
- Where is Mobile Marketing REALLY Headed?
Part of positioning yourself as an authority is staying ahead of the trends within your industry. If you can be the first to report on relevant trends that are impacting your industry, then people will literally ‘tune’ into your station to make sure they stay updated.
Take a stand on the issue and help guide your reader to make an informed decision.
Use the 17 blog post ideas above to stand out from the crowd, get your blog noticed, and become an industry maven.
Kim Roach is the official Marketing Lab Rat at Buzzblogger.com. If youíd like to discover ALL 24 of Kim’s favorite traffic sources, go to http://www.buzzblogger.com/traffic-lab.html to claim your FREE Underground Traffic Report.
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What a great blog post and wow so much information you have shared here. This is what makes the good guys stand out and its where we want to be – one of the good guys. Giving generously to help otjhers get online and get their business off to a good start is very rewarding. Keep up the good work guys. Chris & Susan
Amazing ideas in this post Kim. And I don’t say that lightly.
I’ve been writing blog posts and emails for over a decade (and earning a full time income since 2005) and you gave me some new ideas I definitely plan on using in the very near future.
And I’m not in the Internet Marketing niche but I can convert many of your concepts for the subject of raw food, fitness and anti-aging.
I was not expecting it to be as good when I first saw your email subject line.
Definitely bookmark worthy as others have stated.
Roger Haeske
The 44-Year Old Teanajer
Hey Roger!!
Thanks
You know you look very familiar.
Your name sounds very familiar. Have you done
Clickbank products before?
~ Kim
Hi Kim,
Yes one of my first products was on Clickbank and still is the “Lightning Speed Fitness Program.” And I am a customer of your Traffic Dashboard which I liked very much.
Though finding the time to use your information is another story.
BTW, I’ve also noticed you have some infotainment style influences in your emails lately. Even in this blog post do I see any idea or two from a particular source on email copywriting.
This could also be where you recognize me from. You’ll know what I mean when you read this.
But you’re also smart in continuing to post really meaty content. I think the infotainment can only go so far to keep attention and loyalty of your readers.
I personally enjoy more the posts and emails that give me inspiring ideas and useful information. Even if it is “useful but incomplete”. My primary purpose for reading emails is not entertainment but information.
I suspect that’s the same for many others out there in Internet land.
Thanks for sharing the great info and hopefully you’ll find a way to drop the coffee habit.
You know I had to say something as my business is health.
And keep those pillar posts coming. I’ll be doing more of those myself.
Thanks again,
Roger Haeske
The 44-Year Old Teanajer
Drop coffee!!! That’s a girls world
I need at least one bad habit. Lol
Kim, you continue to feed us with gem after gem. In the several years that I have been following you, I have been able to grow immensely in the area of IM knowledge.
It is especially rewarding to see you continuing to practice what you preach in a simple and unequivocal way. Thanks for your willingness to spend your time in the lab testing what really works and then freely sharing the results with the rest of us.
~Ed
Thanks Ed!
Your kind words mean a LOT to me
Cheers,
Kim
Thanks very much for this great post! Was very very helpful. I get writers block from time to time and this will keep me writing for a YEAR! Great stuff and some types of blog posts I’ve never even thought of writing.
Thank you very much.
Thanks James! I love having a little swipe file I can reference any time I’m stuck for ideas
Although… I have to admit most of the time my brain is on overdrive. Lol
Your very welcome. Swipe files are great! I have my mind all over the place on any given day with all the projects I am working on so if I can reference stuff like this is makes the work a lot easier and more focused. Also I can get my blog posts done in half the time then.
Thanks again.
Great post, Kim. I’m sure Pat is proud of you. I set a goal to blog way more this year. Now that I’ve got these templates in a listing, I don’t have to stress so much on switching up my style of posts. Thanks!
Thanks Eric!
By the way, I LOVE your blog name
- Kim
Not like I need anymore ideas for posts (still have too many drafts that are not yet completed), but this is nonetheless and awesome post and a great resource for any blogger.
I wish I would have thought of this idea….
Great job.
Phil
I love post idea lists like this (Sean Platt also did a great one recently). Your second topic is a great one – I think another idea you can add to it is blogging about a failure you had and what you learned from it.
Great work Pat!
Hey Pat!!
I’ll definitely have to check out Sean’s post.
And I love the idea of blogging about a failure and how you
learned from it. I’ll have to do that one soon
~ Kim
Oops! I scanned the top and bottom of the article too fast to realize this was a guest post!
Still, great work Kim. I love these ideas and I’ll probably spin them to work on my blog
Pat,
You are right – definitely a post to bookmark. It’s now saved on my home computer and my iPad.
Kim, thanks for the awesome ideas. Can’t wait to implement a few them next time I’m staring at the computer screen.
Wow Kim! I have been struggling lately trying to find various approaches to post on my blogs. This helps tremendously and I appreciate your willingness to share your insights.
I wish you peace, joy and success!
Hi,
I would just like to say what a great Article by Kim Roach it’s the first time i have ever read anything by Kim but i am now a fan of Kim’s.
Thanks very much Kim for all of the tips you gave us.
Thanks Mark!! You just ROCKED my day
Hey Kim. I’m late, but I wanted to come show my support for you. These are some great ideas! I always feel like I should write my own stuff without using templates or PLR or things like that, but then I never get around to writing.
I think I’ll put some of these ideas to use. 
Thank you, and I hope Pat is feeling much better soon.
Thanks Nikki!
Great post kim,
I am just getting my new blog up and running and I have been thinking about all the things I could write about. You have just increased that list 10 fold with your very clear advice.
I owe you a starbucks coffee for that block post. LOL. Thanks a million.
Great post, Kim. I think I will use these ideas to generate some conversation on Facebook as well. Blessings!
Hello Kim,
I can relate to your pain. I have a torn retna in my right eye and have gone through two surgeries with it.
Like you I still need to keep up with my blog, and everything is still blurry…
Thank you for this post, I am sure I will come away feeling better as I hope you are today.
Hello Pat,
See what blurry vision does for you? I am so sorry for misken your guest blogger for you!
Hope you are felling better!
Very good ideas to keep the writing moving along. I’ve definitely been to the “bubble bath and some wine” stage. Thanks for fueling my idea bank with some amazing ideas.
“Bubble bath and wine”… I’ll have to try that next
A post to bookmark!
These are some bunch of tested headlines that will not only work for blog post but also for email marketing.
Big ups
~ Patrick
Good point Patrick!
I’ll have to try some of these for my subject lines as well
Cheers,
Kim
This post simply made me join your “lab” Kim
Fantastic stuff, these are the article types that pave the way for budding bloggers. A great starter kit for times of writers block too.
Nice resource Kim!
Wow! This is truly a great source of ideas on creating amazing headlines and good content! This will surely help me a lot in writing my own posts in the future.
Nice! This is very useful. I could use this right now! Thanks!
I will come away feeling better,I never get around to writing.
Pat – Thanks so much for creating such a great website, it’s a great resource and thanks for allowing so many great guest bloggers on here! The content value added is phenomenal!
Kim – This is a truly brilliant blog! Really, really helpful and one I’ve definitely got saved to go back to again and again!
This is great! I’ve read a lot of Kim’s post on the Warrior Forum and she’s exceptionally talented. Thanks for these; my mind is already buzzing with post ideas.
Love the advice about writing about what happens “behind the scenes” and personal experience; these help to humanize the story and keep readers coming back.
Kim, I just think you are the easiest person to understand……..your articles are so interesting.
I have not read them all yet but I am happy I joined the Marketing Lab.
Thank you so much for the great information and I’ll definitely use them..
Regards
Sam Alnawar
This was an awesome post! Got a bunch of ideas, too bad it’s past midnight here in Sweden (bedtime). I subscribed to your blog Buzzblogger and I’m looking forward to your new posts, and diving into the archives this weekend!
The Blog Post Templates being news looks for really nice. It through many blog task process news I have collection from here! I have like it.
Fantastic post.You really crossed the line… OMG!! I want to write like you.
Kim Roach is money… She’s helped me make a lot of it, too. There are so many great marketing gems in this blog post.
Great headlines = more click through for sure.
Pat,
You really inspire me to give back to the community once I have some traction. I’ve started by making a few affiliate sales amassing to about 400 bucks but I’m taking my online business to the next level this year. I have learned a ton and will certainly be a teacher to many in the near future.
Thanks again for the inspiration. It’s truly priceless.
Kyle
This is great, have to be honest I probably suffer from writers block more than I should. This will definetely be one to bookmark for me.
Thanks again,
Damian
This is great!
Good ideas to keep the writing moving along.
A very nice article, Kim, will take these suggestions and keep for inspiration.
Much appreciated!
wow! This post is on fire! Two great bloggers Kim and Pat! Want to share something on my blog! I can use this kind of heat
Cheers!
Jorge
This is a fresh perspective on how to come up with killer content. Bloggers need this, Article writers need this, the Internet itself need this!
Came across this post through another newsletter/subscription. Glad I did. Thanks
Scotty
Hey Kim, I am one of your addict if you will permit me to say that. i follow you like my bank account. you have being such a blessing to my IM knowledge since the first time I came across you online.
This post gives me alot of ideas. i have it bookmarked already so that I can easily refer to it when I want to write headlines. has I write this now, I’m using the ideas to write a follow up message for a new product I creating in a relationship niche.
Great Post worth A Hall Od Famer In IM World.
Cheers
Fantastic Post indeed, I am starting a new blog for my business and this gave me LOTS of ideas.
Thanks a lot!
Hi Kim (and pat),
I really like these blog ideas, but they are all kind of tailored towards a blogger that has already established credibility and devolved some regular viewers. Is there any blog ideas that are better for a blog with little to no regular viewers, and only minimal trAffic from seo (much of my traffic comes from links on social media, but these tend to be one time visitors)
Thanks!
Make a predictions post. – No 1 thing on my list. I try and follow various particular niches in my field and make a lot of back links by publishing great prediction posts. The good thing about prediction posts is that authors and other bloggers tend to pick them up and discuss them quite frequently
Creating a blog is easy but getting readers to read & come back is the hardest part which takes a lot of time & effort.
Thanks for the post.
Hi Kim
Really it’s great ides for me and my blog which is new and i was looking that kind of stuffs to implement on my blog. It’s just like breaking post writing like breaking news which like everyone to know. It will boost my writing and my blog.Thanks Kim
Wow, these tips are a handful! If I apply all of them, I think I will never run out of things to write about on my blog. Thank you very much. I’m definitely going to use these ideas for my blog. Hope it works well for me. I have bookmarked this page and will keep coming back here to follow your tips.
Hi Pat, and Kim. Looks like my first comment here got blocked by your filter, so I’m back. I’ve PINNED this tab in my google chrome browser, because I think I’m going to be using it over and over. What incredibly great advice! I’m always lost for ideas on what to write, but you’ve given such great guidelines here, I’m pretty sure I won’t get writers block anymore. I only discovered your site this morning, Pat – but already, I’m hooked! Thanks so much for your generosity with information.
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