Why Does One Member Consistently Have Top Posts on CRM Software Blog?

We keep track of which posts get the most traffic on CRM Software Blog, and we noticed that one member consistently has multiple posts in the top 10 each month.

So we decided to take a closer look at what they are doing.

You might assume their posts rank higher in Google, that they are doing more SEO, or even that they are simply better writers. But when we looked at the data, none of those things really explained it.

The biggest difference was much simpler: they choose topics people are already searching for, and they use very clear titles that tell people exactly what the post is about.

There were a few other things they did consistently that seemed to help too. Here is what we found.

1. They Choose Topics With Search Demand 

This member writes about specific things people want to know how to do. Two examples are:

• How to Merge Duplicate Records in Dynamics 365
  

• WhatsApp Integration with Dynamics 365

Those aren't particularly clever titles, and that's actually the point. You immediately know what you're going to get when you click on them.

Compare that with a title like:

• The Hidden Cost of Disconnected Data

That might be a great article. But how many people are actually typing “the hidden cost of disconnected data” into Google?

Someone is much more likely to search for something specific, such as:

• How to Connect Dynamics 365 Sales with Business Central

We saw a pretty dramatic example of this in the data. Another member publishes regularly, writes good posts and fills in all the SEO fields. In the period we compared, their posts received 7 Google search impressions while the member we were analyzing received 2,001.

That doesn't mean one member is doing a better job. They are choosing topics with much more search demand.

The takeaway: Before you write a post, think about whether your prospects are actually searching for that topic. Customer questions, sales conversations and support questions are all good places to find ideas. You can also start typing your topic into Google and see what Google suggests.

That being said, many of you know that Anya also feels there is a place for posts that build trust instead of just traffic. Read: Should You Write Blog Posts for the Humans or the Robots?

2. They Publish a Lot of Content

This member also publishes more frequently than most of our members.

That helps, but it isn't the whole answer. We have other members who publish frequently and don't get the same traffic. Publishing more gives you more chances to get found, but topic choice still matters.

You certainly don't need to publish 10 or 11 posts every month. We recommend choosing a schedule you can realistically maintain. Even two or three good posts a month can add up to a lot of useful content over a year.

We also recommend keeping a running list of questions you hear from prospects and customers. Instead of sitting down and thinking, “What should we write about this month?” you already have a list of real questions to choose from.

3. They Promote Every Post

This was another interesting difference.

The member shares every post on LinkedIn, Facebook and X using a social media scheduling tool. About 20% of their traffic came from social media and direct visits, compared with about 4% for the other members we reviewed.

One of their most popular posts is a great example. It received only three Google search impressions but still got 80 views from social media and direct traffic.

So while we talk a lot about SEO, don't forget the obvious: tell people when you publish something.

Share the post on your company LinkedIn page. Have the author share it from their personal account. Ask other people on your team to like, comment or share it. You've already done the work to create the content, so make sure you help people find it.

4. They Use a Consistent Format 

The posts from this member also tend to follow the same basic structure. They answer the main question quickly, include key takeaways near the top, use clear subheadings and often include a table and FAQ section.

We don't think this is the main reason their posts get more traffic. We found posts using the same format that received hundreds of Google impressions and others that received almost none. Again, the topic seems to matter much more.

But the format does help. It makes the posts easier to skim and makes the answers easier for Google and AI tools to understand. It probably also makes it easier to publish consistently because the member isn't reinventing the format every time.

You don't need to copy this exact structure. We recommend finding a format that works for you, then using it consistently. Make your posts easy to follow and the answers easy to find.

5. They Do the SEO Basics 

This member fills in the focus keyphrase, writes a meta description and uses the product name in the title when it makes sense.

We recommend doing those things too. But don't assume that filling in all the Yoast fields is the secret to getting traffic.

Several of the members we compared are doing the same SEO basics and getting very different results.

Good SEO helps a good topic. But it can't create interest in a topic people aren't searching for. 

Really, the biggest differentiator is point #1 – choosing topics with search demand.

A New Tool to Help You Choose Better Blog Topics 

Of course, telling you to “choose topics people are searching for” is easier than actually figuring out what those topics should be.

So we have been working on a new tool for ERP Software Blog and CRM Software Blog members that will help you identify the types of content and topics that have a better chance of bringing traffic to your posts.

We will launch the new tool on November 11.

Our goal is to take some of the guesswork out of choosing what to write about. Instead of starting with a blank page and wondering what your next blog post should be, you'll have more information to help you choose topics based on what people are actually interested in.

We'll share more details about how to use the tool when it launches.

In the Meantime, Start With Your Next Post

Before you start writing, spend a little more time thinking about the topic and title.

Ask yourself: Would one of our prospects actually type something like this into Google?

Then make the title as specific as you can. Include the Microsoft product or solution when it makes sense, clearly say what problem you're solving, fill in the basic SEO information, and share the post once it's published.

One of the advantages we have at GroupBloggers is that we can look at traffic across hundreds of posts from many different members. In this case, the pattern was pretty clear: the biggest difference wasn't longer articles or more complicated SEO. It was choosing topics people were already looking for.

Starting November 11, we'll have a new tool to help our members do exactly that. Get details.