Recently when speaking with a client, he told me categorically he needed me to write his monthly blog, which is great. I love writing blogs as I enjoy getting deep into a topic. However, with further discussion it was discovered he didn't mean a blog post at all. What he actually wanted was a monthly newsletter.

It made me realise that I may have been suffering the curse of knowledge. Just because I know what a blog post is, doesn't mean that everyone else does.

Hence this blog post to explain the difference between varying types of content.

Blog Post

A blog post or blog as it is often referred to is basically a piece of writing, normally on one topic which is posted to a website (personal or business),  or static page. Essentially, you lead people to your blog, where there may be a feature allowing them to comment and interact. 

The important thing about a blog is that it is a focused piece of writing on a single topic or answering a particular question. Like this one. It is often 400-800 words long, and provides easy to digest information.  

Article

An article is generally a lot longer than a blog post and will cover a single topic in more detail. These are also published on static platforms like a blog or website, but also in magazines, other printed material or online publications. 

An article can be anything from 800 words to 4,000 words, and they are not used to sell but to provide information.

Newsletter

A newsletter is as the name would suggest a 'letter' or email, which gathers all the news of your business and is disseminated to the audience. Whilst some are kept in online archives their objective is to 'approach' the audience.

Whilst many newsletters are themed, they don't have to be on a single topic or a continuous piece of writing, but can be a hodge podge of bits and bobs separated with headings and can cover new products or services, new staff, charity events, updates from the CEO or company wins.

They are generally quite short to ensure people read them, and many are used for marketing with links to websites, products or events.

Getting it Right

There is no superior form of content, as blog posts, articles and newsletters all have different purposes and audiences. The main difference is blogs/articles are in a location where the audience has to visit, and newsletters are sent directly to them. 

So, if you want to use content within your business, knowing what you want to achieve will help you choose the right format. This is where I can help, as I love writing all forms of content. I would love to have a chat with you about how content could help your business, so please drop me a line.