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How to Create Massive Value Content & Blow Your Readers’ Minds

Posted By Guest Blogger 27th of August 2014 General 0 Comments

HOW TO CREATE MASSIVE VALUE CONTENT

This is a guest contribution from Pooja Lohana.

Let’s face it. Your readers are selfish.

The moment they land on your blog, they look for “what’s in it for me?”.

And that’s not such a bad thing after all.

Knowledge is power. Once you know what they are looking for, you can serve it to them.

At the time of writing this, there are 152,000,000 blogs on the Net. That means every half a second, a new blog is created somewhere in the world.

It’s getting harder and harder to be found in the blogosphere and this is not changing in the future.

If you’re passionate about your topic, perhaps you won’t mind blogging without traffic. But eventually, you will end it all in frustration.

You want people to share your message and to have great conversations with.

You want to stand for something.

The only way out is to stand out by writing unforgettable content or as I like to call Massive Value Content.

What is Massive Value Content?

Jon Morrow calls it an “epic” post and prefers writing one epic post week rather than writing one mediocre post every day.

It solves you readers’ specific, burning problem.

You become a mind-reader. They relate with your post, thank you and leave tons of comments.

Here are some examples:

  1. 39 Great Ideas to Beat the Dreaded Writer’s Block
  2. 102 Quick Recipes to Prepare Your Meals Under $10
  3. The Ultimate Guide to Building a Business from $500
  4. The Reason Blogging is Dead & What to Do Instead

Get the gist? Good.

When done right, it has good chances of going viral and bring you new eye balls.

Your blog gets back-linked, a lot. Influencers in your niche love to talk about you. Other bloggers invite you over for guest posts and webinars.

Perfect, isn’t it?

There is only one question: How.

I am not going to leave you high and dry or ask you to “go create epic sh*t”. I’m actually going to tell you how to do it and get noticed big time.

The Ultimate Cheatsheet to Create Massive Value Content on Your Blog

STEP 1. Keep Calm & Create a Plan

Ever get a killer idea for a post in the shower? It hits you like a brick, and you cannot wait to run to your desk to complete your post.

You sit down, compose a cool post, add a stellar image and boom – you hit Publish.

And you wait for the comments to pour in. For a long time.

Slowly you realize that your “killer” post is actually a dud.

I’ve had that experience in the past. It still happens when I don’t pay attention to what I’m creating.

In fact, I’ve set a timer for 60 minutes in the past to write, format, and publish a post with a featured image.

The result? Only a handful of readers.

What’s missing is a concrete plan to stick to. I love how Jon stresses the importance of having a calendar. That was, all you have to do is “blindly” follow it!

Your editorial calendar is one of the simplest and most effective productivity tools out there. It’s a roadmap.

Here’s an example of a calendar for your blog:

DATE TYPE TITLE STATUS
June 02 Massive Value Content (MVC) Tentative title Published/Pending/WIP
June 09 Regular posts/Podcasts/Interview/Opinion/Video posts Tentative title Published/Pending/WIP
June 16 MVC Tentative title Published/Pending/WIP
June 23 Regular posts/Podcasts/Interview/Opinion/Video posts Tentative title Published/Pending/WIP
June 30 MVC Tentative title Published/Pending/WIP

Give yourself at least 7-8 hours to churn out each MVC post because you will need time for research and writing.

Then there’s external linking, sourcing images, social media so that that into account.

You can alternate MVCs with “regular posts” that can be shorter, quicker and easier to create. The frequency of both these posts and how you schedule them is totally up to you, but as a thumb rule, for every 3 regular posts, write at least one MVC post.

Now I know what you’re thinking – that looks like a lot of work in a month.

And I’m not going to lie to you. It is a lot of work.

If you rush a blog post, you will see mediocre results. The best advice if you’re serious about it is to be patient and focused.

STEP 2. Pick Your Type

1. Long Lists Post

People are lazy. Top it with the millions of results available at our finger tips from Google and you ought to love a shortcut.

A lists post gives your readers just that. It makes a specific promise and delivers.

How can you ever get a list post title wrong? Only when your content is not high-value.

If you are giving great value upfront, this type of post can never go wrong.

Don’t believe me? Take a look at the right hand sidebar of BBT. You’ll find it is full of list posts.

Why? Because list posts build authority. They are easy to relate with and promise juicy benefits to your readers upfront.

Here are a few tips to make your list posts even more effective:

  • Steer clear of fluff. Deliver value straight to the point. You can do this by staying focused on creating a list of steps that are fresh, effective and in-depth.
    Tell them how. For example, in this post I’m not just saying “write massive value content” but I’m also sharing how.
  • Add references. Just because you’re creating a long list post doesn’t mean you have to cover everything. Link to external sources where necessary.
  • Write more than 7 items for more eye-balls. One internal test done by HubSpot proved that list posts with less than 6 items weren’t as popular as their longer counterparts.
  • Know when it’s not a list post. Don’t try to convert every single piece of content into a list-based post. Some are better off a tutorials or “ultimate guides”. A good example is when the list is less than 6 items.
  • Use odd numbers when possible. According to a study conducted on students, odd numbered grouping worked better than even-numbered one.
    I wouldn’t take this too seriously though and I encourage you to come up with your own findings.
    And if you have 12 unique bullet points to share after multiple re-reads, by all means go ahead and share them!
  • Use fine adjectives. Strategic adjectives work like a charm.
    Think “29 Killer Exercise Rituals”, “53 Magnetic Headlines” or “10 Easy Recipes Under $10”.

2. Case Studies

If you have clients, you can use case studies and use it for dual purposes.

One, you’re creating MVC because case studies are much in-depth piece of information.

Two, you’re promoting your clients along the way.

KISSmetrics blog does this very well. They are known for rich case studies that solve a problem or deliver value.

Here’s one that explores industry-wide gender bias by WordStream.

A case study focuses on a specific example (WordStream in the above example) or a company as opposed to a white paper, which is more generic.

Using a case study boosts your credibility manifold. It shows your readers what’s possible and all they have to do is follow the exact steps you’ve listed.

Again, the magic of telling them how to do something, instead of telling them the what, is at work.

3. Tutorials & Guides

Ever seen an “Ultimate Guide”?

Perhaps the most common ones have to do with social media or marketing.

“The Ultimate Guide to Using Pinterest” or “The Ultimate Guide to Successful Email Marketing”.

A quick search for “ultimate guide” on Google returns 439 Million results on my end. Refine the search for your industry or niche to get more specific.

For example, “ultimate guide blogging” returns more than 2 Million results.

This type of MVC is a full-blown tutorial on the topic, complete with screenshots, infographics, real life examples, steps, external reference links and calls-to-action. Anything that adds value goes.

In short, as a classic MVC, your ultimate guide will detail step-by-step instructions on how to do something.

Here’s another tip: Since these posts tend to be long, sprinkle visual elements in the form of infographics, video and memes to keep your readers engaged.

83% of learning happens visually. Contrast this with people remembering only 20% of what they read every time so a visual guide along with supporting text works great.

You can always create infographics and other visually engaging content to support your articles with online apps such as Visme.

No matter what niche you’re in, you can still make use of an ultimate guide and do a few things with it.

  • Give it away to your subscribers as a PDF in exchange for their email address. (Also known as lead magnet.)
  • Split it into a series of articles and send it to your mailing list in the form of an e-course.
  • Publish it on Kindle platform (You can list it as free or paid).
  • Record it in your own voice and sell it as an audio.
  • Create a course on Udemy and give it away.
  • Hold a webinar on the same content and give the guide away to listeners after the webinar.

4. Collaborated Posts

Want to tap into other people’s audience for free?

You can. Except for the “free” part.

You see, there is no free lunch, so you have to put in some planning and effort in the mix before you can leverage an influencer’s reach.

  1. The first step is to create a list of influencers in your niche.
  2. Then split the list into tiers 1, 2 and 3 according to their popularity. The bloggers with a slightly larger email list or reach that yours will go under “1”; a more popular one will occupy “2” and so on.
  3. Start with the low-lying fruit, tier 1. (Although not absolutely necessary, you start here because that way you will be more confident when approaching more authoritative blogs.)
  4. Build a relationship with these people.
  5. When the time’s right, pick their brains on one specific question relevant to your blog post and bring all answers together for your next MVC.
  6. When the post’s live, send the contributors a link and thank them. Let them know you’d appreciate if they can tweet or post about it.
  7. Once you’ve worked with tier 1, it’s time to reach out to tier 2.

5. Curated Posts

Do you know why authorities like Oprah are famous? Because they know well to curate.

Curators are people who bring the best stuff at one place – in your case, that “place” is your blog.

Think about it – if your readers can get the best of all worlds, all well-organized, structured and ready to be served, wouldn’t the love you for it?

Curated posts, such as round-ups from the Net or resource pages listing out the best content others have spent hours creating, scream “authority”.

Here’s one: 63 Blogging Tools that Will Make You Insanely Productive.

Do you see how it’s got 171 comments? Also, it’s one of the most popular blog posts BBT’s hosted as you can see in the right-hand sidebar.

It’s actually a resource post listing everything you need for your blog to be up and running (and making money too).

6. “Start Here” Page

Although this is technically a page, you can still count it as MVC because of its nature.

Think of it as a mini-about me page. Your visitors may be finding you from literally anywhere — Facebook, Twitter or another website.

When they land on your page, they need to be held by the hand and shown around.

The Start Here page will do just that and your visitors will thank you for it.

Most of all, this page gives you a chance to gain familiarity and likeability from visitors.

The purpose of a Start Here page is twofold:

  1. Tell them why your blog exists (the benefit)
  2. Spoon-feed them your best content.

So it’s a good idea to organize everything into categories and make it easy to check things out.

And while they’re here, why not ask their email in exchange for a juicy lead magnet (a free report, an audio clip etc)?

In a pistachio shell, here are some things to consider putting on your Start Here page:

  • Why your blog exists
  • What’s in it for them
  • How can they access your content nicely tucked in one place
  • A welcome message with your photo
  • A video of you (optional)
  • Your vision, mission and values (don’t make it boring)
  • What you promise to offer
  • A reminder to join your mailing list

STEP 3. Do It Already!

It’s time to start creating Massive Value Content and claim your authority as a blogger.

Whatever your goal from blogging, the above steps will get you noticed, talked about and attract tons of eye-balls if you combine it with strategies like guest-posting and social media.

Every serious blogger wants to know when they will hit “the jackpot”.

The first 1,000 subscribers.

The first time when they hit 5,000 visitors a day.

The first mention by NYT.

The first $10,000 month from blogging.

What they should be asking instead is how to become a better writer and generate unforgettable content.

In the words of Brian Clark, here’s how:

  1. Write.
  2. Write more.
  3. Write even more.
  4. Write even more than that.
  5. Write when you don’t want to.
  6. Write when you do.
  7. Write when you have something to say.
  8. Write when you don’t.
  9. Write every day.
  10. Keep writing.

What exactly are you waiting for? Go create that piece of awesome content and make someone’s day!

Pooja Lohana is a freelance writer, ghost writer and online marketing mentor featured on Problogger, Firepole, JeffBullas, MarketingProfs, Hongkiat and more. If you’re an aspiring writer and want to become self-employed, create wealth and live a better life by launching your online writing biz, steal her free mini-course to make your first $1000 (and more) writing at home.

About Guest Blogger
This post was written by a guest contributor. Please see their details in the post above.
Comments
  1. Great post, Pooja. Just one thing distressed me, until I read further on. You used to write and publish a post in just 60 minutes? True, you found it didn’t work. ‘If you rush a blog post, you will see mediocre results.’

    Like you, I despair at newbies who think they can produce quality that fast. They can’t. I run a ‘how to’ program in commercial fiction writing. Last year I published around 80 guest posts of 1200 words each on high-traffic sites in my niche and it took me a day or so to write each one. Was that a good investment of my time? Yes, because they brought over 10,000 signups to my list, each having a notional value of around $8. So I ‘made’ $1000 a day. That’s okay.

    Would those posts have worked, if I’d spent just one hour on each? No. You can’t cheat your readers, as you rightly said. Quality brings in quality.

    • Hey John,

      Great to see you here! :-)

      I know…what was I thinking, right? Duh-uh.

      The lessons we learn in business and blogging! But I’m glad it didn’t take me long to realise this won’t work.

      I LOVE your approach of 80 posts in a year. You’re a machine! It reminds me of Danny Inny’s story, and how he too wrote 80 posts in less than a year. It’s pretty exciting what guest posting can do for you. Check out his story here: http://www.firepolemarketing.com/how-to-get-traffic-to-your-blog

      Thanks for sharing your thoughts. Keep up the great work!

      Pooja

  2. Awesome tips, thanks for sharing!

    • You’re welcome Erik! :-)

      Pooja

      • Pooja,

        We are upgrading our site and including a blog. We’re hoping to find an experienced blogger to hire. Do you freelance? If not, any suggestions on where to find a blogger that gets results?

        Thanks!

        -M

  3. Writing article is my main problem.. I am not good at english and I have registered 3 niche domain without thinking about article writting ,Now I understand it’s not possible to run a blog without writing cool reader friendly article.. I have learned many things from this post.. Thanks for sharing these tips and please post more about article writing..

    • Hi Sagor,

      It’s understandable — you need to write well before even considering a blog. I suggest read a ton of books and blogs everyday by setting aside a few hours. Also listen to podcasts (if reading gets boring) and notice how the blogger communicates/writes. Study different styles of blogging.

      For example, Jon Morrow’s style is different from that of Henneke Duistermaat. Make a list of blogs you enjoy and read them religiously. Soon,you’ll learn to model a style that connects best with you, and gradually, find your own voice.

      If you have already got a ton of ideas ready to be blogged, but aren’t sure about your writing, consider investing in an mentor + editor. A mentor can hold your hand and literally “teach” you the fine art of writing in conversational style which works best for blogging.

      How do I know? Because I do the same for my clients! :-)

      Hope this helps. Thanks for stopping by Sagor.

      Pooja

  4. All these are pretty helpful for amateur and pro bloggers.

  5. Thanks for the opportunity Stacey and Darren! I’ll hang around in the comments should anyone have any questions or thoughts. :-)

    Pooja

  6. Great content Pooja, really valuable stuff, thanks for taking the time to put that together and sharing!

  7. Hi Pooja,

    Great post. Jon’s approach really is a good one. Why write “regular” posts several times a week when you can write one EPIC post each week? The latter will get your blog noticed far quicker.

    I’ve implemented this weekly “MVC” approach at Be A Better Blogger, and it’s going really well so far. It’s hard work, no doubt about it (one of my posts was 8,317 words long)!

    But… it’s worth it.

    Excellent work. I’ll have to read some of your freelance articles, as soon as I get a free block of time.

    • Hey Kevin,

      You’re spot on. Do it once a week, and if that’s too hard, do it once a month. Epic posts are usually on the longer end. I like how posts here on ProBlogger tend to be on the 1,000+ words side.

      8K+? Cool, gotta read it. Will check out your website now.

      Thanks for dropping by Kevin.

      Pooja

      • Hi again Pooja,

        Agreed! I would much rather miss a week and not publish anything than publish something which doesn’t offer value to my readers. :-)

        I prefer long posts, too. I’m usually in the 1,500 to 2,250 range, but as I mentioned I sometimes lose my mind and write 8k+ words. Haha. It was awesome to discover you dropped by my site, read my post, and left me a comment. I’m so glad you enjoyed it!

        I’m going to do a search on your name and see what other posts/articles of yours I can find. Hope you have a great day, Pooja.

        – Kevin

  8. Great guest post. I definitely need to re-approach the epic content, especially the lists. So simple, yet so effective. Thank you for the boost of encouragement!

  9. Fantastic information Pooja! Lots of food for thought there…especially relevant to me are the points about list and curated posts…also the idea of the MVC really works for me because I love the research and reporting element to deliver more to my readers.

  10. Hi Pooja,

    Smashing post, well done.

    List posts work well for me. 11 tips, 13 steps, 14 reasons…going all double figure draws in people with greater ease. People don’t want to be overwhelmed but they do like numbers and from my experience, if you over deliver, and go with a higher number, they’ll love you for over delivering.

    Then after creating the title, over deliver, or deliver on your promise.

    I write three, 2500 word posts weekly on Blogging from Paradise. Tomorrow’s post is my record, in terms of word count; 3800 words. Now length means little if the post is of a poor quality but if you really knock people’s socks off every word along the way you’ll blog reader’s minds, for sure.

    Tomorrow’s is not a list, but rather, a detailed account of how some of my insane, dangerous, grisley travel experiences from around the world will help you to become a better blogger.

    Readers love stories, and if you tell authentic stories from your life, you will darn well sure connect with so many folks on a deeper level.

    Thanks so much Pooja. I linked to this post for my Wednesday post – keep an eye out for it – and also linked to your home page.

    Well done!

    Tweeting in a bit.

    Ryan

    • Hey Ryan,

      You always deliver great value to your readers. Kudos to you.

      I read the post you’re referring to and left a comment also. I liked the detailed style and drawing lessons from each “mishap”. Great tips on how you can turn adversity into a blessing, hey!

      Thank you for the share + mention Ryan!

      Speak soon.

      Pooja

  11. Wow – this is awesome!

    Interesting thing about the odd numbers. People say that this works in pricing too!

  12. Hey Pooja,

    Great writing! Thanks for sharing. What I really believe is that you need to have a good planning. And you nailed it perfectly well in #1.

    Keep it up and definitely looking forward for your contribution here!

    Have a great day!

  13. Excellent post Pooja, it is definitely quality content distinguishes the top echelon of blogs and having someone who cares enough to put a post of this quality together is what draws attention. We all have very busy lives and I know I tend to write-off a lot of blogs when they start just churning out slap-dash content. We want easy to read, easy to digest content with solid action points and links for further reading set in a lively and authoritative tone. This sort of article takes hard work and a lot of time and you have demonstrated exactly how to do it here!

    • You’re spot on Martin. It does take a lot of time.

      I’ve learned from my past mistakes — for example, now when I’m helping a client with a blog, I have a totally different mindset than I used to have two years ago.

      You learn and course-correct by listening, experimenting and coming to your own conclusion of what works and what doesn’t :-)

      Thanks for dropping by and commenting!

      Pooja

  14. Thank you so much for this inspiring post Pooja. I started a food blog over a year ago and the thought of setting myself apart from the vast crowd is challenging to say the least.

    • Hey Jennifer,

      I hear you. The first step is just to start. You can always course-correct.

      The basics (such as making connections with influencers in your industry, writing guest posts) should be in place. Then you can start writing for your own blog regularly, because you already have an audience drawn from those guest posts. You’ll set yourself apart in the meanwhile as you learn more about your readers and the “tribe” you attract — in short, your people :-)

      Pooja

  15. Hey Pooja,

    Congrats on the guest post, you’ve done an awesome job.

    I have no doubt that having an editorial calendar works great for most bloggers, after all, structure is good, but for me it kills my creativity.

    Writing doesn’t come naturally to me, so I have to write when I’m inspired. At the moment I’m trying my best to stick with one quality blog post per week, while focusing heavily on blogger outreach.

    Yeah, it gets frustrating at times, but all I can do is follow Brian’s advice and just keep practising. :)

    I’ve been thinking about curating for a while now. After reading this post I think I’m going to give it a try, thank you for the reminder!

    Shared on Twitter. Have an awesome day.

    Kerry

    • Hey Kerry,

      Great to see you here.

      For sure. I find writers are the creative types, and a calendar can come across forced.

      I’ve cheated the editorial calendar quite a few times in the past.

      However, it still gives me a direction and tells me where I’m going. If you’re like me and can’t always think of topics on the fly, a calendar comes handy.

      Definitely try a curated post and let us know how you go! :-)

      Pooja

  16. Hey Pooja,

    Massive Value Content posts are definitely a great way to draw in new readers and leave them feeling as if they learned something, as opposed to the “normal” 500 word blog post.

    I find it amazing that people really expect for quality posts to be done in minutes, like one of my former clients who suggested that I could get three posts done in an hour, and THEN later complained that the quality of my writing was dipping.

    LOL.

    Truth is, quality is ALWAYS better than quantity, and this holds especially true when creating content for the internet.

    • Hey Daryl,

      I know — it felt like a brick fell on my head when I tried to write “quick” posts in the past. Really, it’s an internal war if you’re aiming for faster turnarounds but you know it’s not going to cut it quality-wise.

      I had to chuckle at your story of 3 posts in an hour. That’s preposterous!

      And yes, quality is better than quantity. That said, you can use “filler” or regular posts every once in a while if you’re so worried about posting something up regularly, but those posts too should add value in some way.

      I know “value” can be such a vague term. I recall reading this thumbrule somewhere, and I can totally relate with it: You’ll know you’ve delivered value to your reader when your post leaves them as a different person in some positive way, no matter how small.

      Thanks for stopping by. :-)

      Pooja

  17. I really enjoyed your post, Pooja. It is great that you are sharing what you have learned from your own mistakes along the way.

  18. Awesome article, Pooja! I especially like the way it makes it points by illustrating them clearly through the post itself.

    Of course your Step 3 tends to be the one I have the most trouble with. That’s why I’ve had those very same 10 tips of Brian Clark’s pinned to my bulletin board for a couple of years now.

    I could very easily add this post there, too. ;-)

    • Thank you Michelle.

      Yes, step 3 could feel overwhelming, because it’s an ongoing practice. Maybe in future I’ll write a new post on just #3 so we can all stay focused! :-)

      Pooja

  19. Hi Pooja,

    I really appreciate your post as you mentioned the ways to create valuable content, not just telling “you should create quality content”. Creating useful and valuable content does require time so setting up time to write an article within 60 minutes or so is not going to work.

    • Thanks for stopping by Pankaj.

      You’re right — you can’t compose a stellar post in 60 minutes (unless you’re superman). I guess I tried that in the past because I had an “amazing” idea and wanted to capture it in pixels. ;-) Maybe I was afraid I’ll “forget” it? I don’t know.

      What I should have done instead was to let it simmer and come back to it the next day or so with my editing chops.

      I saw a lot of bloggers were saying “write great content” but no one was telling how. So that was my inspiration to write this post.

      Pooja

      • Hi Pooja,
        Though awfully novice at all this, still felt like offering my few cents. You are absolutely right that a stellar post can’t be ” forced “. It will happen to you. One just needs to tune into his creative calling as the words flow and take the shape of sentences worthy of resonating with one’s audience, long after he takes to bed. Such words can’t be written on purpose ” i feel this way, while others may differ “. They are penned once one is in his/her “zone” …. Where words leap at you while you sculpt them to your amusement, feeling like a ” wordsmith ” ….. As i embark on this journey, my north star says, If I myself doesn’t feel like reading my words again and again, rest assured, no one will.
        Liked your writing, would like to stay tuned. More power to you

        • Hey Ali,

          Thanks for the thoughtful comment.

          Yes, when you’re in “flow” amazing things seem to happen!

          However, we need to be careful — sometimes bloggers wait too long for inspiration to strike. I know I have. :-)

          The result? Not one post written.

          When inspiration won’t come to you, take the first smallest action like opening a Word document — trigger the task — and you will find inspiration once the wheel is set in motion. Simple law of physics :-)

          Don’t let inertia keep you away from writing!

          Thank you for stopping by, Ali.

          Pooja

  20. Thanks for sharing this informative post.

  21. Very nice information Pooja :) I loved the post and the tips you’ve shared here. I checked out your website as well :) You do a good job!

    • Hey Jane,

      Thank you for stopping by.

      I recently bumped into your blog and enjoyed your posts too! Great work :-)

      Pooja

  22. the more international blogs I read, the more I discover how much the blogging culture – and what is regarded as good content – differs. I notice how posts with long lists of stuff are popular in the US but I could never see a post like that hit it big in Sweden for instance – we’re not used to that kind of information and when there are posts like that they never really spread. I find this very interesting. Content is king but good content still depends on (a lot of stuff).

    • That’s fascinating, isn’t it Sara? I’m curious, what works in Sweden?

      Just to add, it’s not that you write a list-post and it becomes a hit. You need to say something that offers value, or solves the reader’s problem.

      I like to open my posts with a story to build personal connection. If not that, I use stats and facts to open the post. It depends on what I’m writing and for whom. I don’t like bland list-posts that jump to the point too soon w/o telling me why I should care.

      But in the end, I’ve found that information that’s already beaten to death on the Internet doesn’t cut it. You got to either approach it with a new angle, add a bunch of unique tips, or write on a topic that is a clear “need of the hour” but no one’s writing about it.

      This post is an example of the last category — I knew a lot of people saying “write killer content” but no one was telling how.

      Thanks for the thoughtful comment. I’ll wait to hear more from you :-)

      Pooja

  23. I’ve been blogging on and off for years. I started a personal blog a few months ago and initially focused on just being consistent. I have decided to change the direction of my blog. Initially I was distracted by my desire to eventually money. Then I realized the my main focus should be on content. I’ve been doing a lot of reading and I’m happy to see such a detailed post about developing content. Thank you!

    • Shimeka, your honesty is refreshing.

      I find that focusing on money too soon makes you lose focus eventually. You get too hard on yourself with all the “Why isn’t my blog making any $ yet?” questions.

      First find out what you want to write, whether there’s a demand, and then serve.

      If done right, you shouldn’t have to wait for too long to attract some money from your blog. Quite often, you blog is a platform (not the direct means) for making money. For example, you can launch your coaching services and announce it to your blog’s newsletter subscribers.

      Thanks for dropping by! :-)

      Pooja

  24. hi pooja

    Great post. Jon’s approach really is a good one. Why write “regular” posts several times a week when you can write one EPIC post each week? The latter will get your blog noticed far quicker.

    I’ve implemented this weekly “MVC” approach at Be A Better Blogger, and it’s going really well so far. It’s hard work, no doubt about it (one of my posts was 8,317 words long)!

    But… it’s worth it.

    Excellent work. I’ll have to read some of your freelance articles, as soon as I get a free block of time.

  25. Keep writing – that sounds like good advice. You get better at it that way and you increase your chances of meeting more interesting people along the way. I mean, that’s a fun part of the journey too (meeting readers who find your content useful, connecting with other writers, business owners and leaders in different niches.)

  26. Hi Pooja,

    Thanks for this fantastic write up.

    I like the idea of alternating MVCs with regular posts. I’m currently working on a massive list post for my blog and I’ll be implementing some of the tips you’ve shared here.

    Readers seem to love these as long as you deliver outstanding value.BBT seem to implement them so well.

    • Hi Norbert,

      Good luck with the massive list post! They are fun, aren’t they? :-)

      Thanks for commenting.

      Pooja

  27. Great information Pooja, worth great value to use, thank you for taking your time to put it all together and sharing with us.

  28. Hi Pooja,

    Thank you for writing this post! I am new to the blogging world and still trying to figure out how to write posts that are both fun and interesting to me, but also beneficial to the reader and likely to draw traffic. I seem to lean towards writing a lot of shorter posts and lists, so your advice on how to do lists effectively and alternating normal posts with MVC posts was extremely helpful.
    Your section on curated posts was also an instant inspiration and problem solver for me! Here in the U.S. its back to school time and I really wanted to write a post about motivating kids in school. Most of my posts are based on my knowledge and experiences, but this is something I have been researching and want to learn more about. I couldn’t figure out how to approach this honestly, providing the information without taking credit for it. A curated post was the answer I needed! I have been doing research and working on this post vigorously since reading this. I am having so much fun, learning a ton, and can’t wait to share with other moms. My first curated post should be up by tomorrow :-)

    Thanks again!

    • Hey Stafanie,

      For sure — blogging doesn’t need to feel like a chore. Because it gets harder to write if you’re bored to death.

      Curated posts are like “shortcuts” where you can tap into the wealth of knowledge of these people.

      Your readers will thank you for the curated posts because you’re making it so easy for them to have it all at one place. The next time they are after an interesting read but don’t want to do the Googling, guess where they’ll go? :-)

      So definitely bring them in the mix.

      I love Dean’s Psyblog where he publishes about new research in psychology in simple, layman terms. Not exactly a curated blog, but it’s similar because he dedicates each post to a recent finding by other experts in the industry and writes it in a clear (non-academic) manner for the “average” reader.

      Hope this helps! Do fill us in on how you go with the first curated post.

      Pooja

  29. Readers should be selfish. Why should they waste their time on websites that don’t give them what they need? I’m a selfish reader. I’m sure any blogger will admit that they only follow other blogs that they deem valuable and insightful, or at the very least entertaining to them. No one should give a resource their time of day if they don’t think the content is worthwhile.

    As a blogger, I do feel the need to make my blog into the most valuable resource possible, and in order to do that, these massive value content posts are enormously important. If there’s always something better on some other website, what’s the point in even publishing my own redundant content? But if you try to make every post the very best you can possibly make it, sharing as much information as you can on the topic at hand, you make yourself much more appealing.

    So yes, this article makes perfect sense. Massive value content helps attract readers, and simultaneously also helps to make the internet a more useful and informative place.

  30. Technical Script says: 09/06/2017 at 12:50 am

    Great information Pooja, worth great value to use, thank you for taking your time to put it all together and sharing with us.

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