We’ve all been there, staring at the screen trying to break through writers block, or brainstorming for the next month of content, when nothing comes. After all, content marketers and creators are publishing thousands of pieces of content a day, all to inform and engage their audiences. This creates a need to stand out and diversify your content to keep sending traffic to your website or blog.

Here are a few different types of content to use when you’re looking to jog your content block:

1. Research: Data, Case Study

Data is a big buzzword, take a look at your analytic dashboards and gather data for a researched based article. If you are using social media data, point out outliers and show what caused the spike or dip. Plan ahead, use your analytics to do experiments with different content and use the data gathered to create a report.

You can also create a case study involving one of your customers. First, identify their goals and then use data to show how your product or services met or helped them achieve that goal. This can give a more personal feel to data, using a story to relate to your audience combined with data to establish authority.

2. Images: Infographics, Memes, Gifs

Graphics are a great way to drive traffic. Take your research and turn it into an infographic that shows data visually. You don’t have to hire a designer to create these graphics, with tools like Piktogram and Canva, you can create your own.

Memes and gifs are also great tools to add a fun flare to your content. These graphics bring personality to your content, helping you stand out with a sassy or sarcastic personality. I use Giphy to find great gifs and Livememe to create memes fast for content to share.

3. Interactive Content: Quizzes, Trivia, Presentations

Sites like Buzzfeed and Playbuzz have proven that interactive content like personality quizzes, polls and trivia can send a lot of referral traffic from social media to your site. There’s no need to start looking for a development team to make this type of content, using a tool like ContentTools will make it easy to create interactive content.

Presentations are also great forms of interactive content, use Slideshare or Prezi to display your message in a clear, organized and interactive manner.

4. Lists: Best of, Tips

People love numbered lists because they know what they are committing to and they can be great resources. If it fits, create a list of tools you use regularly, and then when promoting it, be sure the companies mentioned see it. The other products are likely to share it out to, sending more traffic to your website. Use the listicle style to create a list of tips and solutions to your customer’s problems; this will become a quick useful guide for your audience.

5. Media: Video, Podcast

Diversify your media. Instead of doing a written post, try creating a video or podcast post. Billions of hours of video are watched on YouTube every month, and it’s time you take the step to get in front of those eyes. Host and record a webinar, or record an interview with an influencer in your industry. Take a presentation and add a voice over to it. If you aren’t comfortable in front of the camera, use animated video tools to get your message across. I’ve used PowToon in the past, but there are other tools like Wideo that are recommended.

6. Interviews: Customers, Influencers

Reach out to your customers or influencers in your industry and request an interview. A customer interview will help your audience know how others use your product and give them a non-biased point of view. Interviews with influencers in your industry can drive traffic due to the popularity of the subject.

In both these cases the interviewee will likely also promote the content which will drive traffic.

7. Resources: How-to, Define

Create how to guides to become a go-to resource in your industry. Content marketing will build your brand awareness and authority, developing resources on your site is just one way to help. One tactic is to create evergreen content with instruction guides. These are based on a topic that won’t need updated, but will still be relevant in 18 months. Another idea is to take it back to the basics and define terms in your industry within a post. These types of content will hold a higher organic SEO value along with building your brand authority.

8. Reviews: Blank vs Blank

A product review article that pits one type of tool against a competitor can be extremely helpful to those who are looking to make a decision. This is another way to become an authority in your industry. Use the software or products in your industry and create a comprehensive review of the best and worst aspects of it. Be sure to provide value to your audience with your perspective on each instead of regurgitating a list of features. Engaging your audience with reviews will grow your leadership position in your industry.

9. Big Picture: Predictions, Opinions

As you work on becoming a leader in your industry, you’ll have the chance to think about the “big picture.” Take this opportunity to share your opinions and predictions for the coming year. These are popular throughout the year, and especially so during the end and the beginning of the year.

Opinion based articles let you rant a little and can cause a little controversy with your views. In fact the more polemical stance you take, the more discussion and comments are encouraged.

10. Personal Stories: Success, Failures, Truth

Tell a story. Use personal experiences to relate what lessons you’ve learned and how those lessons can be applied to your industry. This helps to build personal brand authority in your industry, with your product and company attached to your story. Another way is to simply tell the story of your company, successes and even the failures with lessons learned. One great example of this is Groove, who used their blog to tell the story of their growth to $100K in monthly revenue.

Conclusion

When deciding what type of content will be best to drive traffic to your website, look to create informative resources and shareable graphics. Adding a bit of variety with quality interactive content and videos or podcasts will keep your audience on their toes, looking forward to the next post.

 

Image: Startup Stock Photos