Monday, July 23, 2018

17 Copy-and-Paste Blog Post Templates—UPDATED with 8 New Templates!

Get your notepad ready because today on the blog you’ll be treated to 25 copy-and-paste blog templates you can use on your blog right now. Originally, when this blog post was first published in February of 2012 (a looooong time ago in blog years), Kim Roach from Buzzblogger.com was kind enough to share with us her 17 ideas for blog posts. In this new-and-updated version, I’ve added 8 of my own ideas that have worked for me over the years. So now you have 25 helpful blog post templates at your fingertips!

If you’re an online business owner or entrepreneur, you should probably have a blog. If you don’t, this post will give you a strong start to learn what kinds of things you can publish. If you don’t even have a website yet, check out my free course, Build Your Own Brand, to help you learn, step by step, how to pick a brand and start a website.

I’ve had the Smart Passive Income blog for over a decade now. Believe me when I tell you that sometimes it’s difficult to figure out what to write about. So, take these blog post templates with you, to inspire new blog post ideas for your own website for many months to come!

The 25 blog post templates covered in this post are:

  1. Make a Predictions Post
  2. Things You Might Not Know About Me
  3. Why I Don’t Do ‘X’
  4. (Famous Person Guide) To (Blank)
  5. Case Study
  6. Product Showdowns
  7. ‘X’ Things You Must Do After (Blank)
  8. How To (Blank) In (X Number of Days / Hours)
  9. Experimental Posts
  10. Comprehensive Pillar Posts
  11. (Insert Desired Benefit) That No One Talks About
  12. Blog Post Roundup
  13. Things I Wish I Had Done Differently
  14. The Tools of the Trade
  15. Ask / Involve the Reader!
  16. Debunk Industry Myths
  17. Comment on Industry Gossip
  18. New Product, Course, or Book Launch
  19. Celebrate An Anniversary
  20. Special Announcement Post
  21. Year In Review
  22. Goals for the Year Ahead
  23. Tips For Newbies
  24. Insider Interviews
  25. Q&A Blog Post

After reading about her amazing blog post ideas, keep reading for the BONUS 8 templates I’ve added to this new and updated material. If you write at all online, this is a post to bookmark for future reference – guaranteed.

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 25 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 toward 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.

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:

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:

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 two 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.

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
  • How to Start a Company in 30 Minutes

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) 🙂
  • My Insanity Results

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:

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 and check, out Pat’s Best of 2016 list.

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:

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
  • My Home Office Set Up and Tour!

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:

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 its 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.

Thanks, Kim, For Those Amazing Ideas! Now for 8 Bonus Templates:

18. New Product, Book, or Course Launch

Whether you are launching a new online course, a product, a book, or anything new your audience will appreciate, a launch announcement works great as a blog post. Use this launch announcement as a way to build excitement for your launch, before your launch date, by giving your readers a taste of what your new course or book or product is all about.

On the day of the launch, you should also follow up your pre-launch blog post with a day-of-launch blog post.

A few good examples of this include:

Make a splash on your launch day by making sure your audience knows what’s coming!

19. Celebrate An Anniversary

There will be many ups and downs in your online business journey. But one thing that will be consistent every year are your anniversaries: anniversary of starting your online business, anniversary of launching your book, anniversary of making your first sale. You get the idea.

Not only is celebrating an anniversary a fun way to remind yourself of where you came from and why you’re doing what you’re doing, but your audience will appreciate the insight and vulnerability that can come with anniversary blog posts.

A couple examples of this include:

Write down your anniversary dates. Make them part of your business journey as self-motivation and as inspiration for your audience!

20. Special Announcement Post

The special announcement blog post will naturally be a little less common or frequent, but on occasion it’s a good way to remind your audience of special events, or of anything that’s typically outside the regular blog content cadence.

An example of this is: The Stage Is Getting Bigger! My Biggest Keynote Is Happening Next Month.

21. Year In Review

Every year brings an opportunity to reflect, and consider the goals we want to accomplish for the new year ahead. In the “year in review” blog post, this is your chance to explore all of that. Aside from the therapeutic value of thinking introspectively about the past year in your business and life, the year in review post is a way to hold yourself accountable—publicly with your audience.

Maybe your blog post will inspire your audience to take action on their own goals!

Some examples include:

22. Looking Forward / Goal Setting

This is your chance to show your audience where you’re headed. What are your goals for the new year? What do you want to accomplish? What do you want to create? What do you want to improve about your business?

Use this opportunity to highlight what’s coming next, and get your audience excited about it!

A few examples include:

23. Tips for Newbies

We all start somewhere. We were all newbies once in our various niches. You may even be new to blogging or online business now, so you’ll learn this soon enough: We can all learn from those that came before us.

Share what you’ve learned by giving others an opportunity to build the foundational skills we all must learn.

A few “tips for newbies” blog post examples include:

24. Insider Interviews

Here’s where you can highlight your team that works hard but who may be behind the scenes, unseen by your audience. You can do audio interviews and or written interviews. If you have someone helping you with social media, your editorial calendar, your podcast production, etc., give them a little moment in the spotlight. It gives them an opportunity to share their expertise, and they’ll appreciate the attention.

You could even invite your audience to share their experience with your blog to highlight their successes based on what your website has taught them.

A couple examples of the insider interviews include:

25: Q&A Blog Post

Question & Answer posts are easy to create. Basically, they consist of a list of questions that you, or a guest, will answer. Find someone you admire and who you feel has knowledge that will benefit your audience. Send them a list of questions, and they can send you the answers. Voila, you have a blog post. Or, put together a list of questions that your audience frequently asks you and provide them with the answers.

A few examples of Q&A blog posts include:

Use the 25 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.



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