The Muslim Blogger

Today I want to talk to you about one thing that interests every blogger: blog posts that guarantee traffic.  I remember originally thinking about this question a while back and asking myself  - what type of content do I want to read?   What type of information would I do a Google search for?  What types of posts would I click instantly if I saw them?  Those are the types of posts that bring in the traffic.

Here are the top 8 blog posts that guarantee traffic:

1.  Resource Lists

It’s no secret that people love lists - especially a list of stuff that will help them.  Put together a list of resources and you’ll find that this post will become a long-term favorite that keeps pulling in the hits.

2.  List of Tips

Chances are that you clicked this post or reached it because it provided tips for the exact thing you wanted.  You can write a list of tips on almost anything and you’ll find someone that can benefit from it.

3.  Best-of Lists

This is perhaps the most popular type.  People always seem to have an interest in a list of the “Top 10…”.  Write a Top 10 list, post a link to it in the comments area in this post, and I guarantee you that you’ll get traffic from this site.

4.  Good Advice

Sometimes people just want sincere advice.  Alhmadullilah, Allah (swt) has blessed each of us with different life experiences.  YOUR life story and what you have learned along the way can help others.  Write something of benefit and perhaps it will be what saves you on the Day of Judgment.

5.  Argue a Popular Point of View

Let me start of by saying this: I do not mean argue against the shari’ah.  What I mean when I say to argue a popular point of view is something like this post for example.  Perhaps you feel that most (or all) of these points are wrong.  Argue it by commenting below or writing your own blog post.

6.  QA’s with High Profile People

If your blog could pull off an interview with someone like Sheikh Yasir Qadhi or Sheikh Yasir Birjas, then it’ll get hits.  Masha’Allah, both of them are very popular right now because of, first Allah (swt), and then programs such as Al-Maghrib Institute.  Next time there is a class, go to it and see if you can get an interview.

7.  Anything with a Killer Headline

Sometimes it isn’t even the writing itself that attracts readers.  Sometimes a post gets traffic just because your title rocks.  For example, let’s say you wrote a post about dealing with depression.  If you title the post “Depression”, it won’t get nearly as many views as something that says “Coping with Depression by Using the Qur’an and Sunnah”.

8.  How-To’s

Lots of times, people are wondering how to do something.  Put together a small online tutorial, a video, or something that helps someone go from A to B.

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There you go - those are 8 blog posts that guarantee you traffic.  I’d be interested in hearing ideas from you the type of posts you’ve written that have worked for your blog.