Creating a blog series can actually be a great way to get your readers invested in your content because it gives them something to look forward to.
However, there are a few keys you should keep in mind for creating a blog series that’s successful and not a complete flop.
Having been a blogger since 2009, I’ve created many of these series type posts which have come and gone. Some were successful, others not as much. There were some I loved creating each and every time, but there were others that I started dreading after only a few posts.
As a fashion blogger, I created a weekly “Friday Favorites” post of my favorite fashion looks from the past week. As a lifestyle blogger, I did a “Sunday Surfing” round-up where I shared great articles I had recently come across.
It can take some experimenting to find what works for you, but with these tips, I hope to make the process a bit easier!
The Basics of Creating a Blog Series
First, you may be wondering when you should create a series for your blog. How do you know when you have enough content ideas to actually create a successful series? Here are a few tips to keep in mind:
- You may want to create a blog series when you have one particular topic you’d like to write a lot about. For example, let’s save you have a blog post about social media marketing that you’d like to write. The content might be too long to fit into one post. That means you can create a series to break up your tips over the span of a week or a month.
- If you have a complex topic you want to cover, it might be easier to break it down into an easy-to-understand blog series. This prevents you from overwhelming your readers with too much information at once. Plus, it’s easier for them to consume this way.
- You might want to create weekly posts on the same topic. This obviously has the makings of a great blog series. And not only that, but it gives you an idea of what you’ll have to post on that day each week. As an example, you might want to share a new social media tip each week. That could spawn the birth of a Social Saturday series where you share actionable advice for your readers.
Before you begin your series, you should figure out how often you want to feature it. Will it be a weekly series or a monthly series? Or could it be a daily series over the course of one week? It’s all up to you and how often you’re able to commit to it.
When you have a series that people love and look forward to, it’s a fantastic way to boost your site traffic. People will begin to anticipate new content from your series and they’ll check for it whenever they know it’ll be live.
8 Tips for a Successful Blog Series
To ensure your next blog series is a hit with your readers, there are eight tips I’d love for you to keep in mind. This will ensure everything goes smoothly with minimal stress on your part.
1. Identify a Topic Everyone Will Enjoy
The most important factor in creating a successful blog series is to pick a topic that you’re passionate about. If you aren’t, you will tire of writing about it. And we can’t have that happening if you want this to run long-term.
You also need to consider your target audience and what would be of interest to them. If your readers don’t care about your blog series, it won’t succeed no matter how great you think it is.
2. Brainstorm Ideas
You’ll also want to make sure the topic you’ve chosen is one you can write multiple posts on. You don’t want to be struggling to come up with ideas when you’re only three weeks in. By brainstorming ideas ahead of time, you’ll have a good idea of what to expect and you’ll have content ideas ready to go.
3. Give It a Name
Having a catchy name for your series isn’t necessary, but it does make it fun. It’ll stick in the mind of your reader and she’ll be more likely to remember it for weeks to come. I’ve done all kinds of blog series in my time, including: Friday Favorites, Sunday Surfing, Monday Mantra, Tip Tuesday, and Saturday Sessions.
They obviously aren’t the most creative names, but they got the job done. They were easy for readers to remember, which was really the key point.
4. Announce It
Once everything is all planned out, announce your brand new series to your readers. By letting them know what you’re doing, you give them the opportunity to get excited about it. And then, they’ll begin anticipating the very first post. To do this, create an introductory post on your blog or send out an email newsletter to your list. Let them know what the series is all about and how it’ll work.
5. Create a Great Graphic
I love the idea of using the same graphic template for your series because it helps it stand out. When people see it, they’ll immediately know those posts are connected and part of a series. It just creates consistency for them, which is an added plus.
6. Interlink Each Post
Make it easy for people to read old posts in your blog series by linking to them in each new post. It’s a great way to keep someone on your site for a longer period of time. If they’re interested in the first post they read, there’s a good chance they’ll want to read more.
7. Give Readers a Sneak Peek
Get your readers excited about upcoming posts in your blog series by sharing a preview at the end of each post. Let them know what they can expect to learn in the next week’s post. They’ll be sure to check back next time if it’s something they’re interested in. Plus, it helps build that level of anticipation and excitement.
8. Know When to Call It Quits
At some point in time, you will probably get bored of the series you’ve created. You won’t feel inspired by it anymore. You’ll run out of ideas. And that’s totally okay! I’ve been there and done that with every series I’ve created. Most of them I kept going way longer than I should have simply because my readers enjoyed them. And you shouldn’t do that.
That’s why it’s so important to know when to call it quits. If you’ve lost your passion for a series, don’t force it anymore. End it and let your readers know why. It’s also important to recognize when a particular series has gone stale and end it or revamp it to make it fresh again.
Creating a great blog series is only part of content creation as a blogger.
Everything you publish needs to be AMAZING. But if you need help making that happen, let the Captivating Content Kit for Bloggers guide you.
It’s your go-to guide to creating blog posts your readers will love and that you’ll enjoy creating.
