Think back on almost any great blog post you’ve ever read. Just like great stories, they all share familiar beats and structure. Blog post templates give you access to these underlying frameworks, which is essential for B2B’s Content Marketing Strategy that aims to:
Drive more web traffic
Engage their customers
Drive traffic by capitalizing on trending news topics
And establish trust and expertise.
Providing additional details is crucial for enhancing understanding and providing a comprehensive overview of the topic.
Blog post templates offer significant assistance during the writing process. They are built around what works and makes an impact. Access to this knowledge helps you create more compelling blog posts than you would by just winging it and hoping for the best.
A blog post template will help you avoid aimless writing and writer’s block.
In this article, we’ll look at the four most popular types of blog posts for B2B. Additionally, we’ll provide free blog post templates for each type. By the end of the article, you’ll know everything you need to supercharge your content creation.
Introduction to Blog Post Templates
Blog post templates are pre-designed formats that help writers create engaging content for their audience. They provide a clear structure, helping writers organize their ideas effectively. By using these templates, writers can save time and concentrate on creating high-quality content. With various options available, templates can enhance the writing process for both experienced and new writers.
Benefits of Using Templates
Using blog post templates offers numerous benefits that can significantly enhance your content creation process. Firstly, templates increase efficiency by providing a clear structure, helping you stay focused on the topic and avoid writer’s block.
Using templates helps keep your content organized and easy to read. You can customize them to match your brand’s style, ensuring a consistent tone. Adding internal links and visual elements enhances user experience and engagement.
By leveraging blog post templates, you can create high-quality content that not only captivates your audience but also drives traffic to your blog.
What is a blog post template?
A blog post template is a basic outline for a blog post. It gives content creators an outline and structure for their posts that helps them understand the following:
How to structure their headings
What type of content should they include, emphasizing the importance of providing a detailed description within each step of the outlined process
What works and what doesn’t
Popular Types of Blog Posts for B2B
There are lots of different blog post formats. We have selected the four most popular types and broken each one down into its essential elements. One of the best tips for creating engaging content is to revisit these formats and adapt them to your specific needs.
In this article, you’ll find a blog post template for:
The List Post
The Step-By-Step Guide
The Expanded Definition
The Beginner’s Guide
Using a blog post template will:
Save you time figuring out how to format your blog posts
Reduce writer’s block
Make your writing more SEO-friendly
Give you confidence that you’re on the right track
Teach you how to write a focused, well-structured blog post
Including internal links to other pages on your website can significantly boost user engagement. This practice also enhances your search engine optimization (SEO).
OK, so now that you know how a blog post template can help your content, let’s look at some examples.
Choosing a Template Type
Choosing the right blog post template can be overwhelming, but focusing on your audience, topic, and purpose can help streamline the process. A beginner’s guide template is great for introducing new topics. A step-by-step guide is perfect for giving detailed instructions.
If you want to present information clearly, a list post template is a good choice. Selecting the right template helps create content that connects with your audience and builds your authority.
Customizing the Template
Templates serve as a useful foundation, but personalizing them to reflect your brand is essential for crafting distinctive content. Begin with an overview to establish the context for your message. Use real-life examples and actionable tips to make it relatable. Incorporate strong words to engage your readers effectively. Personalization enhances content quality and boosts organic traffic.
List Posts (Listicles) blog post templates
List posts, also called listicles, are one of the most popular forms of blog posts. They are perfect for creating lists of:
Tips
Product Recommendations
Tools
Techniques
Myths
Mistakes
Or whatever else you can think of.
This formula’s main advantage is its ability to gather extensive information in one accessible location. Lists simplify complex data, making it easier to read and scan, allowing readers to quickly assess information in our attention-driven economy.
Finally, lists are very shareable content. When you write content, you want it to reach as wide an audience as possible. A good list article can help boost your brand awareness while educating your readers.
Why the listicle is valuable for B2B
There are several reasons why listicles are effective for B2B content creation.
#1. People love lists
People love lists. Instead of looking at a load of paragraphs or a wall of text, each section is broken into discrete pieces. This structure facilitates easy scanning and absorption of information. A lot of B2B content can be dry and specialist. Lists make the information inviting.
Much of our reading these days occurs on news feeds on mobile devices. People access information on the go. Lists are a perfect format for time-starved B2B professionals.
#2. Lists are concise and punchy
In a time of short attention spans and intense competition, maximizing opportunities is crucial. Lists offer concise and valuable information for busy B2B professionals.
Their popularity in click-driven publications stems from their effectiveness, especially when combined with helpful content, creating a successful strategy.
#3. List posts are flexible
List posts are super flexible. You can present a wide array of information with this kind of content. Features like alternative blog posts are a great way to compare products or services quickly.
Additionally, lists are a legitimate way to draw traffic from competitor brands. When your target audience Googles your business rival’s name, your article can appear, boosting your awareness.
The components of a list post
Now that you’re clear on listicles and why your B2B needs them, let’s explore the various components of a listicle post.
Title formula
Listicles are loved for their crisp, lean, easy-to-read format. So their headlines should be the same. Clarity and early impact are the key here.
The best list article headlines grab attention and compel readers to click. However, to ensure your content doesn’t drift into clickbait territory, make a promise and deliver on it.
Here is the basic headline formula you should follow.
XX Ways to [Desired Outcome]
XX [Topic] Tips [Benefit or Desire]
XX [Type] Tools [Benefit or Desire]
XX Reasons Why [Problem]
XX [Topic] Techniques [Benefit or Desire]
XX [Product] For [Audience]
Examples of titles
Here are some example titles to inspire you.
11 Ways to Outrank High Authority Domains
50 Marketing Automation Tools That Will Save You 3 Hours Each Day
8 Mistakes When Posting On LinkedIn You Can Avoid
Intro paragraph
Your blog post introduction paragraph should be short and to the point. Include a brief overview and a linked table of contents, enabling your target audience to quickly navigate to specific entries on your list.
The idea here is to build as much trust and excitement as possible with as few words as necessary. Readers are coming for the information, so don’t keep them waiting.
List items as subheadings
Making use of subheadings is essential. When writing a comparison article, dedicate a subheading to each product or service. This approach is vital for both readability and search engine optimization (SEO), which are often closely related.
Suppose your listicle is an expert roundup blog post of, for example, SaaS products. In that case, you can prefix each title with things like “best for beginners,” “best budget option,” or whatever is appropriate or relevant to your article.
You should number each entry. However, entries are not ranked in order of importance, relevance, or quality; you can choose to leave them unnumbered.
Main content
The main content of your article should fulfill the promise made in your headline, whether it aims to entertain, inform, or provide value. Enhance credibility by incorporating relevant data and research. Readers seek not only lists but also valuable insights and breakdowns.
Tailor your content to meet your audience’s goals. Additionally, establish a consistent template for each section to create a predictable reading experience, which encourages readers to engage with and complete your article. Consistency is key to maintaining reader interest.
Conclusion
Your post conclusion should provide a comprehensive overview of your post and summarize any key takeaways. If your article had a conclusion (i.e., best product), include it.
If your blog post includes a side-by-side comparison of a range of products or services, consider using a table at the end to wrap up the information in a concise manner. Although it’s not mandatory, it can enhance your article and improve its SEO.
Additionally, add links to other posts for further reading and, if appropriate, include a call to action for your products or services. This will encourage readers to engage further with your content by exploring related topics.
List Post Pro Tips
Offer value with your headlines
Add one or two surprising entries to keep things interesting
Ensure each entry is of high quality; avoid padding your list with mediocre content solely to reach a round number. You’ll bore your readers.
Step-by-step guide blog post template
Step-by-step guides are easy-to-follow posts that show your target audience how to achieve particular tasks. These blog posts outline chronological steps that readers can follow to add new skills to their repertoire.
As you will notice in our blog post template, these guides are designed to be instructional. They help your readers understand the different stages of a task.
When you are writing these posts, think about your readers and what information they need. Pack your article with detailed info and related internal links, and take the time to consider how you break up each step.
Don’t assume your audience is an expert. Avoid jargon and aim to be as helpful as possible.
Why the Step-by-step guide is valuable for B2B
#1. Establish trust and expertise
A step-by-step guide is a way to establish your credibility in your sector. People are always on the lookout for trusted sources of expert information that can help them gain more knowledge. These instructional guides are an excellent way to demonstrate your brand’s commitment to supporting your audience.
How-to posts are among the most popular articles online because they convey valuable knowledge. If your audience perceives you as providing solid, trustworthy information, it’s a short step to believing that your products or services are reliable as well.
#2. Capture user intent
When people ask questions on the internet, it’s because they are motivated by a goal or an objection. Satisfying user internet is a great way to boost your SEO because it sends a positive message to search engines that your content is helpful and valuable.
Step-by-step articles provide information to individuals actively seeking solutions. These actions can be a clear indication that the user needs your product or service.
When you teach a user how to achieve a goal, you can also promote your solution and generate leads, email subscriptions, and sales.
#3. Boost Acquisition and Retention
A well-written step-by-step guide is an educational resource. When new or potential customers can read online information about how to utilize your products and services to derive value, it increases the chances of acquiring and retaining customers.
Most products have an “aha moment.” It’s the moment when users realize their value. A step-by-step guide can show users how your product will solve their pain points or at least get better value from specific product features.
The components of a step-by-step blog post
Step-by-step articles are how-to posts. Your focus should be on delivering helpful, concise information that is coherent and well-structured.
Title of formula
The primary consideration for your post title is clarity. A how-to post should include a simple title that promises your audience what they can learn by reading your article.
Don’t be afraid to incorporate benefits into your headline to enhance its impact.
How to [Achieve Desired Outcome] (XX Steps)
How to [Achieve Desired Outcome] (Even If [Common Obstruction])
How to [Achieve Desired Outcome] ([Additional Benefit])
Examples of titles
Here are some example titles that you can use with our blog post template to power your attention-grabbing headlines.
How to Post on LinkedIn (7 Steps)
How to Grow Your Business (Even If You Don’t Have a Budget)
How to Get More Social Media Followers (Fully Automated)
Intro paragraph
Your intro paragraph doesn’t need to be too extensive. Keep it concise and clear. Where appropriate, explain to your audience why they need to learn this process and highlight the benefits it will bring. For example, saving time and money allows them to increase productivity.
Utilize classic copywriting techniques to craft your introduction. Here are a few that you can draw on for your post.
PSP: Problem, Solution, Proof.
PAS: Problem, Agitate, Solution.
AIDA: Awareness, Interest, Desire, Action.
List items as subheadings
A step-by-step guide needs a logical, chronological order. Break each headline into Step 1, Step 2, Step 3, etc.
Each step should function like a checklist, flowing seamlessly into the next.
Remember, your audience is looking for help. Don’t assume they’re experts; keep things simple, provide background information where possible, and use jargon sparingly.
Main content (H4)
Step-by-step posts should clearly guide your audience on how to complete a specific task. Ensure that each step contains relevant and useful information.
Consider adding screenshots to your post to make things easier for your readers to follow. Including a visual guide can also enhance understanding and make your content more engaging.
Conclusion
Step-by-step blog posts are typically quite lengthy. As such, a brief out is fine.
Again, if you have related posts, don’t forget to include them. If your reader is on a mission to learn, they will appreciate extra effort.
The conclusion is also a good opportunity to call to action for your product or service.
Step-by-Step Post Pro Tips
Don’t overload each step
Use clear, concise language for each step
Use supporting images, like screenshots or GIFs, but ensure that the guide can still be followed in a text-only format
Expanded definition blog post template
An expanded definition post is a type of educational blog post that provides an in-depth examination of a subject. The main things this kind of post should do are:
Define the term or concept
Answer other questions your audience might have
The best way to structure these articles is to provide immediate value by answering your user’s question about the definition. From there, expand the content to encompass other queries related to the term.
Aim back at your blog full of interesting details. By the end, your audience should feel as though they have a strong understanding of both the definition and any additional information they need to know.
Why the expanded definition blog post is valuable for B2B
#1. Build Authority
People look up the definition of a word, concept, or acronym because they are looking for information. Providing a considered explanation, along with a deep dive, helps them learn a great deal, and it’s also an opportunity to demonstrate that you know what you’re talking about.
When you solve your target audience’s questions, you can build trust and authority within your field. When they start shopping for a solution, your product or service will be at the forefront of their consideration.
#2. SEO
Expanded definition posts will include lots of questions your audience might have about a subject. This includes the basic definition and other related subjects. This is great for SEO, especially if you can capture a significant amount of information that will interest your audience.
Be sure to include your target keyword and other related terms to help your post rank higher. Use People Also Asked to find questions and subjects to include. Additionally, search for your target keyword on Google to find related terms and questions.
#3. Boost your pillar posts
A pillar page is a great way to drive more traffic. You can use a main page or landing page to attract traffic with your target keyword and include internal links with expanded definitions that target and expand on secondary or related keywords.
If you build enough expanded definition blogs, your website will become a repository of knowledge, which will boost your SEO.
The components of an expanded definition blog post
Title of formula
These simple formulas will show you how to post a great title for an expanded definition blog post. They’re a straightforward combination of your target keyword alongside a brief explanation of what to expect.
What is/are [Concept]? Everything You Need To Know
What is/are [Acronym]? [Expanded Acronym] Explained
What is/are [Concept]? A [Brief/Quick/Detailed] Introduction
Examples of titles
Here are a few example titles that demonstrate how you can incorporate your titles into our blog post templates.
Intro paragraph
Your intro paragraph should provide your readers with an immediate answer to their questions. You don’t need anything too deep; a brief definition will do. Just ensure you don’t tease the information; deliver it in the first paragraph, and then keep them engaged with the extra detail.
Answer your target keyword or phrase in a concise but helpful manner, and Google could pick up your intro as a featured snippet. While you can’t make this the sole aim of your blog post, it’s a great bonus when it happens because it puts your article at the top of the SERP.
List items as subheadings
Once you’ve laid out your definition, you can use subheadings to cover the other information that is related to the topic. Break each down into logical sections.
The aim here is to have an easily scannable article that defines and explains a subject in detail. Leave your audience with everything they need to know and provide them with plenty of actionable information.
Main content
Your main content should build up the definition. Use a Table of Contents with jump links to enable your audience to access the article and find what they need. This addition encourages them to stay on the page and read, which reduces your site’s bounce rate. Including survey results to support the information presented can also enhance the credibility and depth of your content.
Alongside the definition that draws users to your page, you should research related content. As mentioned above, use People Also Asked to find questions your audience has on the subject and answer them thoroughly.
Similarly, look at your competitors with apps like SEMrush, Surfer SEO, and ahrefs. See what they are talking about and find ways to add better or deeper information if you want to outrank them.
Conclusion
Your conclusion doesn’t need to be too long. Summarize the key learnings and remind your users how to apply this information in their business.
Add internal links to other articles that a beginner would want to learn more about, because if they’ve made it to the bottom of your expanded definition post, they’ll likely wanna learn more since the content will typically be at a high level.
Don’t forget to add a call to action where appropriate.
Expanded Definition Pro Tips
Always define your target keyword as early as possible
Explain other key concepts early in your content
Beginner’s guide blog post template
A beginner’s guide is an opportunity to establish your organization as a trusted subject matter expert. By using simple language and lots of detailed information, you can become a trusted source on a variety of matters related to your niche.
A beginner’s guide provides a comprehensive 101 on a topic. It’s like a hybrid between a step-by-step post and an expanded definition post.
The basic characteristics of a beginner’s guide are that they are:
Detailed
Educational
Teach things in a logical sequence
Written for beginners
While a beginner’s guide shares similarities with a how-to post, they are different things. For example, a beginner’s guide to LinkedIn might explain what the platform is, how to create an account, or how to set up a profile.
On the other hand, a how-to post will assume that the user is already using the platform, and it will focus more on showing them best practices.
Why the beginner’s guide blog post is valuable for B2B
#1. Satisfy user questions
If you do keyword research on resources like Google’s People Also Ask, you’ll see that a lot of questions on particular subjects consist of questions like “what is X” or “why should I use X.”
Satisfying these user questions is a good way to round out your content creation on these subjects. The more information you cover, the better your chances are that SERP will feature your blog post.
#2. Connect with emerging users in your space
We’ve all got to start from somewhere. People new to a particular niche or industry have a lot of concepts and processes to learn, and a beginner’s guide is an excellent starting point. These posts are also a great way to help B2B veterans add knowledge about new and emerging areas.
When you provide information for these readers, you can boost your brand awareness.
#3. Build links from your pillar pages
Using pillar pages is a type of SEO approach that builds on search intent by creating a dedicated page for each high-volume keyword, which is linked from the main page.
Trying to squeeze all the keywords you want to rank for onto one page is impossible. However, you can write a pillar post and then connect keyword-focused articles to that.
If your niche encompasses various subjects, it makes sense to provide your target readers with a convenient way to connect with all the different articles. The pillar post introduction and content can refer to your main keywords, with each new article offering a beginner’s guide to various subjects or topics.
The components of a beginner’s guide blog post
Title of formula
Your beginner’s guide title should be concise and straightforward. It should appeal to absolute beginners and offer them a friendly and informative introduction to the subject.
A title is an implicit agreement between you and the user. Ensure your blog post delivers on its promise.
Here are some formulas you can use for your beginner’s guide blog post to create an explanatory title that engages your audience.
What is/are [Concept]? Everything You Need To Know
What is/are [Acronym]? [Expanded Acronym] Explained
What is/are [Concept]? A [Brief/Quick/Detailed] Introduction
Examples of titles
Use the examples below as inspiration for your in-depth breakdowns of complex subjects.
LinkedIn Ads For Beginners: Learn Everything You Need
Intro paragraph
Be mindful of your audience. You want them to know that whatever you’re teaching isn’t overly complicated. Similarly, use simple language because true beginners are unlikely to be familiar with many industry or technical terms.
Explain all acronyms and provide numerous relatable examples. Describe how and why things work, and ensure you back up your claims.
While all of this might sound limiting, beginners are usually motivated and ready to learn. So you want to make them feel like they can understand it, learn from it, do it, and begin their journey in whatever it is that you’re teaching. So, provide plenty of encouragement.
List items as subheadings
A beginner’s guide needs to cover a lot of subjects. A blog post with a lot of information could be intimidating to a novice, so make sure you break down each subject into clear, easily digestible headings.
It’s easy for beginners to feel overwhelmed or discouraged. But a well-structured post should assure them that complex subjects can be learned piece by piece.
Main content
Similar to how-to articles, you need to consider all the essential information a beginner needs to know and present it clearly. It’s crucial to put yourself in your readers’ shoes to understand their perspective and effectively address their specific questions and needs. As we mentioned earlier, provide a wealth of background information and relatable examples.
Conclusion
Conclude your post with some encouragement. The target audience for these posts is beginners, so ensure they come away from your post feeling empowered to take the next steps.
Additionally, similar to the other blog post templates, include internal links to provide further learning resources. These links will encourage them to continue their learning journey on your site. And, if appropriate, include a call to action for your product or service as well.
Beginner’s guide to pro tips
Keep things simple
Offer your readers encouragement
Use lots of examples to help your audience absorb your content
Free Blog Post Templates
Writers on a budget can find numerous free blog post templates online that can be tailored to their needs, offering a cost-effective way to create quality content. These templates, including how-to, definition, and pillar formats, help establish authority in a niche and drive website traffic, making them valuable for both seasoned and novice writers.
Final thoughts: How to post content that connects
A blog post template is an excellent way to guide your content. A blank page can be intimidating when you sit down to write an article. Blog templates can help you know what beats to hit and give you confidence that your structure is sound and that your posts are comprehensive enough to:
Provide value to your users
Rank well in search engines
Using a pillar blog post template can help you create comprehensive content that serves as a central hub for related topics, enhancing your search engine ranking and website visibility.
Use our free blog post templates to ensure that your content has a proven framework that grabs and holds your audience’s attention. Working out this basic structure for each post type before you start writing is important.
From there, you can add the expertise and personality that make your post stand out.
Pro Tip: Maximize your investment in your content strategy by upcycling your content.
Homepage and landing pages?
Your homepage and landing pages are a completely different story. We recommend finding a repeatable formula that makes sense for your visitors. The template we use on our homepage and service pages follows this formula:
Hero Section
This covers your visitor’s greatest pain point. In addition to outlining what your product or service does, who it’s for, and why it’s better. It does a lot!
Social Proof
Win your visitors’ trust by featuring the logos of your most recognizable or relevant clients. If you’re starting out and have no clients, consider adding certifications or awards you’ve received.
Benefits
Your visitors want to know what they’re getting. Please make it clear in the headline. Back it up in the description, and be sure to include how you’re eliminating pain points.
Personas or Use Cases
Visitors want to be sure the product or service is right for them. List the industries, types of companies, or how your product is used.
How it Works
By this point, they will be curious about how your product or service works. Visitors want to know their guide has a plan. It’s best to break it up into three steps. Learn More: StoryBrand Framework
Call to Action
Every page needs a primary call to action. PLG SaaS companies have started using our product. Sales lead companies will require visitors to book a demo.
What about SEO?
Anything after the primary CTA can be there to add additional value and for SEO. Be sure not to add content for the sake of it.
