avatarJerikho Jordan

Summary

The website content discusses the three most popular types of blog posts that internet users seek for solutions to their problems: how-to guides, reviews, and listicles.

Abstract

The article highlights the significance of blogs in the digital age, where a substantial portion of the global population turns to the internet for information and solutions. It underscores that 77% of internet users read blogs, with a particular interest in content that addresses specific issues. The piece outlines the appeal of 'how-to' guides, which offer step-by-step instructions on various topics, from cooking to mental wellness. It also emphasizes the importance of reviews in the decision-making process of consumers, noting that 93% of consumers read online reviews before purchasing. Lastly, the article points out the popularity of listicles, which cater to the decreasing human attention span and the brain's preference for organized information, with 36% of readers favoring list-based headlines. The article concludes by encouraging bloggers to consider these formats to engage their audience effectively.

Opinions

  • The author suggests that internet users primarily look for problem-solving content in blogs.
  • 'How-to' guides are seen as valuable resources, comparable to video tutorials, and are popular among global online searchers.
  • Online reviews are considered essential for consumers to make informed decisions, saving time and money.
  • The article implies that specialized focus in review blogs can lead to higher traffic by catering to specific reader interests.
  • Listicles are favored for their quick readability and organized presentation of information, aligning with the reduced average human attention span.
  • The author advises that while these blog types are popular, they should be used judiciously and in alignment with the blog's niche for the best impact.
  • There is an implication that the structure of blog posts should adapt to the reading habits of the target audience.
  • The author poses rhetorical questions to the reader, engaging them to reflect on their own blog preferences and writing practices.
  • A call to action is presented for writers to contribute to a new publication focused on writing, education, and teaching, suggesting a community-building intent.

Digital Writing

Can You Guess The 3 Types of Blogs People Like?

Here’s a hint: Solution!

Created on Canva by Jerikho Jordan

Worldwide internet users have increased to 4.95 billion earlier in 2022, with an average daily time spent of six hours and fifty-eight minutes.

According to OptinMonster, 77 percent of internet users read blogs. And the US internet users alone spend more time reading blogs than emails. Among these blog readers, many are looking for content to solve a problem.

Maybe you have no idea what to get for your friend’s baby shower. Or you’re contemplating whether or not you should get tickets for the new movie in the theatres.

Or maybe you wake up one day with green spots all over your body. So you check for the symptom online. Never self-diagnose online, by the way. Always meet a doctor!

Either way, the internet is where we’ll seek solutions to our problems first. That’s why these three types of blog posts are frequently searched and read.

1. How-to Guides

A how-to guide is an informational writing piece that walks you through a step-by-step process from beginning to end. It’s basically a writing version of a video tutorial.

With roughly 17 percent of those surveyed, the “how-to” headline is the third most popular. It shows how internet users worldwide find “how-to” content helpful.

Just take a look at the Google Trends chart below on how popular the “how-to” term is among global online searchers:

Screenshot of Google Trends Graph

As you can see, the search term’s popularity ranges from the value of fifty to a hundred during the past year.

How-to guides cover various areas, including:

  • Food Preparations
  • Skills Improvement
  • Mental Wellness
  • Home DIYs
  • Workouts
  • Arts and Crafts

2. Reviews

Like many people these days, you’re most likely to check out online reviews before purchasing or subscribing to a product. In fact, 93 percent of consumers read online reviews first before buying.

Why?

Because it saves you time and money! You don’t need to invest in a writing tool that won’t fully accommodate your need. And you won’t have to spend two hours you’ll never get back from watching a poorly written movie.

You can write reviews about almost anything:

  • Restaurants
  • Technologies
  • Online Courses
  • Digital Tools
  • Cosmetics
  • Books
  • Movies
  • Music

But, of course, if you’re planning to focus on mainly writing reviews, you can’t write about any products randomly. For example — today, you review an online writing course, then suddenly write about a hair product brand in the next post.

If you check out some of the high-traffic review blogs, you’ll notice that they only focus on certain products. It’s because they know what their target readers seek online.

Take DigitalTrends, for instance, which primarily covers tech news and reviews.

Screenshot by Jerikho Jordan

3. Listicles

36 percent of readers prefer list-based headlines. For example:

  • 25 Under $10 Christmas Gift Ideas
  • 5 Time-saving Digital Writing Tools
  • 10 Hysterical Dark Comedy Movies You Must Watch
Screenshot by Jerikho Jordan

You get the idea, right?

Listicles are fantastic in many ways. For starters, it’s not time-consuming.

To many writers, it’s a knife through the heart knowing that 43 percent of readers skimmed through blog posts.

But let’s face it. Many people prefer getting their answers quickly without reading one paragraph after another.

According to a recent study, the average human attention span has shrunk to just eight seconds.

Yes, EIGHT SECONDS!

Even a goldfish retains attention by a second longer!

Besides that, listicles are helpful to narrow down what you’re looking for. You don’t have to go through the hassle of doing research and going through trials and errors.

Another reason many prefer reading lists is that our brains desire organization, even on a subconscious level. So listicles are more well-organized and digestible.

Final Thoughts

Of course, just knowing about these three kinds of content won’t increase traffic to your blog overnight.

There are many things you need to take into account. To begin with, what is the niche(s) you want to focus on for your blog to have a lasting impression? And is it suitable to write a review, guide, and listicle in that domain?

Also, just because these three types of content are highly searched online, you don’t have to write them for every post.

You can’t control how people read your posts, but you can change the structure of your writing to accommodate your target readers.

So do you often look for these kinds of blogs online? And if you’re a blogger, which of these three do you prefer to write?

🕖 Time To Write The Next Article is a new publication by Don Sabado, looking for writers like you!

🖋 Be one of the pioneer writers, and share your views, knowledge, and experiences on writing, education, and teaching.

📋 You can read the easy-to-follow guideline here, and be a writer!

Blog
Blog Post Ideas
Writing
Freelance Writing
Blogger
Recommended from ReadMedium