Lesson 03: Types of Pillar Content

Lesson 3: Types of Pillar Content

Lesson Objectives:

By the end of this lesson, learners will:

• Understand the different types of pillar blog content
• Learn when to use each type based on their audience and niche
• Identify the best pillar content format for their own blog

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3.1 The Three Main Types of Pillar Content

There are three primary types of pillar blog content:

1. The “Guide” Pillar (Ultimate Guide or How-To)
2. The “What Is” Pillar (Definition & Overview)
3. The “Resource” Pillar (List-Based or Compilation)

Each serves a different purpose and works best depending on the topic and audience.

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3.2 The “Guide” Pillar (Ultimate Guide or How-To)

A Guide Pillar is an in-depth article that serves as the go-to resource on a topic. These are typically titled:

• “The Ultimate Guide to [Topic]”
• “How to [Do Something] – Step-by-Step”

Key Features:

✔ Comprehensive & Step-by-Step: Covers all aspects of a topic in a structured format.
✔ Great for Beginners & Experts: Provides foundational knowledge and advanced insights.
✔ Highly Shareable & Link-Worthy: Other blogs often reference and link to ultimate guides.

Example:

• Pillar Post: “The Ultimate Guide to Email Marketing”
• Cluster Posts:
  • “How to Write an Engaging Subject Line”
  • “Best Email Marketing Tools in 2024”
  • “Email Marketing vs. Social Media: Which is Better?”

Best Use Cases:

• Teaching complex topics (e.g., “The Beginner’s Guide to SEO”)
• Establishing industry authority
• Creating evergreen content that attracts continuous traffic

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3.3 The “What Is” Pillar (Definition & Overview)

This type of pillar content explains a broad topic in detail, answering foundational questions like:

• “What is [Topic]?”
• “[Topic] Explained: Everything You Need to Know”

Key Features:

✔ Focuses on Definition & Importance: Explains concepts in detail with real-life applications.
✔ Great for SEO & Search Queries: Many people search for basic explanations.
✔ Useful for Educating Audiences: Ideal for technical, industry-specific, or trending topics.

Example:

• Pillar Post: “What is Artificial Intelligence? A Complete Overview”
• Cluster Posts:
  • “The History of Artificial Intelligence”
  • “How AI is Used in Business Today”
  • “Ethical Concerns in Artificial Intelligence”

Best Use Cases:

• Introducing complex topics to a general audience
• Answering high-volume search queries
• Providing foundational content that links to detailed guides

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3.4 The “Resource” Pillar (List-Based or Compilation)

A Resource Pillar compiles a list of tools, strategies, examples, or case studies related to a topic. Common formats include:

• “Top 50 Tools for [Topic]”
• “Best Strategies for [Achieving a Goal]”
• “Case Studies on [Topic] That Prove It Works”

Key Features:

✔ Highly Actionable & Valuable: Readers love resources that help them take immediate action.
✔ Encourages Backlinks & Shares: Other blogs and websites often link to well-curated resource lists.
✔ Continuously Updatable: Can be refreshed regularly with new data and tools.

Example:

• Pillar Post: “The 25 Best Blogging Tools Every Content Creator Needs”
• Cluster Posts:
  • “How to Choose the Best Blogging Platform”
  • “The Best SEO Plugins for WordPress”
  • “Top 10 Writing Tools for Bloggers”

Best Use Cases:

• Showcasing tools, tips, or case studies
• Keeping content fresh and relevant
• Encouraging social shares and inbound links

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3.5 Choosing the Right Type of Pillar Content

Each type of pillar content serves a unique purpose. Here’s a quick guide to help you decide:

Pillar Type	Best For	Example Topics
Guide Pillar	Step-by-step tutorials & in-depth knowledge	“The Ultimate Guide to SEO”
What Is Pillar	Explaining concepts & answering FAQs	“What is Cryptocurrency?”
Resource Pillar	Lists of tools, examples, or strategies	“50 Best Digital Marketing Tools”

To maximize engagement and SEO, many blogs combine these formats. For example:

• A guide pillar might include a resource list at the end.
• A “what is” pillar can link to how-to guides for deeper learning.

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Conclusion & Next Steps

Now that you understand the different types of pillar content, you can start brainstorming which one fits best for your niche.

In the next lesson, “Identifying Your Target Audience,” we’ll explore how to choose topics based on audience research and intent.