5 Types of Blog Posts Every Teacherpreneur Should Write

Writing has always come easily to me. Whether it was term papers in high school, a hobby blog I started during our wedding planning, or the teacher blog that launched my online business… generating content has always been one of my strengths. However, writing doesn’t come easily to everyone. And sometimes even experienced writers face writer’s block. This post can help with five types of blog posts every teacherpreneur should write to move their business forward.

I’ve shared before how having a blog can boost your position in search results through SEO. Whether you’re a writing enthusiast or just want to take advantage of the numerous SEO benefits you get from having a teacherpreneur blog, you need a post strategy. This post will cover five key types of blog posts, why they work, and ideas for each one so you’re ready to write!

Side note: If you’re still building your website or blog, read the anatomy of a website series here.

Why Is A Blog So Important For Teacherprenuers?

When you transition from a teacher to an entrepreneur with your own business, having a blog is a great way to educate and provide value to your potential customers through various types of blog posts. However, there are countless other reasons why you should have a well-designed blog.

Your blog can:

• Establish your authority in your niche
• Build the know/like/trust factor
• Provide a variety of SEO benefits
• Grow your email list through a variety of lead magnets
• Market your products or services
• Generate passive income opportunities through advertising, affiliate marketing, and sponsored posts

What Is A Content Strategy For Teacherpreneurs?

So now you’re convinced to start a blog and are ready to jump right in and start writing, right? WAIT! Before jumping right in, you need a content strategy. Building a solid foundation now will help you maintain your momentum (and sanity!) as your business grows. Think of your blog as a way to:

• Build brand awareness
• Engage with your audience
• Generate leads
• Drive sales

How To Create A Content Strategy

There are a few key steps to create your teacherpreneur content strategy.

First, understand your audience. Who are you creating content for? What are their needs and pain points? How do your products or services provide a solution just for them? What types of blog posts do they need?

Then define your goals. If your goal is to create a business instead of a hobby, it’s important to have targets for website traffic, subscriber growth, content creation, sales, etc. This way you can monitor your progress and adjust as necessary.

Next, create your content pillars. Your content pillars are used to build your content strategy, determine what information to post, and are overall the basis for all the content you create. You can learn more about content pillars in this post.

Once you have your content pillars in place, you should create a content calendar. Blog content performs best (and is less stressful!) when it’s strategically planned in advance. This post has more tips for planning blog content.

NOW it’s time for content creation. Once you have a plan in place, it’s time to write your content. You’ll also need to create your images or videos in this step, so allow time for that. Ensure you’re generating high-quality and SEO-friendly content to increase your website’s visibility in search engine results.

Finally, also allow time for content promotion. In addition to organic traffic generated as a result of your SEO, you also need a plan for how to promote your content on social media, email marketing, or ads.

With that content strategy in mind, this post is all about five types of blog posts every teacherpreneur should write. So let’s dig deeper into that part of your strategy.

#1 Listicle Blog Posts

A listicle blog post presents information in the form of a list. It combines elements of a traditional article with the easy-to-digest format of a list. Listicles are popular because they are concise, organized, and visually appealing. They often feature a catchy title, followed by a numbered or bullet-pointed list of items. They’re also one of the easier types of blog posts to write!

Listicles can cover a wide range of topics, from “10 Websites Every Teacher Needs To Bookmark” to “5 Must-Read Books for 2023”. Listicle blog posts are designed to be engaging and shareable, catering to readers who prefer quick and easily digestible content. They typically don’t have much extra commentary on each item in the list.

Why Listicles Are Good For Your Audience

Readers often turn to lists or listicles when they need quick answers because listicles are concise and easy to skim. To sum it up, here’s a list of reasons why listicles should be in your content lineup.

• Easy to digest
• Scannable for quick answers
• Organized
• Shareable and engaging
• Versatile
• SEO-friendly

Why Listicles Are Good For SEO

Search engines (hello, Google!) are designed to provide as much value as possible, so they prioritize content that offers value without extra fluff. Listicles are a great way to provide value. They also provide these SEO perks:

• Integrate keywords easily and naturally
• Increase reader time spent on page as they browse the entire list
• Encourage shares and backlinks from other pages
• Offer a way to include external and internal links to relevant content
• Provide increased click-through rates (CTR) due to their popularity and ability to grab readers’ attention, which entices readers to click through to the post.

Where To Find Content For Listicle Blog Posts

If you don’t already have ideas in mind for your listicle posts, here are some suggestions for where to find inspiration.

• Personal Experience: What do you find yourself Googling? How can you compile that knowledge into one place for your readers?
• Trending Topics: What is trending right now in your niche? Do you have knowledge to add? Create a list of your ideas!
• Books and Publications: Do you have favorite books, websites, or podcasts on a related topic to share?
• Online Communities: What topics are trending in your online communities? Facebook groups, Instagram, TIkTok, etc. are all popular places to look for inspiration.
• Audience Feedback: What is your audience asking for? Pay attention to the comments, questions, and feedback you receive on your existing content. This feedback can provide valuable insights into the interests and pain points of your audience, helping you come up with relevant and engaging listicle topics.

Here are a few examples of ideas that would make great listicle blog posts:

• Helpful assessments you administer when you onboard new tutoring students
• Meaningful professional development opportunities
• The best ways to build classroom community at the beginning of the year
• Simple ways to improve your teacher-life balance

#2 Questions and Answers Blog Posts

There’s a good reason why question and answers are such a common format for blog posts: they allow you to engage with your audience on a deeper level by directly addressing their concerns. And what’s a better way to generate more leads and establish yourself as an expert than by answering your audience’s burning questions?

Ultimately, the biggest benefit you have with Q and A blog posts is to establish yourself as an expert in your field.

Why Q and A Posts Are Good For Your Audience

Q and A posts are an incredibly valuable tool for your readers. They serve as a one-stop resource to address common pain points and provide informative content. Here are more reasons why Q and A posts are one of the most beneficial types of blog posts.

• They make your audience feel seen and heard when you provide answers to their exact needs. They also build trust in your brand and earn loyalty from your target audience by offering solutions to problems they face. For example, you can introduce products and services as a way of answering the questions, such as “What resources could help me improve my literacy small group time?” Then your ebook or lesson plans would be part of the answer.
• FAQs consolidate frequently asked questions into a single, easy-to-access location. This saves your readers time and effort searching for answers across multiple pages or contacting customer support.
• They build community through conversations. Q and A posts can be interactive, encouraging readers to leave comments or ask additional questions. This engagement fosters a sense of community and allows you to address specific concerns or offer personalized assistance, further enhancing the customer experience.
• Incorporating FAQ posts into your content strategy demonstrates your commitment to customer satisfaction, showcases your expertise, and ultimately helps your readers succeed.

Don’t underestimate the power of Q and A posts… they’re an invaluable asset for both you and your audience!

Why Q and A Blog Posts Are Good For SEO

Blog posts that answer frequently asked questions (FAQs) are amazing for search engine optimization because they naturally include long-tail keywords and queries people are searching for. As you naturally incorporate those questions and search terms, you boost your search visibility organically.

Search engines love Q and As because of the clear, succinct information they provide. FAQ blog posts address common pain points and offer comprehensive information. This helps search engines understand the relevance of your website and its content, leading to higher rankings.

In addition, readers are more likely to stay on your site longer after reading Q and As. When users find helpful answers to their questions, they tend to spend more time on your site, explore other content, and engage with your brand. This positive user experience reduces website bounce rate and sends a favorable signal to search engines about the quality of your content, leading to improved rankings. As a result, search engines are also more likely to include your information in their highlighted snippets or “people also ask” sections.

Where To Find Content For Q and A Blog Posts

Once you run out of your own questions or answers, here are a few more places to look for ideas. After you’ve answered several questions, consider doing a roundup type post with links to all the Q&As about a topic.

• Just ask! Your email list, social media followers, Facebook group, etc. are all great places to invite your audience to ask you questions directly. Be sure to make a note that you’re generating a list of questions they’d like to see answered in future content so they don’t expect immediate answers.
• For a less open-ended approach, you could send a survey to your audience to poll the most popular topics they want to learn more about.
• If you have a Facebook group, look for common questions that are posted regularly. Once you generate a post around that topic, you’ll be able to drop your link as a quick reply.
• Keep a running list of questions left in social media comments or messages. For example, do you get the same questions every year after sharing your favorite back to school lesson? Write a FAQ post for it!
• Also track your customer support interactions. Look for common questions and concerns that arise from your customers via email, TPT questions, etc.. These real-life interactions are a goldmine for FAQ blog post ideas!
• SEO tools, such as Answer the Public, SEMrush, or Ubersuggest can also help.

Here are a few examples of ideas that would make great Q and A blog posts:

• Q&A with a Veteran Teacher: Interview an experienced teacher and ask them questions about their teaching journey, challenges, and advice for new educators.
• Classroom Management Techniques: Address questions about maintaining a positive classroom environment, behavior management strategies, and promoting student engagement. (Ex: How do I reduce transition times? How do I help reluctant students participate in classroom discussions?)
• Differentiated Instruction: Provide insights on how to tailor lessons to meet the diverse needs of students, offer tips for accommodating various learning styles, and address questions about individualized instruction. (What’s the best way to….? What is one way to differentiate….?)

#3 Roundup Blog Posts

In a roundup blog post, the main focus is on curating and compiling a collection of valuable insights, tips, or resources from various sources. The goal is to provide readers with a comprehensive view of a specific topic by compiling resources from multiple sources into a single post. or contributors.

In addition to providing a wealth of information to your readers, roundup pieces save you a ton of time by allowing you to compile existing content into a single post! When you write a roundup blog post, you can compile resources from multiple external links and multiple internal links. Similar to a listicle, this makes it one of the faster types of blog posts to create.

For example, if you have a variety of back to school posts (establishing routines, back to school read alouds, how to organize supplies, back to school tips for parents, etc.) you can make one “The Ultimate List of Back to School Ideas for 3rd Grade” post and include links to all of your previous posts, as well as articles, pins, or social media posts from other creators.

Note: While both roundup blog posts and listicle blog posts deliver valuable information to readers, they differ in terms of how the content is curated and presented. Roundup posts typically focus on compiling insights from multiple sources, while listicles provide quick, actionable tips in a more concise format. Roundup posts usually include excerpts or paraphrased content from the different sources along with the author’s personal insight too.

Why Roundup Posts Are Good for Your Audience

Roundup posts are all about providing the best information in one easy-to-find spot. They can save your readers a lot of time browsing your entire library for the same information. Here are more reasons roundup posts are great for your audience:

• They establish brand authority. Because roundup posts are so value-packed, they position you as an authority in your industry.
• They’re super versatile. You can use them for any topic, making them a great way to produce content quickly.
• They offer comprehensive information. Roundup posts gather insights, tips, opinions, or resources from various sources in a single post. This provides readers with a wealth of information on a specific topic, saving them time and effort in searching for individual articles or resources.
• They highlight diverse perspectives. By curating content from different sources, roundup posts offer multiple perspectives on a particular subject.
• They help readers find new resources: Roundup posts often include links or recommendations to additional resources, tools, or articles. Readers can discover new blogs, websites, or industry influencers they may not have encountered otherwise. This is also a great way to network with other teacherpreneurs.

Why Roundup Posts Are Good For SEO

Providing as much value as possible is important to Google and other search engines. They want users to find exactly what they’re looking for and save time sorting through search results. Because of this, roundup blogs are great for your audience and for search engine optimization (SEO).

Roundup posts are also great for link building. They often include a variety of internal links, which help both users and search engines crawl/browse your site. As you provide more value, other websites are also more likely to link to your website in their own roundup posts, which in turn boosts your SEO.

Finally, roundup posts can also help with keyword optimization: Roundup posts allow you to target specific keywords and curate content around them. By optimizing the title, headings, and meta tags with relevant keywords, you can improve your chances of ranking higher in search results for those terms. You can learn more about researching keywords in this post.

Where To Find Content For RoundUp Blog Posts

Your existing posts are the perfect place to find content for roundup blog posts! Look for which topics you’ve naturally written the most about and start to create single roundup posts for those first. Staying up-to-date with the latest trends in your niche can also help you identify hot topics and emerging trends that can serve as inspiration for your next roundup post.

Here are some more ideas:

• A compilation of posts about a specific topic to help readers find other experts in your niche. It could be something like “A Beginner’s Guide to…”
• Your favorite podcasts and a short blurb about why you love each one
• Seasonal ideas (the books, activities, etc. for each holiday)
• Compile time-saving teacher “hacks” from around the web, organized by category (parent communication, library organization, missing assignment trackers, etc.)

#4 How-To Blog Posts

The how-to post is one of the most common types of blog posts. These articles provide readers with concrete steps to solve a problem or complete a desired task. By breaking down complex processes into manageable steps, how-to blog posts empower readers with practical information and actionable advice.

Why How-To Blog Posts Are Good For Your Audience

As a business owner, you are the expert! How-to blog posts help you share your knowledge with readers who value your expertise. Your how-to posts will:

• Solve your readers’ problems through detailed step-by-step guides
• Build reader confidence to try something new
• Save readers time. A how-to post should provide everything they need from start to finish so they don’t have to search multiple sources.

Why How-To Blog Posts Are Good For SEO

In addition to being extremely useful for readers, how-to blog posts have a high click-through rate because readers know they offer the specific advice they’re searching for. This high click-through rate encourages search engines to show your post higher in future search results. In addition, the extra time readers spend on your website is also a ranking factor because it shows that your visitors find valuable content instead of bouncing.

Providing valuable step-by-step answers also improves your SEO by increasing the likelihood that other websites will link to and reference your tutorials, therefore increasing your link building.

Finally, how-to posts offer crucial long-form content. These in-depth tutorials tend to have higher word counts, which search engines like Google often prefer. By providing comprehensive instructions, examples, and additional resources, you can create valuable long-form content that appeals to both readers and search engines.

Where To Find Content for How-To Blog Posts

If you’re looking to increase your credibility and encourage more people to purchase your products or services, a how-to post is a great place to start. Think about your unique techniques and ideas that set you apart from other teacherpreneurs… THAT is where you should start.

Here are some more ideas:

• Break down a standard and show how to teach it from introduction, anchor chart, whole class practice, small group practice, centers, assessment
• Share your best classroom procedures or organizational tips to save time (like how to organize your classroom library!)
• Show parents how to practice a specific skill at home
• Provide step-by-step instructions and strategies for planning engaging and effective lessons with differentiation.
• Share strategies and communication tips to strengthen the bond between teachers and parents, fostering a supportive and collaborative learning environment.
• Provide practical advice and proven techniques for managing challenging behaviors in the classroom, creating a positive and inclusive learning space.
• Offer creative ideas and activities that encourage active student participation and foster a love for learning.
• Guide fellow educators on developing various assessment methods and tools to gauge student progress and provide meaningful feedback.

#5 Lead Magnet Blog Posts

Lead magnets can be integrated into almost all types of blog posts, but they can also stand alone with a little bit of additional explanation for content length. If you aren’t sure what a lead magnet is, think of lead magnets as irresistible offers that entice your website visitors to take action and willingly share their information with you. By providing them with valuable content or resources, you showcase your expertise and build trust, making it more likely that they will want to engage further with your brand or business.

Why Lead Magnets Are Good For Your Audience

Lead magnets are totally free for your audience, and who doesn’t love a freebie?? Teachers spend so much of their own money on their classroom needs, and lead magnets are a way to provide free options.

Lead magnets can also help your potential customers decide whether or not they want to purchase a larger unit from you. For example, your lead magnet might be 1-2 pages out of a much larger unit. If they love the lead magnet, they usually feel more confident purchasing the larger resource.

Finally, I recommend following your lead magnets up with additional automated emails that provide more value (and upsells!).

Why Lead Magnets Are Good For SEO

As with other blog post types, lead magnet posts should also be highly optimized for keywords. This will allow your website to be found organically in search results, leading to increased website traffic. As more people access your lead magnet and engage with your content, it increases traffic to your site, which can positively impact your SEO rankings.

Valuable lead magnets also have the potential to attract backlinks from other websites and blogs. Backlinks are crucial for SEO as they indicate to search engines that your content is authoritative and trustworthy. The more high-quality backlinks you earn, the higher your site’s visibility and rankings may be.

Finally, compelling lead magnets have the potential to go viral on social media platforms. When users share your lead magnet, it increases brand visibility, drives more traffic to your site, and can improve your SEO rankings.

Where to Find Content for Lead Magnets

It’s important to align your lead magnets with your target audience’s needs and interests. They’re designed to be short samples that build trust in the quality of your work. Here are some ideas:

• short e-books
• curriculum guides around a specific standard
• templates
• checklists
• free samples from larger units
• resource lists to share with parents
• a printable with best tips for a specific topic
• exclusive access to freebie libraries

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No matter what types of blog posts you share, remember that you need an effective strategy for your content and search engine optimization. Otherwise, no one will find the valuable posts you write. If you’re new to SEO, this mini course is the perfect place to start! It includes a training video and workbook.

For more personalized help, consider this SEO Tune-Up service, which includes access to the mini course, tech assistance, and a brief site audit with advice to improve your site’s SEO structure.