How To Grow Your Audience With Blog Roundup Posts – Blogcentric #26

Blog roundup posts sometimes known as link posts or curated posts are easy to write and can help you grow your audience. Creating them is straight forward once you have a system in place. 

Are you like me? Do you go through phases when content almost writes itself then at other times when you just can’t make it happen?

This is one very annoying form of bloggers block. I’m not going to share all my tips today but there is one kind of post that is easier to write at times like this. The blog roundup post.

Today we’re going to focus on one blog post type. It’s a blog post that I used to write frequently, the roundup, curated or link post.

Listen below to find out how to write a successful roundup post

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What is a blog roundup or link post?

These are posts that showcase other people’s content. That’s what makes them so great for filling the days when no original content comes your way. You don’t have to wait for a dry period to start writing them. You can mix a weekly or monthly roundup into your blogging schedule.

When you write a blog roundup you become a content curator rather than a content creator.

Museum curators don’t create original content but they do add meaning by bringing artifacts together in exhibitions.

When we create a curated link post we are doing the same thing. We’re selecting the best links, the best websites, the best content and showing it off to our visitors.

Let’s look at how Boris, our interior design shop owner might use them. Firstly he starts by looking at topics or themes that will attract his target reader.

Perhaps he’d choose:

• Modern Design
• Interior design on a shoestring
• The best upcycling websites
• Five posts that will make you think differently about art deco

Each of these topics will attract segments of his target reader.

What are the benefits of roundup posts?

We’ve established that blog roundup posts are easier to write than original content. By writing just a few lines about each link he shares Boris is cutting down on writing time. The posts he is linking to are a springboard for our thoughts and opinions. But this isn’t the only benefit.

Boris already stays on top of Interior Design trends. He reads trade papers, blogs and online articles. For his roundups, he just picks the best stuff. His target market will love that he’s pointing them towards useful resources.

When Boris finishes his link post he shares it on his social media channels. He tags the publications and writers featured when he does this.

When these people see they are featured some of these people will share it with their online audience. If he’s linking to the right people, their audiences will be his audience so he’ll be reaching more of his target readers.

He’s also buying good will with the writers. Many of these will be influential to his target market, these are good friends to make.

6 Steps to writing a blog roundup post

Step 1 – Theme

Boris had very definite themes for his link posts but this is just one approach. When I used to write ‘The Social 7’ curation posts on my own blog I didn’t stick to a theme. Instead, I created a newsy post with a mixture of social media news, short and in-depth post. I imagined my target reader sitting on a couch at the weekend reading my selection.

You might not always need a theme but you should have a plan. If, like me, you choose a mixture of content, decide on the right balance for your reader.  For example, I would aim for 1 news post, 1 infographic, 1 video, 2 short pieces and 2 long reads.

Step 2 –  Find content

I spend at least an hour a day consuming content. In the mornings, I check in with my favourite social media blogs using Feedly. During the day, I discover content on Twitter and Facebook. When I’m driving I listen to podcasts.

I bookmark the stuff I like with Pocket or Facebook Save. I also use a recipe I created with IFTTT and Delicious to bookmark content to a Google spreadsheet. Find out how I set this up here.

Step 3 – Review

Look back at the links you’ve saved. It’s the ones you remember reading straight away that you should pick. Did any of them give you an ‘aha moment’? Which ones fit into the slots in your content plan? These are the keepers.

I’ve always regretted specifying that I’d share 7 links in my roundup posts. Sometimes it was a struggle to fill all 7 slots. When I resurrect my roundup posts I won’t be putting a limit or goal on the number of links I need to find.

Step 4 – Summarise

Now you are on to the writing. Read through the posts you have selected. What made them curation worthy? Do you agree with what the article? Does it pose any questions? Tell people what you found interesting and why they should read more.

Step 5 – Add the link

Your roundup post is a collection of links that you have curated. Remember you aren’t cutting and pasting from other posts. You are telling people why they should read more, putting your twist on it and then linking to the post. Don’t forget the link. Before you publish click each one to make sure it works and sends people to the right place.

Step 6 – Promote

Like every post you write you should add this to your social media promotion schedule. But this time, you’ll be able to get far more traction by tagging the people and publications you have featured.

Find the Twitter handles, Facebook and LinkedIn pages not just of the publications but of the writers themselves. Send out at least one tweet, one Facebook post, one LinkedIn post, on Pinterest post tagging them.

Challenge

You’ll be expecting this one. My challenge to you this week is to write a blog roundup post. Follow the steps above and let me know how you get on.

If you create something as a result, I’d love to see it so leave me a comment below, Tweet me @spiderworking or snap me @spiderworking

If you enjoy this podcast please leave me a review on iTunes or Stitcher or let me know about your blog in the comments below.

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