How to Create a Roundup Post in WordPress (The Easy Way)

What is a Roundup Post and Why Should You Create One?

A roundup post, also known as an expert roundup, is a type of blog post that curates opinions, advice, or insights from multiple experts or influencers on a specific topic. Think of it as a collection of wisdom gathered in one convenient place. Instead of solely relying on your own knowledge, you tap into the expertise of others, creating a more comprehensive and authoritative piece of content.

Why are roundup posts valuable? Here’s a breakdown of the benefits:

* **Increased Authority:** Featuring experts lends credibility to your blog.
* **Fresh Perspectives:** Gain access to a wider range of viewpoints you might not have considered.
* **Content Variety:** Roundup posts offer a different format than typical articles, keeping your audience engaged.
* **Traffic Generation:** Experts are likely to share the post with their own audiences, driving more traffic to your site.
* **Backlinks and SEO:** A well-executed roundup can attract backlinks from other websites, boosting your search engine ranking.
* **Networking Opportunities:** Building relationships with industry experts can open doors to future collaborations.
* **Time Savings:** Gathering existing expertise can be faster than creating original content from scratch.

Planning Your Roundup Post: The Foundation for Success

Before diving into WordPress, careful planning is essential. This stage determines the topic, target audience, and the experts you’ll approach.

1. Choosing the Right Topic

* **Relevance to Your Audience:** Select a topic that directly interests your target audience and aligns with your blog’s niche.
* **Sufficient Interest:** Ensure the topic is current and generates enough buzz for experts to want to participate.
* **Clear Focus:** Define a specific angle or question to guide the expert contributions. Avoid being too broad.
* **Keyword Research:** Identify relevant keywords to optimize your post for search engines. Use tools like Google Keyword Planner or Ahrefs.

2. Identifying Target Experts

* **Relevance to the Topic:** Choose experts with proven experience and knowledge in the chosen topic.
* **Influence and Reach:** Consider their social media presence, blog readership, and overall influence in the industry.
* **Willingness to Participate:** Look for experts who are active on social media and likely to respond to outreach.
* **Diversity of Perspectives:** Aim for a mix of experts to offer a well-rounded viewpoint.
* **Utilize Tools:** Leverage LinkedIn, Twitter, and industry publications to find potential contributors.

3. Crafting the Perfect Question

* **Specific and Focused:** Ask a question that elicits thoughtful and actionable responses.
* **Open-Ended:** Avoid questions with simple “yes” or “no” answers. Encourage detailed explanations.
* **Relevant and Engaging:** Ensure the question aligns with the topic and sparks interest for both experts and readers.
* **Consider the Expert’s Time:** Keep the question concise and easy to answer.
* **Example Question:** Instead of “What are your thoughts on content marketing?”, try “What is one actionable content marketing strategy that businesses can implement today to see immediate results?”.

4. Setting a Realistic Timeline

* **Outreach Phase:** Allow ample time to contact experts, explain the project, and obtain their consent.
* **Response Collection:** Set a clear deadline for expert submissions, providing sufficient time for them to respond.
* **Content Creation:** Allocate time for writing the introduction, editing the expert contributions, and formatting the post.
* **Promotion:** Plan for post-launch promotion on social media and other channels.

Reaching Out to Experts: A Strategic Approach

Securing expert participation requires a professional and personalized outreach strategy.

1. Crafting a Compelling Email

* **Personalized Greeting:** Address each expert by name.
* **Brief Introduction:** Introduce yourself and your blog, highlighting its relevance to their expertise.
* **Clear Explanation:** Clearly explain the purpose of the roundup post, the topic, and the question.
* **Benefits of Participation:** Emphasize the benefits for the expert, such as increased exposure and brand visibility.
* **Easy Submission Process:** Provide clear instructions on how to submit their response, including the desired format and deadline.
* **Example Email Subject:** “Expert Contribution Request: [Topic of Roundup Post]”
* **Example Email Body:**

“`
Dear [Expert Name],

My name is [Your Name], and I’m the editor of [Your Blog Name], a blog focused on [Your Blog’s Niche].

I’m currently working on a roundup post on [Topic of Roundup Post], and I’d love to include your expertise.

The question I’m asking experts is: [Your Question]

Your insights on this topic would be invaluable to our audience of [Target Audience].

If you’re interested in participating, please send me your response (approximately [Word Count]) by [Deadline].

I’d be happy to include a link to your website and social media profiles in the post.

Thank you for your time and consideration.

Sincerely,
[Your Name]
[Your Blog Name]
“`

2. Following Up Strategically

* **Send a Reminder:** If you don’t receive a response within a week, send a polite reminder email.
* **Offer Flexibility:** Be willing to adjust the deadline if necessary.
* **Be Patient:** Experts are often busy, so allow them sufficient time to respond.
* **Express Gratitude:** Thank each expert for their participation.

Creating the Roundup Post in WordPress: A Step-by-Step Guide

Now for the fun part: bringing your roundup post to life in WordPress!

1. Setting Up the Post

* **Create a New Post:** In your WordPress dashboard, go to “Posts” -> “Add New”.
* **Write a Compelling Headline:** Craft a headline that is both informative and attention-grabbing. Use keywords to optimize for search engines. Examples: “20 Experts Reveal Their Top Content Marketing Secrets”, “The Ultimate Guide to [Topic]: Expert Insights”.
* **Craft an Engaging Introduction:** Introduce the topic, explain why it’s important, and highlight the experts you’ve featured. Set the stage for the valuable insights to come.
* **Use a Clear Structure:** Break down the post into logical sections with headings and subheadings. This improves readability.
* **Choose a Relevant Featured Image:** Select an image that represents the topic and makes the post visually appealing.

2. Displaying Expert Contributions

* **Individual Sections for Each Expert:** Dedicate a separate section to each expert’s contribution.
* **Expert Name and Title:** Clearly display the expert’s name and title (or a brief description of their expertise).
* **Expert Photo (Optional):** Include a professional headshot of each expert to add a personal touch.
* **Expert Bio (Optional):** Provide a brief bio for each expert, highlighting their accomplishments and credentials.
* **Proper Formatting:** Ensure that each expert’s response is clearly formatted and easy to read. Use paragraph breaks and bullet points as needed.
* **Direct Quotes:** Present the expert’s response as a direct quote, enclosed in quotation marks.
* **Link to Expert’s Website/Social Media:** Include a link to the expert’s website or social media profile to give them credit and drive traffic to their platforms.

3. Structuring Each Expert’s Section (Using HTML)

“`html

[Expert Name] – [Expert Title]

[Expert Bio (Optional)]

[Expert’s Response]

Learn more about [Expert Name] at: [Expert Website]

“`

Replace the bracketed placeholders with the appropriate information. `rel=”nofollow”` is used to avoid passing link juice and is optional. Using `target=”_blank”` ensures the link opens in a new tab.

4. Adding Visual Appeal and Readability

* **Use High-Quality Images:** Incorporate relevant images throughout the post to break up the text and enhance visual appeal. Consider using stock photos or creating custom graphics.
* **Optimize for Mobile:** Ensure that the post is responsive and looks good on all devices. Use a responsive WordPress theme.
* **Use White Space:** Don’t overcrowd the page with text. Use white space to improve readability.
* **Choose a Readable Font:** Select a font that is easy to read on screen.
* **Use Bullet Points and Lists:** Break down complex information into easily digestible bullet points and lists.

5. Optimizing for Search Engines (SEO)

* **Keyword Optimization:** Incorporate relevant keywords throughout the post, including the title, headings, and body text.
* **Meta Description:** Write a compelling meta description that accurately summarizes the content of the post. This is the snippet that appears in search engine results.
* **Image Alt Text:** Add descriptive alt text to all images. This helps search engines understand what the images are about.
* **Internal and External Linking:** Link to other relevant pages on your website (internal linking) and to external websites (external linking) to provide additional context and improve SEO.

6. Adding Calls to Action (CTAs)

* **Encourage Comments:** Ask readers to leave comments and share their own thoughts on the topic.
* **Promote Your Email List:** Encourage readers to subscribe to your email list to receive updates and exclusive content.
* **Share on Social Media:** Ask readers to share the post on social media.
* **Link to Related Content:** Link to other relevant posts on your website.

Promoting Your Roundup Post: Maximizing Reach and Impact

Creating a fantastic roundup post is only half the battle. Effective promotion is crucial for reaching your target audience and generating traffic.

1. Social Media Promotion

* **Share on All Relevant Platforms:** Share the post on all relevant social media platforms, such as Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram.
* **Tag the Experts:** Tag the experts you’ve featured in your social media posts. This will encourage them to share the post with their own followers.
* **Use Relevant Hashtags:** Use relevant hashtags to increase the visibility of your social media posts.
* **Create Multiple Posts:** Don’t just share the post once. Create multiple posts with different headlines and images to keep it top of mind.
* **Schedule Your Posts:** Use a social media scheduling tool to schedule your posts in advance.

2. Email Marketing

* **Send an Email to Your Subscribers:** Send an email to your subscribers announcing the new roundup post.
* **Highlight the Experts:** Highlight the experts you’ve featured in the email.
* **Include a Compelling Subject Line:** Use a compelling subject line to encourage people to open the email.
* **Segment Your List:** If possible, segment your email list to send the email only to subscribers who are interested in the topic.

3. Outreach to Experts (Again!)

* **Thank You Note:** Send a thank-you email to each expert, notifying them that the post is live and including a link.
* **Encourage Sharing:** Gently encourage them to share the post with their audience.
* **Provide Social Media Snippets:** Make it easy for them by providing pre-written social media updates they can copy and paste.

4. Guest Blogging

* **Write a Guest Post:** Write a guest post for another blog in your niche and link back to your roundup post.

5. Paid Advertising (Optional)

* **Consider Paid Ads:** If you have a budget, consider running paid ads on social media or Google to reach a wider audience.

Maintaining and Updating Your Roundup Post

A roundup post isn’t a one-and-done project. Consider these ongoing steps:

* **Monitor Comments:** Respond to comments and engage with your audience.
* **Update Links:** Check for broken links regularly and update them as needed.
* **Add New Experts (Optional):** Consider adding new experts to the post over time to keep it fresh and relevant.
* **Promote Regularly:** Continue to promote the post on social media and other channels.

By following these steps, you can create a successful roundup post that drives traffic, boosts your authority, and strengthens your relationships with industry experts.