26+ Blog Content Ideas That Convert
If you’re struggling to come up with blog content ideas, you’re not alone. The most common question I hear from service providers is, “What should I blog about?”
Most of the clients I work with are terrified of giving away too much free content. And I can understand the reasoning — if you have dozens of in-depth blog posts, why would anyone pay for your services?
Trust me when I say that you cannot give away too much free value. The more blogs you have, the more trust and authority you establish with your ideal clients.
But what exactly should you blog about?
If you’re totally stuck, here are my high-converting blog content post ideas (with real-life examples) that you can add to your freelancer website for the best results.
What is Pillar Blog Content?
Pillar content is long-form blog content that never goes out of date. It can sit on your website for months, even years, and still provide value for your readers.
Not pillar blog content: 3 Trending Summer Outfits to Wear in 2024
Pillar blog content: How to Build a Timeless Wardrobe That Never Goes Out of Style
The first post will become obsolete after summer 2024, but the second one will stay relevant forever.
Now, your pillar blog content ideas still need to be regularly updated. You might change your thought process, or new research might contradict your initial post.
It’s fine to go back and make changes to your pillar blog posts, but the overall content ideas should be timeless.
Related: Is Grammarly Premium Worth It? Read My Full Review Here
10 Blog Content Ideas for Your Freelancer Website
If you’re looking for high-value, traffic-driving blog content ideas, here are ten to add to your service-based website.
Blog Content Idea #1: How-To Guide
The first blog in your blog content plan is a how-to guide. It should be related to your product or service and take your readers through a step-by-step process (and the more free value you can offer, the better).
How-To Blog Post Title Ideas:
Photographers: How to take a professional-looking headshot at home with your iPhone
Graphic Designers: How to create a DIY logo that looks high-end.
Accountants: How to get your small business ready for tax season.
Coaches: How to break bad habits that are stopping your progress.
At this point, you might be thinking, “But Emily, if I post a free how-to guide, no one will buy my services!”
There are two types of visitors landing on your website: DIYers and Clients.
DIYers want valuable, informative content to help them accomplish tasks on their own – they were never going to buy your services.
Clients are looking for information on a problem they’re having, but they are willing to hire the right person to make their life easier. These are the ones you’re aiming for.
Detailed how-to guides show your audience that you know what you’re talking about, that you have a great process, and that they’re in great hands when hiring you.
Related: Unconventional Blogging Tips That Skyrockets My Website
Blog Content Idea #2: Listicle
Next up on our list of blog content ideas is a list post that rounds up your favorite products, services, or tips. These are nice and straightforward and give your readers plenty of value in a single post.
The key to standing out is to offer real value within the blog post. There are thousands of listicles online, and most give vague, common-sense information.
Instead, go into detail on each point with explainers, bullet point lists, personal preferences, and backed-up statistics.
Make sure each list item is specific and actionable.
Add graphics, infographics, bullet points, and visual material to each point.
Back up your list items with statistics, research, and expert quotes.
Listicle Blog Post Examples:
Personal assistant: The top 10 tools busy business owners can use to save hours on admin every week.
Copywriter: 10 copywriting tools for freelance business owners.
Book editor: 20 small writing mistakes that make your book look less professional.
Marketer: My 5 must-have marketing tools for getting tangible results from a marketing campaign.
Related: Legit Strategies to Make Money Blogging as a Service Provider
Blog Content Idea #3: This vs. That
This or that blog posts are great for helping users decide between two common options in your industry. For example, if you’re in finance, it could be “stock vs shares: what’s the difference?”
This is particularly useful for your blog content plan if you provide a particular service or product and have a key competitor. Don’t drag your competition through the dirt, but publish a deep dive into the differences, benefits, and similarities of both.
When potential customers land on your blog, they’re usually in research mode and not yet ready to buy. A detailed This vs. That post is a great way to help them get into the purchase phase of their journey, so add this to your list of blog content ideas!
This vs. That Blog Post Title Ideas:
Web developer: WordPress vs Squarespace: Which is Better for Start-ups?
Personal trainer: Weight training vs. Cardio: Which is best for losing weight?
Interior designer: Hardwood vs. Carpet: Which is easier to maintain?
Blog Content Idea #4: Stance Post
Time to get a little controversial! Is there a standard practice in your industry that you just don’t agree with?
For me, it’s the idea that you can create a winning content marketing strategy in just 30 minutes or an hour a week.
I hate seeing influencers say things like, “I went from 0 to 50K visitors in a month!” — it’s just not feasible, and it sets unrealistic expectations.
Don’t pick something so controversial or left field that you scare off potential buyers. Show your authority and expertise by explaining why a standard practice is outdated and what you believe is a better option.
Stance Blog Post Examples:
Nutritionist: Here’s why the trending rainbow bowls are actually throwing off your progress.
Marketer: 3 Underutilized marketing strategies that 90% of marketers won’t tell you about.
Graphic designer: Your trendy logo will be cheesy in 12 months. Here’s how to fix it.
You might ruffle some feathers, but you’ll start the conversation, which is a great way to build brand awareness and establish yourself as a thought leader.
Related: The Ultimate Website Content Checklist for Service Providers
Blog Content Idea #5: Let Loose
Not everything on the internet has to be serious. And I don’t care whether you have a law firm or puppy-sitting business; there is always room to let loose and entertain your audience with your pillar blog content ideas.
And just to prove my point, here are some ideas of let-loose posts for the most serious niches I can think of:
Law firm: 8 Of The Weirdest Laws Around The World
Financial Adviser: The Most Absurd And Eye-Wateringly Expensive Things People Have Actually Bought.
Mortician: 30 Bizarre Ways to Die.
Okay, that last one might be a bit out of pocket, but you get the idea. Your blog post ideas should make space for fun and entertainment.
Blog Content Idea #6: The Why
The Why blog content idea helps you sell your products or services. It convinces your audience of the benefits of something and shows them the impact of missing out.
Here’s one I wrote about why blog writing is a MUST for freelancers.
Remember, your ideal client doesn’t know what they don’t know. It’s your job to educate them and get them over those initial barriers to working with you.
This type of post needs to be convincing. The more you can make your visitors feel something by reading a Why post, the more likely they are to convert into paying customers.
Why Blog Post Title Ideas:
SEO expert: 7 reasons why your website isn’t showing up on Google searches.
App developer: 5 crucial reasons why your clothing brand needs an app to boost sales.
Tutor: 4 reasons why your child isn’t getting good grades in school.
Related: What’s the Best Blog Post Length for Google Rankings?
Blog Content Idea #7: FAQ Post
If you don’t have a dedicated FAQ page, create a post answering the most common questions your audience has.
Don’t get many questions from your audience? Google your industry and see what questions Google shows you – these are common questions from users.
Creating a round-up post of FAQs is a great opportunity to rank for some keywords and provide loads of value for your potential customers. It also means you’ll get fewer emails asking common questions since you’ve gone to the trouble of creating a dedicated post.
Once a year, revisit your FAQ blog, add to it, and update any outdated information. This will help keep it valuable and circling in rankings with Google.
Bonus Hint: those “people also ask” questions on Google are also great blog content ideas for full-length blog posts that tend to rank well.
Blog Content Idea #8: Infographic
I love an infographic. They’re sleek, ultra-shareable, and incredibly popular with web users. About 60% of businesses use infographics in their content marketing strategy, and more than 62% of content creators use at least two a week, so you know they’re a good time investment.
Almost all blog content ideas can become valuable infographics, but the more stats and figures, the more shareable it becomes. Here are a few ideas:
Survey or research results
A process or tutorial
A timeline or schedule
Data visualization
The best part is you don’t need to hire a graphic designer to create a professional-looking infographic for your blog content strategy. Canva is a great free resource with plenty of customizable templates (just type “infographic” into the search bar).
Blog Content Idea #9: Round-Up
This is another pillar blog content idea that gets a bad rep, but with the right strategy, you can easily create high-value round-up posts.
Round-up posts list a group of products or services within a single category, for example:
Marketer: The Best Marketing Tools For SMBs.
Content Creator: 8 Home Office Gadgets For Better Productivity.
Graphic Designer: 10 Websites That Give You Free Stock Photos.
A round-up post can feel lazy if no real research goes into it, but if you have genuine experience with a range of products or services, you can give valuable insights that help your audience make more informed decisions.
Related: My Favourite Copywriting Tools for Easier Content Creation
Blog Content Idea #10: The Interview
Last but not least on our list of blog content ideas is the interview. This one is a little more time-intensive, but it’s a great addition to your website.
Find a thought leader or influencer in your niche and arrange an interview about something relevant to them and your audience.
It’s tough landing an interview with a high-profile celebrity or influencer but think more on a micro-level.
An interview with an influential person or authority in your niche.
An interview with a researcher who has recently published a paper or article on a relevant topic.
An interview with a past client on their experience of your services.
You could also publish a survey to your existing customers and write a post on the results. A good one would be on the current challenges they’re facing and the questions they have surrounding your industry.
People love the community feel of interview blog posts, so this is a good way of boosting brand appeal and showing you have real humans behind the brand.
Your Turn: Start Creating Blog Content!
Those are the ten blog content ideas you should add to your website right now. Creating long-form, valuable content takes time but is worth the effort.
Now that you know what kind of posts to include in your content strategy, it should be a much simpler process!
Head to the next guide for copywriting tips that will take your blog content from bland to binge-worthy.