{"id":37089,"date":"2020-06-18T16:38:10","date_gmt":"2020-06-18T21:38:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/?p=37089"},"modified":"2025-02-04T06:48:54","modified_gmt":"2025-02-04T11:48:54","slug":"blog-post-templates","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/blog-post-templates\/","title":{"rendered":"6 Simple Blog Post Templates (Download &amp; Edit&nbsp;Along)"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"intro-txt\">If writer\u2019s block has gotten the better of you and you\u2019re sick of staring at a blank page, blog post templates might be the solution.<\/div>\n<p>Every blog post is different, but most aren\u2019t <em>that<\/em>&nbsp;different.<\/p>\n<p>Think about the blog posts you\u2019ve read. Chances are they weren\u2019t a million miles apart in terms of format. You probably just didn\u2019t pay much attention because you were focused on the content.<\/p>\n<p>For bloggers, this is good news. It means that no matter what you\u2019re writing about, templates can make life easier.<\/p>\n<p>In this post, we\u2019ll cover four blog post templates to help you <a href=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/how-to-write-great-content\/\">write great content<\/a> faster, and when to use&nbsp;them.<\/p>\n<div class=\"intro-tok\" id=\"intro_tok\" style=\"display:none;\"><div class=\"intro-title\">Contents<\/div><a href=\"#\" class=\"expand-dots\"><span><\/span><span><\/span><span><\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"post-nav-link clearfix\" id=\"section1\"><a class=\"subhead-anchor\" data-tip=\"tooltip__copielink\" rel=\"#section1\"><svg width=\"19\" height=\"19\" viewBox=\"0 0 14 14\" style><g fill=\"none\" fill-rule=\"evenodd\"><path d=\"M0 0h14v14H0z\" \/><path d=\"M7.45 9.887l-1.62 1.621c-.92.92-2.418.92-3.338 0a2.364 2.364 0 0 1 0-3.339l1.62-1.62-1.273-1.272-1.62 1.62a4.161 4.161 0 1 0 5.885 5.884l1.62-1.62L7.45 9.886zM5.527 5.135L7.17 3.492c.92-.92 2.418-.92 3.339 0 .92.92.92 2.418 0 3.339L8.866 8.473l1.272 1.273 1.644-1.643A4.161 4.161 0 1 0 5.897 2.22L4.254 3.863l1.272 1.272zm-.66 3.998a.749.749 0 0 1 0-1.06l2.208-2.206a.749.749 0 1 1 1.06 1.06L5.928 9.133a.75.75 0 0 1-1.061 0z\" style \/><\/g><\/svg><\/a><div class=\"link-text\" data-anchor=\"1. The List Post Blog Template\" data-section=\"list-template\">\n<h2>1. The List Post Blog Template<\/h2>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<p>List posts, also known as <a href=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/listicle\/\">listicles<\/a>, are lists of tips, tools, techniques, myths, mistakes\u2014anything that makes sense as a&nbsp;list.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"900\" height=\"1587\" class=\"wp-image-37085\" src=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/the-list-post.png\" alt=\"the list post\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/the-list-post.png 900w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/the-list-post-241x425.png 241w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/the-list-post-768x1354.png 768w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/the-list-post-871x1536.png 871w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 900px) 100vw, 900px\"><\/p>\n<h3>Examples<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/blogging-tips\/\">23 Blogging Tips for Beginners&nbsp;<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/increase-blog-traffic\/\">13 Proven Tactics to Increase Your Blog Traffic<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/blog-post-ideas\/\">86 Blog Post Ideas (With Successful Examples)<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/\" data-ahr=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/seo-blogs\/\">29 Awesome SEO Blogs to Follow (Graded and Ranked)<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/google-ranking-factors\/\">10 Google Ranking Factors You Shouldn\u2019t Ignore<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>Grab the free blog post template<\/h3>\n<p class=\"whitespace-pre-wrap break-words\"><a href=\"https:\/\/docs.google.com\/document\/d\/1wm1ahgEwBemymMd0tMmTIaG4CMLMqUnkgmiBfyFLGek\/copy?usp=sharing\">Download our free blog outline<\/a> for Google Docs or Word. It\u2019s got a step-by-step guide plus bonus advice for helping you write a list post that actually stands out.<\/p>\n<h3>What kind of content is this template best&nbsp;for?<\/h3>\n<p>List posts are best for non-chronological information. In other words, anything that doesn\u2019t need to be in a specific order.<\/p>\n<p>For example, take a look at our list of ways to find someone\u2019s email address:<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1600\" height=\"1287\" class=\"wp-image-37068\" src=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/1-find-email-address-title.png\" alt=\"1 find email address title\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/1-find-email-address-title.png 1600w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/1-find-email-address-title-528x425.png 528w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/1-find-email-address-title-768x618.png 768w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/1-find-email-address-title-1536x1236.png 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px\"><\/p>\n<p>You could rearrange any of these items on the list and the post would still make sense. If that\u2019s not the case for what you want to share, then this isn\u2019t the right template to&nbsp;use.<\/p>\n<h3>How to use this template<\/h3>\n<p>Follow the steps&nbsp;below.<\/p>\n<h4>a. Create a numbered title<\/h4>\n<p>Use one of these templates and fill in the blanks.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>XX Ways to [Desired Outcome]<\/li>\n<li>XX [Topic] Tips<\/li>\n<li>XX [Type] Tools<\/li>\n<li>XX Reasons Why [Problem]<\/li>\n<li>XX [Topic] Techniques<\/li>\n<li>XX [Products] For [Audience]<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Just make sure it\u2019s readable and aligns with the content that you\u2019ll be sharing in your blog post. If your post is about weight loss tips, don\u2019t call it \u201c13 Reasons Why You\u2019re Not Losing Weight.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Beyond that, feel free to make your title more compelling by adding a benefit or including relevant <a href=\"https:\/\/sumo.com\/stories\/power-words\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">power words<\/a>. For example:<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>10 Ways to Get More YouTube Views<br>\n\u2192<br>\n10 Easy Ways to Get More YouTube Views (Even If You Have Zero Subscribers)<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>If you\u2019re struggling, look to the titles of the top-ranking pages for inspiration.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Recommended reading:<\/strong>&nbsp;<em><a href=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/title-tag-seo\/\">How to Craft the Perfect SEO Title Tag (Our 4\u2011Step Process)<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n<h4>b. Write a short&nbsp;intro<\/h4>\n<p>Most people skim list posts. That\u2019s the beauty of this format; it\u2019s non-chronological. If one of the tips on the list doesn\u2019t appeal, the reader can keep scrolling until they see one that piques their interest.<\/p>\n<p>For that reason, there\u2019s no point in writing a long introduction. You just want to do two things:<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>Establish trust in as few words as possible.<\/li>\n<li>Include a linked table of contents.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>Here\u2019s a good example of establishing trust from our&nbsp;blog:<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1128\" height=\"596\" class=\"wp-image-37076\" src=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/2-intro-establish-trust.png\" alt=\"2 intro establish trust\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/2-intro-establish-trust.png 1128w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/2-intro-establish-trust-680x359.png 680w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/2-intro-establish-trust-768x406.png 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1128px) 100vw, 1128px\"><\/p>\n<p>Adding jump links below this just makes life easier for the reader. They don\u2019t have to scroll through the entire list to understand what they\u2019ll learn. They can just skim the contents and jump straight to the tip that interests them.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"904\" height=\"750\" class=\"wp-image-37081\" src=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/3-jump-links-toc.png\" alt=\"3 jump links toc\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/3-jump-links-toc.png 904w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/3-jump-links-toc-512x425.png 512w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/3-jump-links-toc-768x637.png 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 904px) 100vw, 904px\"><\/p>\n<p>Learn how to add jump links in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wpbeginner.com\/beginners-guide\/how-to-easily-add-anchor-links-in-wordpress-step-by-step\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">this post<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h4>c. Use subheadings for list&nbsp;items<\/h4>\n<p>Every list item needs a subheading. Use the &lt;h2&gt; heading level for each&nbsp;one.<\/p>\n<p>Usually, these will be numbered, but they don\u2019t have to&nbsp;be.<\/p>\n<p>For instance, in our list of <a href=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/google-ranking-factors\/\">Google ranking factors<\/a>, we chose not to use numbers because all the points are of equal importance.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1600\" height=\"1063\" class=\"wp-image-37069\" src=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/4-list-with-no-numbers.png\" alt=\"4 list with no numbers\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/4-list-with-no-numbers.png 1600w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/4-list-with-no-numbers-640x425.png 640w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/4-list-with-no-numbers-768x510.png 768w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/4-list-with-no-numbers-1536x1020.png 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px\"><\/p>\n<p>Just make sure the subheadings are descriptive and benefit-focused where possible. This will entice folks to read each point. For example, in a list of weight loss tips, \u201c5. Eat spicy foods to boost your body\u2019s calorie-burning abilities\u201d is probably better than simply \u201c5. Eat spicy&nbsp;foods.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>If you\u2019re not sure what points to include on your list, skim the subheadings in other top-ranking posts for inspiration.<\/p>\n<p>You can use the&nbsp;on-page report in <a href=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/seo-toolbar\">Ahrefs\u2019 SEO toolbar<\/a>&nbsp;to see these at a glance.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1600\" height=\"1291\" class=\"wp-image-37071\" src=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/5-ahrefs-seo-toolbar-on-page-report.jpg\" alt=\"5 ahrefs seo toolbar on page report\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/5-ahrefs-seo-toolbar-on-page-report.jpg 1600w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/5-ahrefs-seo-toolbar-on-page-report-527x425.jpg 527w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/5-ahrefs-seo-toolbar-on-page-report-768x620.jpg 768w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/5-ahrefs-seo-toolbar-on-page-report-1536x1239.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"sidenote\"><div class=\"sidenote-title\">Sidenote.<\/div> The on-page SEO report is a free feature. You can use it even if you\u2019re not an Ahrefs customer.&nbsp;<\/div>\n<h4>d. Conclude with a final&nbsp;tip<\/h4>\n<p>Every blog post deserves a conclusion. There are lots of ways to do this, but one approach that works well for list posts is to give one or two final&nbsp;tips.<\/p>\n<p>Here\u2019s an example from <a href=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/how-to-get-more-views-on-youtube\/\">our list of ways to get more views on YouTube<\/a>:<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1360\" height=\"704\" class=\"wp-image-37088\" src=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/6-conclusion-list-post-tips.png\" alt=\"6 conclusion list post tips\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/6-conclusion-list-post-tips.png 1360w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/6-conclusion-list-post-tips-680x352.png 680w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/6-conclusion-list-post-tips-768x398.png 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1360px) 100vw, 1360px\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"post-nav-link clearfix\" id=\"section1\"><a class=\"subhead-anchor\" data-tip=\"tooltip__copielink\" rel=\"#section1\"><svg width=\"19\" height=\"19\" viewBox=\"0 0 14 14\" style><g fill=\"none\" fill-rule=\"evenodd\"><path d=\"M0 0h14v14H0z\" \/><path d=\"M7.45 9.887l-1.62 1.621c-.92.92-2.418.92-3.338 0a2.364 2.364 0 0 1 0-3.339l1.62-1.62-1.273-1.272-1.62 1.62a4.161 4.161 0 1 0 5.885 5.884l1.62-1.62L7.45 9.886zM5.527 5.135L7.17 3.492c.92-.92 2.418-.92 3.339 0 .92.92.92 2.418 0 3.339L8.866 8.473l1.272 1.273 1.644-1.643A4.161 4.161 0 1 0 5.897 2.22L4.254 3.863l1.272 1.272zm-.66 3.998a.749.749 0 0 1 0-1.06l2.208-2.206a.749.749 0 1 1 1.06 1.06L5.928 9.133a.75.75 0 0 1-1.061 0z\" style \/><\/g><\/svg><\/a><div class=\"link-text\" data-anchor=\"2. The Competitor Comparison + Your Brand Blog Template\" data-section=\"comparison-template\">\n<h2>2. The \u201cCompetitor Comparison + Your Brand\u201d Blog Template<\/h2>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Competitor comparison posts pit two similar products or services against each other, weighing up the relative pros and&nbsp;cons.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You\u2019ll have come across them in the process of buying something online \u2013 unless you\u2019re that rare breed who hands over their money to the first brand they find on Amazon, and waits to see what arrives in the post (if so, you are braver than&nbsp;I!)<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Given that they\u2019re bottom of the funnel, competitor comparison keywords have incredibly strong conversion potential\u2026<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-179472\" src=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/High-CPCs-for-competitor-comparison-keywords-in-Ahrefs-Keywords-Explorer.png\" alt=\"High CPCs for competitor comparison keywords in Ahrefs Keywords Explorer\" width=\"712\" height=\"654\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/High-CPCs-for-competitor-comparison-keywords-in-Ahrefs-Keywords-Explorer.png 712w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/High-CPCs-for-competitor-comparison-keywords-in-Ahrefs-Keywords-Explorer-463x425.png 463w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 712px) 100vw, 712px\"><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">That\u2019s why you shouldn\u2019t just stop at creating comparison posts for \u201cyour brand vs competitor\u201d keywords.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Jump on \u201ccompetitor vs competitor\u201d or \u201cpartner vs partner\u201d keywords, and insert your brand into new periphery conversations.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Here are some brands who\u2019ve done that&nbsp;well:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/clickup.com\/blog\/notion-vs-onenote\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Notion Vs. OneNote: A Note-Taking App Comparison<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pandadoc.com\/blog\/hellosign-vs-docusign\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Dropbox Sign (Formerly HelloSign) vs DocuSign: Which is best in&nbsp;2024?<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/zapier.com\/blog\/trello-vs-asana\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Trello vs. Asana: Which PM tool is better? [2024]<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>Grab this free blog template<\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/docs.google.com\/document\/d\/186nQzUpbeWGKrShVrFrV7jyASuk1jT7GpjcMp8Beh7Q\/copy?usp=sharing\">Get the \u201cCompetitor comparison + your brand\u201d template<\/a> for your&nbsp;blog.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This is a free blog post template for Google Docs\/Word that includes a \u201cwrite with me\u201d style outline, plus additional tips you won\u2019t see&nbsp;below.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-179467\" src=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/Competitor-Comparison-Blog-Post-Template.png\" alt=\"Competitor Comparison Blog Post Template from Ahrefs\" width=\"1201\" height=\"796\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/Competitor-Comparison-Blog-Post-Template.png 1201w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/Competitor-Comparison-Blog-Post-Template-641x425.png 641w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/Competitor-Comparison-Blog-Post-Template-768x509.png 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1201px) 100vw, 1201px\"><\/p>\n<h3>What kind of content is this template best&nbsp;for?<\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you\u2019re writing about products or services that often get compared by potential buyers, this template is ideal. It works well&nbsp;for:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Software comparisons (e.g., <a href=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/seo-project-management\/\">project management<\/a> tools, SEO platforms)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Consumer product face-offs (e.g., smartphone models, streaming services)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Service provider evaluations (e.g., hosting companies, online course platforms)<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>How to use this blog template<\/h3>\n<h4>a. Create a \u201cCompetitor 1 vs Competitor 2\u201d&nbsp;title<\/h4>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Use one of these formats:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Choosing Between Competitor 1 and Competitor 2? Read This&nbsp;First<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Competitor 1 vs Competitor 2: Which One Is Better?<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Competitor 1 vs Competitor 2: The Ultimate Comparison (Current Year)<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h4>b. Write an unbiased intro<\/h4>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Briefly introduce both competitors and explain why readers might be comparing them. Don\u2019t show bias towards either brand at this&nbsp;stage.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The intro is also a chance to mention your brand, and plant the seed of it being a worthy add-on or alternative.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Round off by telling readers what they\u2019ll get out of the post \u2013 focus on the benefits rather than the details. Your contents block is coming up next anyway, so they\u2019ll get a preview of what\u2019s in&nbsp;store.<\/span><\/p>\n<h4>c. Use subheadings for key comparisons<\/h4>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Break down your comparison into categories, using subheadings like:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Feature comparison<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Pricing<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">User experience<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Customer support<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Use cases<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h4>d. Create comparison tables<\/h4>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Readers will often scroll straight to table comparisons when they\u2019re scanning these kinds of articles.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Make sure yours offers a clear visual comparison of features, pricing tiers, and anything else you can quantify.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Depending on how subtle vs. salesy you want to be, you can also add in your brand as a third option here.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-179468\" src=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/Comparison-tables.png\" alt=\"An example of a comparison table in a competitor comparison blog format from zapier\" width=\"1866\" height=\"713\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/Comparison-tables.png 1866w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/Comparison-tables-680x260.png 680w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/Comparison-tables-768x293.png 768w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/Comparison-tables-1536x587.png 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1866px) 100vw, 1866px\"><\/p>\n<h4>e. Highlight the key differences<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/h4>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Help readers understand each competitors\u2019 USPs and key differences. Why do customers choose competitor 1 over competitor 2 and vice&nbsp;versa?<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Is there a key thing both competitors are missing?&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This is a nice set up for a callback later on in the article, if you want to show how your brand solves that problem.<\/span><\/p>\n<h4>f. Compare features<\/h4>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If the reader is ever going to consider your brand, you want to gain their&nbsp;trust.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">That\u2019s why it\u2019s important at this stage that you give a fair and realistic assessment of each competitor.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Use a consistent structure, such&nbsp;as:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Competitor 1: Description of feature\/aspect<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Competitor 2: Description of feature\/aspect<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Our take: Brief, balanced analysis<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This is a great time to weave in customer reviews and your own personal experiences.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Drop in rich media like screenshots, videos, or social media embeds to add credibility and real-world context.<\/span><\/p>\n<h4>g. Wrap up with recommendations and drop in your&nbsp;brand<\/h4>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">To wrap up, give the reader clear guidelines on when to choose competitor 1 vs competitor 2 based on different user needs or scenarios \u2013 then offer your product as an alternative.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Keep your brand insertion subtle and short, giving more word count to the main two competitors.<\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"post-nav-link clearfix\" id=\"section1\"><a class=\"subhead-anchor\" data-tip=\"tooltip__copielink\" rel=\"#section1\"><svg width=\"19\" height=\"19\" viewBox=\"0 0 14 14\" style><g fill=\"none\" fill-rule=\"evenodd\"><path d=\"M0 0h14v14H0z\" \/><path d=\"M7.45 9.887l-1.62 1.621c-.92.92-2.418.92-3.338 0a2.364 2.364 0 0 1 0-3.339l1.62-1.62-1.273-1.272-1.62 1.62a4.161 4.161 0 1 0 5.885 5.884l1.62-1.62L7.45 9.886zM5.527 5.135L7.17 3.492c.92-.92 2.418-.92 3.339 0 .92.92.92 2.418 0 3.339L8.866 8.473l1.272 1.273 1.644-1.643A4.161 4.161 0 1 0 5.897 2.22L4.254 3.863l1.272 1.272zm-.66 3.998a.749.749 0 0 1 0-1.06l2.208-2.206a.749.749 0 1 1 1.06 1.06L5.928 9.133a.75.75 0 0 1-1.061 0z\" style \/><\/g><\/svg><\/a><div class=\"link-text\" data-anchor=\"3. The Step-By-Step Guide Blog Post Template\" data-section=\"step-template\">\n<h2>3. The \u201cStep-By-Step Guide\u201d Blog Post Template<\/h2>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<p>A step-by-step guide runs through a series of chronological steps to achieve an end&nbsp;goal.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"830\" height=\"1600\" class=\"wp-image-37078\" src=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/step-by-step-guide.png\" alt=\"step by step guide\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/step-by-step-guide.png 830w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/step-by-step-guide-220x425.png 220w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/step-by-step-guide-768x1480.png 768w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/step-by-step-guide-797x1536.png 797w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 830px) 100vw, 830px\"><\/p>\n<h3>Examples<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/how-to-get-on-the-first-page-of-google\/\">How to Get on the First Page of Google [Interactive Guide]<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/seo-expert\/\">How to Become an SEO Expert (8&nbsp;Steps)<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/youtube-keyword-research\/\">How to Do YouTube Keyword Research in 3 Easy&nbsp;Steps<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/how-to-write-a-blog-post\/\">How to Write a Blog Post in 9 Steps (That People Actually Want to&nbsp;Read)<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/seo-friendly-urls\/\">How to Create SEO-Friendly URLs (Step-by-Step)<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>Grab the blog template &amp; start writing<\/h3>\n<p>Get all of the tips in this blog in a Google\/Word doc, so you can see what to include in your next step-by-step guide, as you\u2019re writing it.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/docs.google.com\/document\/d\/1bM5ul39x5h9OVjBmFT6ZM17ZqLaqtCgYLEhPjXaIxC0\/copy?usp=sharing\">Grab the free blog template here.<\/a><\/p>\n<h3>What kind of content is this template best&nbsp;for?<\/h3>\n<p>If you\u2019re teaching people how to do something, and that process needs to be done in a specific order, then a step-by-step guide is the solution.<\/p>\n<p>For example, take a look at our guide to writing a blog&nbsp;post:<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1600\" height=\"832\" class=\"wp-image-37077\" src=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/7-step-by-step-guide.png\" alt=\"7 step by step guide\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/7-step-by-step-guide.png 1600w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/7-step-by-step-guide-680x354.png 680w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/7-step-by-step-guide-768x399.png 768w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/7-step-by-step-guide-1536x799.png 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px\"><\/p>\n<p>Each of these steps has to be done in order. You wouldn\u2019t write a draft before you write an outline, and you wouldn\u2019t write an outline before choosing a topic. That\u2019s the key difference between step-by-step guides and list&nbsp;posts.<\/p>\n<h3>How to use this template<\/h3>\n<p>Follow these&nbsp;steps.<\/p>\n<h4>a. Create a \u201chow-to\u201d title<\/h4>\n<p>Every step-by-step guide has roughly the same title format: How to [Achieve Desired Outcome]&nbsp;<\/p><p>However, it doesn\u2019t have to be that boring. There are variations.<\/p>\n<p>Here are just a&nbsp;few:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>How to [Achieve Desired Outcome] (XX&nbsp;Steps)<\/li>\n<li>How to [Achieve Desired Outcome] (Even If [Common Obstruction])<\/li>\n<li>How to [Achieve Desired Outcome] (Additional Benefit)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h4>b. Write a short trustworthy intro (PSP Formula)<\/h4>\n<p>If you\u2019re teaching people how to do something, they\u2019ll want to know why they should trust you. There are lots of ways to do this, but one we often use is the PSP formula.<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li><strong>Problem<\/strong>: Show that you understand the issue at&nbsp;hand.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Solution<\/strong>: Present the solution\u2014briefly.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Proof<\/strong>: Demonstrate your experience and success in solving the problem.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>Here\u2019s an example of the PSP formula in action:<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"900\" height=\"742\" class=\"wp-image-37087\" src=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/psp-formula.png\" alt=\"psp formula\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/psp-formula.png 900w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/psp-formula-515x425.png 515w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/psp-formula-768x633.png 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 900px) 100vw, 900px\"><\/p>\n<h4>c. Use numbered steps for subheadings<\/h4>\n<p>Use H2s to break the process down into steps. Then explain that part of the process in more detail under each subheading.<\/p>\n<p>For example, here are the H2\u2019s from <a href=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/youtube-keyword-research\/\">our guide to YouTube keyword research<\/a>:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Step 1: Find keywords that perform okay, but not&nbsp;great<\/li>\n<li>Step 2. Choose a keyword that you want to rank higher for<\/li>\n<li>Step 3. Figure out why you\u2019re being outranked<\/li>\n<li>Step 4. Beat the other pages where it matters<\/li>\n<li>Step 5. Track rankings<\/li>\n<li>Step 6. Rinse and repeat for other keywords<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Where possible, start each step with a present tense&nbsp;verb.<\/p>\n<h4>d. Conclude with a quick summary<\/h4>\n<p>Don\u2019t overthink this. Just summarize the process you taught people in the&nbsp;post.<\/p>\n<div class=\"post-nav-link clearfix\" id=\"section1\"><a class=\"subhead-anchor\" data-tip=\"tooltip__copielink\" rel=\"#section1\"><svg width=\"19\" height=\"19\" viewBox=\"0 0 14 14\" style><g fill=\"none\" fill-rule=\"evenodd\"><path d=\"M0 0h14v14H0z\" \/><path d=\"M7.45 9.887l-1.62 1.621c-.92.92-2.418.92-3.338 0a2.364 2.364 0 0 1 0-3.339l1.62-1.62-1.273-1.272-1.62 1.62a4.161 4.161 0 1 0 5.885 5.884l1.62-1.62L7.45 9.886zM5.527 5.135L7.17 3.492c.92-.92 2.418-.92 3.339 0 .92.92.92 2.418 0 3.339L8.866 8.473l1.272 1.273 1.644-1.643A4.161 4.161 0 1 0 5.897 2.22L4.254 3.863l1.272 1.272zm-.66 3.998a.749.749 0 0 1 0-1.06l2.208-2.206a.749.749 0 1 1 1.06 1.06L5.928 9.133a.75.75 0 0 1-1.061 0z\" style \/><\/g><\/svg><\/a><div class=\"link-text\" data-anchor=\"4. The Contrarian Thought Leadership Blog Format\" data-section=\"thought-leadership-template\">\n<h2>4. The \u201cContrarian Thought Leadership\u201d Blog Format<\/h2>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Contrarian thought leadership posts challenge conventional wisdom in the industry, with fresh perspectives on familiar topics.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">They\u2019re designed to make people think, talk, share and\u2014by proxy\u2014can help you position yourself as an innovator.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">With this kind of blog post template, it\u2019s important to strike a balance between being provocative and credible. Don\u2019t just say something left-field, or even inflammatory, for the sake of engagement.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Make sure you have useful information to share, and base your arguments on solid evidence and reasoning.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Examples:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/ai-content-is-short-term-arbitrage\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">AI Content Is Short-Term Arbitrage, Not Long-Term Strategy<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/accurate-search-volume\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There\u2019s No Such Thing as \u201cAccurate\u201d Search Volume<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/sparktoro.com\/blog\/provable-marketing-attribution-is-a-boondoggle-trust-your-gut-instead\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Provable Marketing Attribution is a Boondoggle; Trust Your Gut Instead<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>Grab your free template<\/h3>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/docs.google.com\/document\/d\/1UFBggvV_1eN3kwho9M2ehIPQWIbfvuWyr_SLNr1_tcc\/copy?usp=sharing\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Get the \u201cContrarian thought leadership\u201d template for your&nbsp;blog.<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The template includes additional sections that I haven\u2019t included below, for the sake of brevity.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You can and should add these in to reaffirm your position as a thought leader.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-179469\" src=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/Contrarian-Though-Leader-Blog-Template.png\" alt=\"A google docs\/word blog post template from Ahrefs for thought leadership blogs\" width=\"1152\" height=\"798\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/Contrarian-Though-Leader-Blog-Template.png 1152w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/Contrarian-Though-Leader-Blog-Template-614x425.png 614w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/Contrarian-Though-Leader-Blog-Template-768x532.png 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1152px) 100vw, 1152px\"><\/p>\n<h3>What kind of content is this blog template for?<\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This blog post template works well when you have a unique, well-reasoned perspective that goes against the grain of common industry beliefs. It\u2019s ideal&nbsp;for:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Challenging widely accepted practices<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Proposing innovative solutions to recurring problems<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Predicting industry trends that others haven\u2019t recognized yet<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>How to use this blog post template<\/h3>\n<h4>a. Come up with a provocative title<\/h4>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Your title should immediately signal that you\u2019re challenging the status quo.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Use a provocative, contrarian, or surprising statement and try to include non-typical language to really grab the reader\u2019s attention:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Why [Common Practice] Is Totally Illogical (And What to Do Instead)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When It Comes to [Topic], Just Take The \u201cL\u201d&nbsp;<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Forget [Common Advice]: Here\u2019s What Really Matters in [Industry]<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br>\n<\/span><\/p>\n<h4>b. Reel them in with a&nbsp;hook<\/h4>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Kick things off by acknowledging the common belief you\u2019re challenging. Then, confidently state your contrarian view.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-179470 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/SparkToro-thought-leadership-blog-template.png\" alt=\"An example from SparkToro of a hook in a thought leadership blog \" width=\"1353\" height=\"714\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/SparkToro-thought-leadership-blog-template.png 1353w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/SparkToro-thought-leadership-blog-template-680x359.png 680w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/SparkToro-thought-leadership-blog-template-768x405.png 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1353px) 100vw, 1353px\"><\/p>\n<h4>c. The set&nbsp;up<\/h4>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Outline the current state of things and describe the prevailing wisdom in your industry.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This is one of the few times where you can use industry jargon or familiar phrases \u2013 i<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">t\u2019s a good way to create a shared experience and platform your expertise.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You can also give quick examples of how things are typically done in the industry.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-179471\" src=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/Ed-Zitron-thought-leadership-blog.jpg\" alt=\"An example of Ed Zitron &quot;Setting up&quot; the industry status quo in article\" width=\"1387\" height=\"945\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/Ed-Zitron-thought-leadership-blog.jpg 1387w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/Ed-Zitron-thought-leadership-blog-624x425.jpg 624w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/Ed-Zitron-thought-leadership-blog-768x523.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1387px) 100vw, 1387px\"><\/p>\n<h4>d. State the unequivocal problem<\/h4>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Move on to explaining why the current approach to X is flawed. It\u2019s good practice to include a mix of logical arguments, data, and real-world examples to make your&nbsp;case.<\/span><\/p>\n<h4>e. Dangle the carrot and provide the&nbsp;proof<\/h4>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Present your contrarian view as a solution to the problems you\u2019ve mentioned, then explain why it works, despite maybe seeming counterintuitive. Make sure you b<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">ack up your argument with data, case studies, or expert opinions.<\/span><\/p>\n<h4>f. Get the jump on objections<\/h4>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You want to anticipate potential criticisms of your approach and address them directly. This will show that you\u2019ve clearly thought through your position on things.<\/span><\/p>\n<h4>g. Drive your point home in the conclusion<\/h4>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Wrap up by summarizing your central argument, and encourage readers to question their assumptions by experimenting with your approach. You can even invite them to take the discussion over to social media.<\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"post-nav-link clearfix\" id=\"section1\"><a class=\"subhead-anchor\" data-tip=\"tooltip__copielink\" rel=\"#section1\"><svg width=\"19\" height=\"19\" viewBox=\"0 0 14 14\" style><g fill=\"none\" fill-rule=\"evenodd\"><path d=\"M0 0h14v14H0z\" \/><path d=\"M7.45 9.887l-1.62 1.621c-.92.92-2.418.92-3.338 0a2.364 2.364 0 0 1 0-3.339l1.62-1.62-1.273-1.272-1.62 1.62a4.161 4.161 0 1 0 5.885 5.884l1.62-1.62L7.45 9.886zM5.527 5.135L7.17 3.492c.92-.92 2.418-.92 3.339 0 .92.92.92 2.418 0 3.339L8.866 8.473l1.272 1.273 1.644-1.643A4.161 4.161 0 1 0 5.897 2.22L4.254 3.863l1.272 1.272zm-.66 3.998a.749.749 0 0 1 0-1.06l2.208-2.206a.749.749 0 1 1 1.06 1.06L5.928 9.133a.75.75 0 0 1-1.061 0z\" style \/><\/g><\/svg><\/a><div class=\"link-text\" data-anchor=\"5. The Expanded Definition Blog Post Template\" data-section=\"expanded-definition-template\">\n<h2>5. The \u201cExpanded Definition\u201d Blog Post Template<\/h2>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<p>Expanded definitions explain the meaning of a thing or concept, before going into more detail about&nbsp;it.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-37095\" src=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/the-expanded-definition.png\" alt width=\"900\" height=\"1851\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/the-expanded-definition.png 900w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/the-expanded-definition-207x425.png 207w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/the-expanded-definition-768x1580.png 768w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/the-expanded-definition-747x1536.png 747w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 900px) 100vw, 900px\"><\/p>\n<h3>Examples<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/what-is-https\/\">What is HTTPS? Everything You Need to&nbsp;Know<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/serps\/\">What are SERPs? Search Engine Results Pages Explained<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/what-are-backlinks\/\">What is a Backlink? How to Get More Backlinks<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/what-is-seo\/\">What is SEO? Search Engine Optimization Explained<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>Download your free blog post template<\/h3>\n<p>Get the <a href=\"https:\/\/docs.google.com\/document\/d\/1VY9EQjj4nHkCBAwztynbenPTKCVnJdZpZMfB6dl0xwY\/copy?usp=sharing\">\u201cExpanded definition\u201d blog post format here<\/a>, so you can write along as you read the tips in this article.<\/p>\n<h3>What kind of content is this template best&nbsp;for?<\/h3>\n<p>If readers will find it hard to follow the ins and outs of your post without first understanding a thing or concept, then this is probably the best format.<\/p>\n<p>For example, take <a href=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/serps\/\">our post about SERPs<\/a>. It goes into detail about why SERPs are important, how to get in the SERPs, and SERP features. However, because SERP is an acronym, most readers will be completely lost unless we first define that term. So we did that in the first sentence:<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1600\" height=\"1117\" class=\"wp-image-37079\" src=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/9-what-are-serps-post.png\" alt=\"9 what are serps post\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/9-what-are-serps-post.png 1600w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/9-what-are-serps-post-609x425.png 609w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/9-what-are-serps-post-768x536.png 768w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/9-what-are-serps-post-1536x1072.png 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px\"><\/p>\n<h3>How to use this template<\/h3>\n<p>Follow these four&nbsp;steps.<\/p>\n<h4>a. Start your title with \u201cwhat\u201d<\/h4>\n<p>Use the \u201cwhat is\u201d or \u201cwhat are\u201d format for your&nbsp;title.<\/p>\n<p>Feel free to add context and make your title less dull with one of these formats:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>What is [Concept]? Everything You Need to&nbsp;Know<\/li>\n<li>What is [Acronym]? [Expanded Acronym] Explained<\/li>\n<li>What is [Concept]? A [Brief\/Quick\/Detailed] Introduction<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h4>b. Define the term in the&nbsp;intro<\/h4>\n<p>Don\u2019t beat around the bush with a long introduction. Start with the definition.<\/p>\n<p>If possible, try to include the bolded words that Google shows in the featured snippet for \u201cwhat is [concept?]\u201d.<\/p>\n<p>For example, take a look at the featured snippet for \u201cwhat is guest blogging\u201d:<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1600\" height=\"744\" class=\"wp-image-37073\" src=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/10-guest-posting-snippet.png\" alt=\"10 guest posting snippet\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/10-guest-posting-snippet.png 1600w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/10-guest-posting-snippet-680x316.png 680w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/10-guest-posting-snippet-768x357.png 768w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/10-guest-posting-snippet-1536x714.png 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px\"><\/p>\n<p>If we were writing an expanded definition post about this topic, we\u2019d want to include \u201cpost\u201d and \u201cguest posting\u201d in our definition because they\u2019re bolded in the current snippet. Just don\u2019t force these if it feels unnatural. Your priority is to write a good definition above all&nbsp;else.<\/p>\n<p>Doing this may help us to win the snippet, <a href=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/how-to-rank-higher-on-google\/\">rank higher<\/a>, and get more traffic.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Recommended reading:<\/strong>&nbsp;<em><a href=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/featured-snippets\/\" data-ahr=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/find-featured-snippets\/\">How to Optimize for Google\u2019s Featured Snippets<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n<h4>c. Answer follow-up questions<\/h4>\n<p>Definitions are no longer than a few sentences. For the rest of the article, you should answer the follow-up questions that readers might have after learning the definition.<\/p>\n<p>You can find some of these in the <a href=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/serps\/#people-also-ask\">People Also Ask (PAA)<\/a>&nbsp;box in Google.<\/p>\n<p>For example, look at the PAA box for \u201cwhat is&nbsp;https\u201d:<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1600\" height=\"1067\" class=\"wp-image-37072\" src=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/11-people-also-ask.png\" alt=\"11 people also ask\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/11-people-also-ask.png 1600w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/11-people-also-ask-637x425.png 637w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/11-people-also-ask-768x512.png 768w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/11-people-also-ask-1536x1024.png 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px\"><\/p>\n<p>People want to know the purpose of HTTPS and the difference between HTTPS and HTTP. If you were writing a post about this topic, it would probably make sense to use the expanded definition format. You\u2019d give the definition, then answer these questions under H2 subheadings.<\/p>\n<p>This is precisely what we did in <a href=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/what-is-https\/\">our blog post about HTTPS<\/a>:<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1600\" height=\"1310\" class=\"wp-image-37080\" src=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/12-https-definition.jpg\" alt=\"12 https definition\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/12-https-definition.jpg 1600w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/12-https-definition-519x425.jpg 519w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/12-https-definition-768x629.jpg 768w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/12-https-definition-1536x1258.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px\"><\/p>\n<p>You can find more questions that people are asking about the topic with Ahrefs\u2019 <a href=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/keyword-generator\">free Keyword Generator<\/a>. Just type in the topic (e.g., \u201cHTTPS\u201d), hit search, then go to the <strong>Questions<\/strong>&nbsp;tab. This shows up to 50 questions containing your search term sorted by their monthly search volumes.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1600\" height=\"714\" class=\"wp-image-37074\" src=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/13-keyword-ideas-https.png\" alt=\"13 keyword ideas https\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/13-keyword-ideas-https.png 1600w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/13-keyword-ideas-https-680x303.png 680w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/13-keyword-ideas-https-768x343.png 768w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/13-keyword-ideas-https-1536x685.png 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px\"><\/p>\n<h4>d. Conclude with a short summary<\/h4>\n<p>No need to overthink this. Just summarize the key learnings from the post, link to further resources on the topic, and you\u2019re done.<\/p>\n<div class=\"post-nav-link clearfix\" id=\"section1\"><a class=\"subhead-anchor\" data-tip=\"tooltip__copielink\" rel=\"#section1\"><svg width=\"19\" height=\"19\" viewBox=\"0 0 14 14\" style><g fill=\"none\" fill-rule=\"evenodd\"><path d=\"M0 0h14v14H0z\" \/><path d=\"M7.45 9.887l-1.62 1.621c-.92.92-2.418.92-3.338 0a2.364 2.364 0 0 1 0-3.339l1.62-1.62-1.273-1.272-1.62 1.62a4.161 4.161 0 1 0 5.885 5.884l1.62-1.62L7.45 9.886zM5.527 5.135L7.17 3.492c.92-.92 2.418-.92 3.339 0 .92.92.92 2.418 0 3.339L8.866 8.473l1.272 1.273 1.644-1.643A4.161 4.161 0 1 0 5.897 2.22L4.254 3.863l1.272 1.272zm-.66 3.998a.749.749 0 0 1 0-1.06l2.208-2.206a.749.749 0 1 1 1.06 1.06L5.928 9.133a.75.75 0 0 1-1.061 0z\" style \/><\/g><\/svg><\/a><div class=\"link-text\" data-anchor=\"6. The Beginner\u2019s Guide Template\" data-section=\"beginners-guide-template\">\n<h2>6. The \u201cBeginner\u2019s Guide\u201d Template<\/h2>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<p>A beginner\u2019s guide is an educational resource that offers a comprehensive introduction to a topic. It should be written in a way that\u2019s suitable for newbies.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-37096\" src=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/beginners-guide.png\" alt width=\"900\" height=\"1539\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/beginners-guide.png 900w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/beginners-guide-249x425.png 249w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/beginners-guide-768x1313.png 768w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/beginners-guide-898x1536.png 898w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 900px) 100vw, 900px\"><\/p>\n<h3>Examples<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/duplicate-content\/\">Duplicate Content: The Complete Guide for Beginners<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/seo-meta-tags\/\">Meta Tags for SEO: A Simple Guide for Beginners<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/hreflang-tags\/\">Hreflang: The Easy Guide for Beginners<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/link-building\/\">The Noob Friendly Guide To Link Building<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>Download your free blog template here<\/h3>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/docs.google.com\/document\/d\/1LccOFzJ3Oe-2RjO0lhb3oVEr7oRrkvgB7PHu6wHiQ2Y\/copy?usp=sharing\">Save a Google Doc of this blog template<\/a>. It features all the tips you\u2019re about to read, plus a few more easter eggs.<\/p>\n<h3>What kind of content is this template best&nbsp;for?<\/h3>\n<p>If you\u2019re planning to write more of an educational resource for beginners than an actionable, step-by-step guide, then the \u201cbeginners guide\u201d format is probably the best choice.<\/p>\n<p>For example, take <a href=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/canonical-tags\/\">our beginner\u2019s guide to canonical tags<\/a>. It explains what a canonical tag is, what they look like, why they\u2019re important for SEO, best practices, how to construct one, how to avoid mistakes, and how to fix existing issues\u2014everything a beginner could possibly need to&nbsp;know.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-37099\" src=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/canonical-tags-beginners-guide.gif\" alt width=\"1257\" height=\"1089\"><\/p>\n<h3>How to use this template<\/h3>\n<p>Follow these&nbsp;steps.<\/p>\n<h4>a. Create a title that appeals to beginners<\/h4>\n<p>The easiest way to do this is to use the words \u201cfor beginners\u201d or similar in the title itself.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>[Topic] For Beginners<\/li>\n<li>The Beginner\u2019s Guide to [Topic]<\/li>\n<li>The Noob-Friendly Guide to [Topic]<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h4>b. Write a simple and encouraging introduction<\/h4>\n<p>People who seek out beginners guides are precisely that: beginners. So while there isn\u2019t a 1-2 punch formula, you need to make sure that it does four things:<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li><strong>Reinforce why they need to know this.<\/strong>&nbsp;Most beginners guides are long. Unless you can convince people why they should spend time learning what you have to teach them, they might just call it a&nbsp;day.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Use simple language.<\/strong>&nbsp;Put their mind at ease right off the bat. Let them know that your post isn\u2019t packed with industry jargon and complex language.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Encourage them.<\/strong>&nbsp;Explain that the topic isn\u2019t that hard to grasp. Make them feel like they can understand this.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Tell them what they\u2019ll learn.<\/strong>&nbsp;A linked table of contents should do the&nbsp;trick.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>Here\u2019s an example from <a href=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/hreflang-tags\/\">our beginner\u2019s guide to hreflang tags<\/a>:<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1144\" height=\"1600\" class=\"wp-image-37083\" src=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/14-intro-example-beginners-guide.jpg\" alt=\"14 intro example beginners guide\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/14-intro-example-beginners-guide.jpg 1144w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/14-intro-example-beginners-guide-304x425.jpg 304w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/14-intro-example-beginners-guide-768x1074.jpg 768w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/14-intro-example-beginners-guide-1098x1536.jpg 1098w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1144px) 100vw, 1144px\"><\/p>\n<h4>c. Go through everything they need to&nbsp;know<\/h4>\n<p>Think about the questions a beginner might have about the topic, and answer them. Use a H2 subheading for each question.<\/p>\n<p>For example, here are the H2\u2019s from <a href=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/affiliate-marketing\/\">our beginner\u2019s guide to affiliate marketing<\/a>:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>What is affiliate marketing?<\/li>\n<li>How does affiliate marketing work?<\/li>\n<li>How much money can I make as an affiliate marketer?<\/li>\n<li>How to get started with affiliate marketing<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>For questions that require long answers or multiple steps, use H3-H6 subheadings under each H2 to provide further hierarchy and make things easier to digest.<\/p>\n<p>This is what we did for the \u201cHow to get started with affiliate marketing\u201d section in our&nbsp;guide:<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1326\" height=\"976\" class=\"wp-image-37067\" src=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/15-sub-subheadings.png\" alt=\"15 sub subheadings\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/15-sub-subheadings.png 1326w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/15-sub-subheadings-577x425.png 577w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/15-sub-subheadings-768x565.png 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1326px) 100vw, 1326px\"><\/p>\n<p>If you\u2019re not sure what questions a beginner might want to know the answer to, look at Google\u2019s People Also Ask (PAA) boxes or find popular questions using Ahrefs\u2019 <a href=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/keyword-generator\">free Keyword Generator<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1600\" height=\"1260\" class=\"wp-image-37086\" src=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/16-keyword-ideas.png\" alt=\"16 keyword ideas\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/16-keyword-ideas.png 1600w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/16-keyword-ideas-540x425.png 540w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/16-keyword-ideas-768x605.png 768w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/16-keyword-ideas-1536x1210.png 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px\"><\/p>\n<h4>d. Conclude with encouragement and further resources<\/h4>\n<p>There are tons of ways to conclude beginners guides. However, we tend to end ours with some final encouragement and links to further reading.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1300\" height=\"732\" class=\"wp-image-37070\" src=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/17-beginners-guide-outro.png\" alt=\"17 beginners guide outro\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/17-beginners-guide-outro.png 1300w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/17-beginners-guide-outro-680x383.png 680w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/17-beginners-guide-outro-768x432.png 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1300px) 100vw, 1300px\"><\/p>\n<h2>Which blog post template should you&nbsp;use?<\/h2>\n<p>Each of these templates work best for a particular type of content. But the question is, what type of content should you create?<\/p>\n<p>For example, say that you run a coffee blog. You\u2019ve done your <a href=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/keyword-research\/\">keyword research<\/a>&nbsp;and found that \u201cfrench press cold brew\u201d is a low-difficulty keyword with thousands of monthly searches.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1600\" height=\"865\" class=\"wp-image-37084\" src=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/18-keyword-difficulty.png\" alt=\"18 keyword difficulty\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/18-keyword-difficulty.png 1600w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/18-keyword-difficulty-680x368.png 680w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/18-keyword-difficulty-768x415.png 768w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/18-keyword-difficulty-1536x830.png 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px\"><\/p>\n<p>If you want to rank for this term, which of these should you&nbsp;write?<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>10 Tips for Making Cold Brew Coffee Using a French Press<\/li>\n<li>How to Brew Cold Brew Coffee In French Press<\/li>\n<li>What Is Cold Brew Coffee? Everything French Press Owners Need to&nbsp;Know<\/li>\n<li>The Beginner\u2019s Guide to Making Cold Coffee (In A French Press)<\/li>\n<li>The Best French Press for Making Cold Brew Coffee (Top&nbsp;10)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>The best way to figure this out is to look at what currently ranks. Google works hard to rank the most useful results for searchers, so the top-ranking pages are a good proxy for <a href=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/search-intent\/\">search intent<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>For example, if we look at the top-ranking pages for our target term in <a href=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/keywords-explorer\">Keywords Explorer<\/a>, we see that almost all of them are step-by-step guides.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1600\" height=\"1008\" class=\"wp-image-37082\" src=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/19-how-tos.png\" alt=\"19 how tos\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/19-how-tos.png 1600w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/19-how-tos-675x425.png 675w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/19-how-tos-768x484.png 768w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/19-how-tos-1536x968.png 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px\"><\/p>\n<p>To stand the best chance of ranking for this keyword, we should follow suit.<\/p>\n<p>Just know that search intent isn\u2019t always clear cut. You\u2019ll sometimes see a mix of formats in the results and will have to use your best judgment.<\/p>\n<h2>Final thoughts<\/h2>\n<p>Although these templates are a good starting point, know that they won\u2019t work for every eventuality. It\u2019s sometimes better to mix elements of one with another.<\/p>\n<p>For example, take a look at our guide to <a href=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/seo-friendly-urls\/\">creating SEO-friendly URLs<\/a>. The first half of the post outlines a step-by-step process, whereas the second half lists best practices. In other words, the post is part step-by-step guide, and part listicle.<\/p>\n<p>Don\u2019t be afraid to mix things up where necessary.<\/p>\n<p>Want more blogging tips? Read <a href=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/blogging-tips\/\">this<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Got questions? Ping me <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/joshuachardwick?lang=en\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">on Twitter<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Every blog post is different, but most aren\u2019t that&nbsp;different. Think about the blog posts you\u2019ve read. Chances are they weren\u2019t a million miles apart in terms of format. You probably just didn\u2019t pay much attention because you were focused on<span class=\"ellipsis\">\u2026<\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"read-more\">Read more \u203a<\/div>\n<p><!-- end of .read-more --><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":114,"featured_media":37090,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"wp_typography_post_enhancements_disabled":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[73],"tags":[],"coauthors":[336,464],"class_list":["post-37089","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-content-marketing","odd"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.2 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>6 Simple Blog Post Templates (Download &amp; Edit Along)<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Use these templates to beat writer&#039;s block, write great content faster, and stand the best chance of ranking in organic search.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/blog-post-templates\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"6 Simple Blog Post Templates (Download &amp; 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