1. Tell a story

It probably goes without saying, but storytelling is a very powerful medium. So it makes sense to apply this approach to our blog posts. You can write about an event that you've been to recently, an achievement that you have made, or possibly even your experience when you tried something for the very first time. Think about a problem that you have faced and how you went about solving it.

The formulae for success here is the post format should be: Situation - Issues - Action - Outcome. Adopting this format for your post will cover all of the salient points and satisfy the expectation of your readers. Assume the role of investigative journalist and write your mini page-turner in a few hundred words.

2. Helpful lists

If this tutorial was a blog post, then it would be a list - it's essentially my 12 top tips to better blog posts.

People love lists. Some of the best and most compelling blog posts are titled "Ten things you never knew about X" or "Six top tips for selling Y". Titles like these are very much like newspaper headlines - they grab your reader's attention and they stoke an interest that makes them want to read more. It makes them think "I must read this because if I don't, then I'll miss out on something important".

Need a good starter idea? One that will, if nothing else, get you shares? Then a list about the best writers in your niche will certainly stir an interest in your community - especially if it's your "top ten writers" list. Who wouldn't want to be in a top ten writers list? Nudge, nudge... ahem! :-)

3. How-to guides and advice

I guess you could say that this tutorial also falls into this category too. It's simply a case of sharing with others, what you have learned yourself.

We all like tips on how to do things better. If you can write your blog as a series of steps, then you're a long way to producing a very usable and popular 'how-to' post. Deliver each instruction clearly - i.e. do this, then that - with plenty of imagery to demonstrate exactly what you mean.

A simple way to start your how-to post is to think back to a recent course that you've been on, that you feel would be helpful for your readers. For example, the various posts, tutorials, webinars and classrooms here at Wealthy Affiliate maybe just what you're looking for. Simply summarise - not copy - what you've learned, and pass it on via your blog post.