Content copy is longer than ever before, but people only spend 37 seconds, on average, reading an article or blog post. How can you take advantage of this fact? By making sure every character counts. And there’s no better way to accomplish this than to recognize how to create and deliver compelling content, regardless of medium. To help you, we’ve handpicked a collection of 10 essential content blogs. They cover some of the biggest content topics: grammar and writing, search engine optimization (SEO), inbound marketing, and outbound marketing.
So without further ado, here’s our list:
1. Grammar Girl
The quintessential user-friendly site on grammar, penned by the Grammar Girl herself, Mignon Fogarty, made a reputation out of comma splices and gerunds. This site is an excellent source for content professionals who want to develop (or improve on) their grammar foundation.
2. Copyblogger
Copyblogger specializes in supercharging content. From the basic to the advanced, the lessons shared here — and the top-notch writing that delivers them — can make even mundane content topics exciting. Brian Clark, a long-time expert on all things content, and the site’s founder, only further enhances its credibility.
3. Copypress
A plentiful source on the art and application of effective copywriting, Copypress aims to unite the creative and technical sides of content creation. Every conceivable copywriting topic gets coverage here, from copy creation for interactive mediums to writing for organic performance optimization.
Whether you believe that firsthand advice is more palatable and relatable, or appreciate smart insights on technical writing, there’s something irresistible about Tom Johnson’s I’d Rather Be Writing blog. True to its name, the blog is regularly updated with gobs of technical writing know-how that ranges from hyper-specific to entry-level. So regardless of your familiarity with the subject, an article that appeals to you is right around the corner.
SEO
Respected by search engine optimization specialists and non-technical readers alike, Search Engine Land is a site that’s been breaking SEO news and breaking down complex SEO topics since the dawn of the Google era. It should be your go-to source for all things ranking-related because whenever there’s a major development in SEO, this site is most likely to cover it first.
6. Moz
Whereas Search Engine Land typically focuses on news and technical analysis, Moz fills a niche for in-depth, instructional SEO knowledge. Best exemplified by its Whiteboard Friday series, the site really focuses on the end users that ultimately need to understand the concepts. Each post includes plenty of examples and avoids high-level flyovers of detailed topics. If you want to learn about SEO, this is one site you don’t want to overlook.
Inbound Marketing
7. Content Marketing Institute
Founded by content marketing guru Joe Pulizzi, this site regularly explores all of the concrete and nuanced concepts that make up content marketing. From industry news to ROI-based content marketing, there’s no shortage of hard-hitting topics covered on Content Marketing Institute. There’s a reason it was one of the earliest names in the nascent content marketing industry, and yet, has had such staying power. The site’s continual creation of great content has been the secret to its success. Join the newsletter or follow the site on social media to stay in the loop.
8. HubSpot
As a leader in the inbound marketing space, you should expect a lot from HubSpot — and its blog doesn’t disappoint. Everything you could ever want to know about inbound marketing has been covered here over the years. Want the formula for writing the perfect blog post? You’ll find it on HubSpot’s blog. Maybe you’re looking for something a little more technical like editing tips to improve any piece of writing? With such topical diversity and insights, you can’t go wrong by adding this one to your bookmarks.
Outbound Marketing
9. Drip
With a name like Drip, it’s hard to deny that this site is tailor-made to be a resource on the subject of email. And there’s little lost in translation because this site truly delivers when it comes to topics like automation, campaign management, subject line creation, click-through rates, and other essential (and unconventional) email topics. Whether you’ve already amassed significant knowledge on email best practices, simply want a refresher, or are an all-new entrant to the channel, Drip is a worthwhile read.
10. Outbound Engine
The Outbound Engine blog specializes in demystifying outbound strategies to help connect your content with audiences just outside your door. This is a frill-free site that focuses on proven strategies and ROI-generating methods, which are particularly useful for those who don’t just want to understand how a particular outbound practice works, but rather, why it’ll be valuable to the bottom line.
Final Thoughts
Although blogs can offer insights that are likely to help at the conceptual level, you may stand to benefit from a resource that’s designed to help at the content creation level. To get an edge on copywriting, brand adherence, tone uniformity and more, consider Acrolinx. Our AI-powered content impact platform is helping the world’s most recognized brands create better content.
For more on the connection between content quality and business results, download our eBook on content strategy.
