While writing an article worth 100,000 views seems impossible, it isn’t as difficult as most would think. In fact, it’s simple enough to replicate – just write a resource article.
Resource articles, such as “30 Websites That Pay Writers” and “The Ultimate List of Blogs that Accept Guest Posts,” do well because they’re built to help the reader. These articles succeed because they not only instruct the reader, but also provide them with valuable insights.
This tactic isn’t just for writing-related content: Resource articles work for other topics, too:
- A Ranking of 13 Web Hosts Based on Speed, Uptime and Loading Time: This tech-centered article features and sorts web hosts based on different factors.
- The U.S. News Ranking of Best Universities: The go-to article for research on colleges/universities in the U.S.
- The Ultimate List of 40 High-Protein Foods: This diet/weight loss niche article gives a comprehensive list of high protein foods. It has been shared more than 51,000 times.
A Bulletproof Five-Step Process for Creating a Successful Resource Article
While resource articles can be popular, they do involve extra time and effort. Here’s a five-step process to follow for creating successful resource articles:
Step One: Find a topic
The first step to creating a kick-ass resource article is to find out what the people want. Look for themes in audience demand either on your own blog/website or on other sites.
Step Two: Make sure your article is specific
Specific articles are easier to reference and share. As you can see from the examples listed in this article, specificity is essential to the success of a resource article. Topics ranging from geoengineering to special diets are all options here, with the precaution that the more niche the focus, the better.
Step Three: Do your research
Resource posts take a lot of time to write due to the amount of research it takes to create an accurate, high quality article. However, this research is the most important element in differentiating a high-quality resource article from a mediocre one. A good way to find quality resources is to go to a similar site.
Here’s a few tools that can help you do that:
Step Four: Verify everything
Make sure the resources you use link back to an active site. Once you’ve determined that all of your sources are active, be sure to fact check your points.
Step Five: Publish and Promote
Once you’ve confirmed your sources check out, publish and promote your article. Taking the extra step of contacting authors and resource curators is one way to make promotion more effective. From then on, it’s just about updating the article and keeping it relevant over time.
