No fluffy intro. You’re here because you need content ideas for your platform or blog. I think I can help.

Sometimes, a new blog post starts with a theme in mind. At other times, simply looking at a list of content formats may stimulate your creativity and help you fill in your content calendar.

Let’s get into it then.

Here is my main list of content types, to use whenever I feel stuck or need to come up with a fresh content structure.

65 Types of Content for Your Blog

I will separate the list into Written, Audio, Video, Visual, Collaborative, Engaging, and Other formats, but a type of content may be repurposed for more than one category, so always choose what makes the most sense for your platform and the message that you want to send to your audience.

Also, for each of the article pieces, you can decide whether it should be free access or gated content.

Use these new ideas to share information, showcase your skills, teach, connect, or promote the ideas and products you love.

Here we go.

WRITTEN CONTENT IDEAS

1. General Bog Posts.
   Old school blogging. Write your perspective on any topic that interests you.
2. How To.
   Share practical tips and guide your audience to a useful result.
3. Lists.
   Create collections of information centered on a given topic.
4. Tops.
   Only the best elements of a list make it in here.
5. Question.
   Start with a question and explore the potential answers or perspectives in approaching a theme.
6. Comparisons.
   This or that. Compare products and assist your audience in making a decision of their own.
7. Why.
   “Why do we sleep?”. Provide — preferably scientific — explanations to common points of interest.
8. New Method.
   Do you have a new solution for an old problem? Share it on your blog.
9. Case Studies.
   These work best for your own services or products, but you can also collect case studies from other professionals and extract the key points for your public.
10. Compiled Research.
    The main studies on a given topic. Bring them together in your post.
11. Research.
    Your own research papers or research reports.
12. Opinion.
    Share your view — preferably an informed one — on any topic.
13. Best Practices.
    Separate honest, ethical practice, from scams and harmful approaches in your field.
14. How I.
    Share your process regarding an activity. From simple things such as “How I pack t-shirts when I travel”, to complex activities related to your business.
15. Reviews.
    Share your view on products and services.
16. Predictions.
    How are things going to look like in your business five years from now? What’s the future of Bitcoin? Share your thoughts on what the future will bring.
17. Explain Terms.
    If your field uses tons of business-specific terms, it may help to translate them for your readers somewhere on your blog.
18. Curated collections of articles on a specific topic.
    So, what’s new in neuroscience research this week? Or in any other field. People may appreciate not having to visit tens of websites to figure it out and instead have access to a curated set of information on a topic they are interested in.
19. Quote Collections centered around a person or a topic.
    Your favorite quotes from a book or the words of wisdom of a thought leader, can all make it into your blog posts.
20. Inspirational Stories.
    We all like stories that motivate us.
21. Success Stories.
    Share how you or others have gotten from Nothing-to-write-home-about Point A to Absolutely-Amazing-Didn’t-Think-It-Would-Happen-To-Me Point B.
22. Failure Stories.
    They’re not failures if we learn from them. Share the lessons.
23. Transparency Pieces.
    Share your position or your business’s position regarding controversial topics.
24. Demonstrations.
    “Does this thing really work?” You know the genre.
25. Behind The Scenes.
    Getting ready to publish a book or launch a product? Why not share some of the steps of the journey with your audience?
26. Guides.
    These are complex “how to’s” on a topic. Longform content. Can be turned into a downloadable PDF file as well.
27. Worksheets.
    People can use them to learn and exercise a skill.
28. Templates.
    Help other creators by sharing premade pieces of content.
29. Checklists.
    They help others monitor their own process.
30. Updated Content.
    If a topic you previously covered on your blog or platform suffered great modifications since you wrote about it, revisit the subject in a new blog post and focus on what’s new.
31. Thank You Posts. Express your gratitude to those who have helped you on your journey. “Thank You” notes, shoutouts, or mentions.
32. Promotional Content.
    Promote your own products or services or those of others.
33. Tools.
    What helps you in your business? Equipment, apps, courses. Write about them.
34. Resource Libraries.
    Collect resources in your field and share them with your audience.

AUDIO CONTENT IDEAS

1. Podcasts.
   A very popular format right now.
2. Audio Books.
   An audio version of your book or the books of others — only if you have permission to use the content.
3. Audio Blog Posts.
   Turn your written content into audio. Record the voice-over yourself, hire talent, or use really good software to produce it automatically. I use Speechelo — not sponsored, not an affiliate link — for some of the content on my main website, Psychology Corner.

VIDEO CONTENT IDEAS

1. Videos centered on a topic.
   Like a video essay.
2. Vlogs.
   Videos centered on you.
3. Video Courses
   Appear on camera or generate videos from slides and voice-over. The last one is my method for creating four online courses that triggered more than 13K enrollments.

VISUAL CONTENT IDEAS

1. Photos.
   Individual photos or galleries.
2. Infographics.
   Teach in an exclusive visual format.
3. Presentations.
   Nothing wrong with a really good set of slides on a topic.
4. Posters.
   Images ready for print.
5. Graphics.
   Your graphic design and illustration work goes here.

COLLABORATIVE CONTENT IDEAS

1. Guest Posts.
   Invite others to write on your website and share your content on the platforms that allow this type of collaboration.
2. Collaborative posts centered on a topic.
   One subject, multiple authors that collaborate closely to produce the final post.
3. Roundups.
   One subject, multiple authors who share their main views on a topic.
4. Interviews.
   Host constructive discussions with amazing individuals in your field.

ENGAGING CONTENT IDEAS

Ask your audience to participate.

1. Q&A.
   You collect the most common questions in your field and post your answers.
2. AMA.
   Allow your audience to ask you direct questions about your work or platform.
3. Topic Suggestions.
   Ask your audience what you should write about next.
4. Contests.
   Just make sure you have a really cool prize.
5. Ask for comments on a specific topic.
   Use your audience’s opinions to generate a complex piece of content.
6. Live Streaming.
   Not for everyone — definitely not for me right now — but maybe it’s a good fit for you so I included the format here. Live streaming refers to simultaneously recording and broadcasting your content in real-time.
7. Chats on Social Media.
   I sometimes miss old-school chat rooms. Some of them were absolutely great at bringing together people with common interests. Maybe you revive the trend.
8. Challenges.
   Just don’t make them stupid. No detergent pods eating, please.
9. Polls.
   Ask your audience for their opinion on a subject and share the results with them.
10. Surveys.
    Another way to ask for your audience’s opinion or information on different subjects. Just make sure you comply with data protection laws and other legal guidelines that apply to your survey method or area of interest.
11. Quizzes.
    Serious or just for fun. They all have a purpose and an audience.

OTHER CONTENT IDEAS

If you want to take things a step further, you can create the following types of complex or spin-off content.

1. eBooks.
   If you have a lot to share on a subject, maybe it is time to collect it all in a book.
2. Microsites.
   You can create a supplementary website to address a specific element of your business. A subdomain or a microsite may do the trick and host content that does not belong on your main platform or that which may do better separated from the primary content.
3. Dictionaries.
   When your explanations for field-related terms get an online space of their own.
4. Countdowns.
   How many days are there left until your book launch? Make a countdown blog post and keep your audience connected to the upcoming event.
5. Magazines.
   If you want to engage more content creators into your project, then maybe it makes sense to turn it all into an online publication.

BONUS IDEA: Apps.
Your content may be delivered to readers via an app if you think that would expand your reach and make things easier for your existing and potential audience. This would be a complex project on its own but it may help your business be more connected to the modern world.

I hope these ideas help you find your next blog post idea.

What did I miss? Share in the comment section below if you know additional types of content that can be hosted on websites and social media platforms.

Here’s to your next great blog post!

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This article was originally published on an external platform on May 11, 2022.