Content Creation Series: Op Ed Piece
Jan 18
This is one of my favorite types of posts to write and I should probably do it more often. This is the post that is purely your opinion. Opinion Editorial post.
What is an op ed piece?
It’s a post where you find something related to your industry and simply give your opinion on the topic. (on this blog it is often called a RANT) 
You can choose a news story, or something that’s recently happened, a recent change in your niche, somebody who did a “dumb” thing. The things you can write an op ed piece on are endless!!
How to write a good op ed piece.
Here’s the key to writing a great op ed piece. Wait for it… you have to have an opinion! Not a “well I might think this, but I could see the other side too” opinion either. NOPE that won’t work. You have to come down strongly on one side of an issue or another, you can’t have it both ways.
To start your op ed piece explain a little about the situation you’re going to have an opinion on. If it’s something that happened let people know what it is, whatever the situation, let them know what happened so they can follow along and see why you feel the way you do.
Give your opinion. State your opinion, give reasons why and back up why you feel the way you do. Remember, this is all opinion so you REALLY can’t get it wrong. (But people can disagree with you!)
Now to end, if you are brave you can ask for others to tell you what they think in the comment section. If you’ve taken an unpopular stand on a topic you may find you get a lot of dissenting comments. You, as the blog owner, will need to make a decision on a couple things; what level of dissent you’re willing to take ie. if things get ugly are you going to delete the comments? The other thing you need to decide ~ and before you publish is better ~ are you going to respond to all the comments? Are you going to justify your stand?
This can be a tricky thing. It’s your opinion, you’re welcome to have it, and do you need to defend it? I think this will vary from blog to blog. You as the blog owner need to decide how you’re going to handle it. When making this decision keep in mind you are trying to further your community ~ so try to make sure your decision fosters the growth of your blog and your community.
Many times an op ed piece can be what gives your blog a boost. People may read it, and whether they agree or disagree they may decide to use it as a jumping off point for their own blog post. If they do that they may link to you. (and we all know links are GOOD!!) These links will be good for seo, but they can also lead a bunch of new readers to your site.
If you don’t want so much contraversy you can also end your post without such an open ending, something that doesn’t call people to take the action of making a comment. Maybe you use the call to action to share this post if you agree or something like that. You will probably still get comments but you may find since you didn’t ask for differing opinions you may not get as many. You will still need to decide how you as the blog owner will respond to any/all comments.
That’s pretty much it. Op Ed pieces are easy to write, and since many times they are about a current event you can get traffic in ways you don’t get everyday.
If you have questions about how you could use an op ed piece on your blog just ask in the comments section. I bet we can brainstorm and come up with something!
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I would pick maybe 5 of the top ones and submit to them. It’s not worth the time submitting to all them unless you can do it automatically with software.
Follow me @momtohanna on Twitter!
Thanks Jackie,
Am I too assume that when writing an article for each post and using the keyword as my anchor text that once EZA approves I should slightly alter and then submit to all the other article directories focusing mostly on those that have do follow links? Is there a limit as to how many directories per day I should submit to?
Thanks
Chad
Jackie – Hmm, a loophole around the new FTC regs? hehe.
Note to all – I am totally kidding, don’t try it. LOL
Follow me @DennisEdell on Twitter!
Hey Grateful Al,
In this comment I’m going to agree with both you and Jackie… these lines in my above comment said: “Many times I want to write a rant about some political news on my blog but that would be irrelevant… we’ve got to stay on message! Once in a while I’ve given my opinion in a IM dustup but haven’t thought about deliberately constructing it for different types of response as you describe… that’s something to think about…thanks”
I’m saying that writing a rant about some political news would be irrelevant but I have given my opinion in the matter of some internet
marketing controversy… and, in her response to your comment, Jackie is giving us some good ideas on how we can tie in something newsworthy that relates to the blog’s main topic.
I do agree with what you say about being taught to refrain from
certain subjects in a sales situation or a family reunion for that matter… that’s where the fur really flies!
But Jackie just gave us a subject to discuss and that makes for interesting conversation and good content for her blog!
Follow me @francivile on Twitter!
Yeah it probably could be seen that way depending on how you write the review.
Follow me @momtohanna on Twitter!
OK, so is a review of a particular something, really just an op ed piece of that particular something?
Follow me @DennisEdell on Twitter!
Yeah Chad ~ as I mentioned in the email this won’t work for every site, especially not mini product sites.
I would write an article for each post. In the resource box use the keyword you targeted on the specific post as the anchor text and point them to the specific post. You want each post on this site to rank so you want to build links to all of them.
Submit the main RSS feed ~ sooner than later.
Follow me @momtohanna on Twitter!
Great post Jackie, I like the idea of the post and I can see how they could be quite easy to write because who does not have an opinion
Don’t see how it would fit with my whole potty training seat blog, especially since I am close to my 10 posts and getting ready to promote, but I have taken notes and think it is a great way to put up content.
Speaking of promotion, when it comes to my potty training seats blog which is going to be a mini site and I am gearing most of my posts to product specific stuff, how many articles would you write and submit as part of your promotion? Still not sure if I can afford UAW but I am still considering. I am going to be writing one soon and submitting to EZA and then onto submitting my RSS feeds. Oh yeah, RSS feeds, do you just submit the RSS feed from the home page or do you also submit category feeds, posts, etc
Thanks
Chad
Hey Al
I said in the first sentence under “what is an op ed piece” to find something related to your niche.
I certainly wouldn’t ramble on about how Glen Beck is going to ruin the world here. But I could talk about how I hate getting 15 sales emails from 15 different people that all say the exact same thing only with a different name at the end.
If I did a dog blog I could talk about the case of a puppy who was recently burned almost to death and then thrown in a trash can. Which led to legislation to protect animals.
If I did a health care blog I could give my opinion for or against the new h1n1 vaccination.
People are not buying your site ~ they buy into YOU as a person, so giving your opinions and letting people know who you are is really important.
Yes you may lose some readers but they will be the readers who you are not a perfect match with and that’s ok. You may also attract more readers who ARE a perfect match.
Follow me @momtohanna on Twitter!
Jackie,
I for one tend to agree with FranCivile about staying “on message.”
What is the old adage about avoiding discussions about religion and politics in polite company.
As a Born-Again Christian, can I alienate some potential readers if I voice a particular viewpoint regarding potential controversies?
The same would apply to the volatile political landscape. I don’t believe a monetized business plan would prosper if I continue to point out the faults of the liberal scumbags trying to run our nation into the ground. (Easy now!)
When I was in direct sales, I was trained to go to great extents to always be agreeable with every prospect, to find their interests. I was to do nothing that would possibly cause the loss of a single potential client. If they cursed or smoked or had a drink, I was told to refuse to do the same. I understand why now; it was more about control of the sales situation – no distractions and to always remain “professional.”
Is it possible I may lose a subscriber or reader? For any reason.
I would suggest if someone is writing to earn, it might be much safer ground to stick with your doing ‘review’ posts as to ‘opinion’ pieces.
Are there times when cultural, business, and or political issues might collide, yes. (See the recent FTC rulings regarding online business practices or potential taxation programs.)
To ‘rant’ about things like that might cause some controversy, but seems a lot safer ground.
For me, I have a separate blog to address my personal feelings and insights and other social media I publish to. I am always aware to avoid any association between the two so to avoid possibly alienating anyone because I may offend their personal sensibilities or ideals.
Follow me @1GratefulAl on Twitter!
Hi Jackie, I love the way you come up with interesting ideas and
suggestions.
The opinion page is the first thing I read in my local Seattle Times
newspaper and some online at the Huff Post,the New York Times, the Washington Post and I love to read the online comments…
not all of them because there can be hundreds of them … sometimes I
comment too and I also give thumbs up/down or approve/disapprove checks
where available.
Many times I want to write a rant about some political news on my blog
but that would be irrelevant… we’ve got to stay on message! Once in
a while I’ve given my opinion in a IM dustup but haven’t thought about
deliberately constructing it for different types of response as you
describe… that’s something to think about…thanks.
So I’ll be watching for your next op ed piece and let loose with my
could be fun!
comments
Have a great day!
Follow me @francivile on Twitter!