Creating product comparison articles is a fantastic content strategy for any blogger, no matter what niche you might specialize in.
Whether your blog is about software, online subscriptions, or travel, comparing different products benefits you in two ways: it positions you as a thought leader or expert while potentially generating affiliate marketing dollars through your site.
Naturally, you’ll want to tweak this template a little to suit your personal style. Still, the outline you’ll discover below will serve you well no matter what kind of products you might want to compare.
Let’s get started!
The Template
You’ll find this product comparison template to be beneficial. The beginning and end are simple: you’ll write an introduction, introduce its basic features, and end the whole comparison with a call to action.
Yes, it would be best if you indeed avoided being biased when writing product comparisons. However, you’ll still want to inject some of your personal opinions about each item.
By doing that, you’ll be helping your readers form their own views on which options will suit them best.
Still, don’t be afraid to tweak it a little to fit your natural style a little better!
Let’s take a closer look at each step.
Step 1: Write an Introduction
Every product comparison post should start with a simple introduction. As you write this part, it’s essential to keep in mind your reader’s knowledge level. You don’t have to explain things that they’re already well aware of.
For example, suppose you’re reviewing specialized coffee equipment. In that case, it’s safe to assume that your readers already know the basics about coffee making!
Keep your introduction short and simple, and highlight what products you’ll be comparing and how you’ll be doing so.
Step 2: Comparing Side-by-Side vs One At A Time
At this point in the process, you’ll want to decide how you’ll be structuring your product comparison. Some bloggers prefer comparing items side by side. That means comparing several products at the same time, based on one feature at a time.
That structure will work well if you’re comparing a small number of products (maybe two or three). However, it’s more challenging to do with a larger number of items.
The more practical option would be to compare items one at a time. No matter how many products you’re reviewing, you’ll give each product a section of its own and evaluate its benefits and drawbacks individually.
Then, you can end the comparison with an overall highlight of which products are better than others.
Step 3: Start With The Basic Features
As you evaluate each product for your comparison, start by introducing their basic features. This part should be free from any kind of opinions. You’re simply stating what the product has to offer.
Let’s continue using the previous example of specialised coffee equipment. Suppose you’re comparing coffee machines that use coffee pods. You’ll begin by introducing each machine’s essential features, such as how large the water tank is and whether or not it has a timer/clock feature.
Remember: at this point, you’re not saying if the features are good or bad yet. You’re just laying them out for your readers to see what each product has to offer.
Step 4: What Do You Like About Each Product?
Once you’ve listed the basic features of the product, then you can begin sharing your opinions. Firstly, what do you like about the products you’re comparing? This is the part where you’d share the advantages or the ‘pros’ of the product.
If you like a specific product feature, be sure to point out how that feature would help your readers. That way, they’ll be able to imagine what it’s like to own and use that product.
As you can see, this is the part where you share your insight into the product and how it can help your readers.
Step 5: What Do You Not Like About Each Product?
Product comparison must be honest and fair. That’s why you should also include a section on what you did not like about each product you’re comparing. In other words, be sure to include any drawbacks that you might discover along the way.
Remember: there is no such thing as a perfect product. So, all of them have their fair share of drawbacks. If, however, you can’t think of any in your case, try to imagine how certain types of users might be disadvantaged by the product.
For example, a specialised coffee maker seems easy to use, right? All you’d have to do is press a button, and it’ll make a tasty cup of coffee without any fuss. So what could a drawback possibly be?
Well, one example could be that it only uses a particular type of coffee pod. That could be a drawback for some users, as they’d be limited to the coffee flavours that come in those pods.
Step 6: What Are Your Final Recommendations?
Once you’ve highlighted each product, its features, and its pros and cons, now comes the time to make your final recommendations. For this part of the product comparison, you generally have two options. You can either:
- Highlight one product that is the best among all the others, or
- Highlight multiple products, and show which ones are best for specific needs.
Again, let’s suppose you’re comparing coffee machines. You could compare several models and then choose which one’s the best of them all right at the end. That’ll be the product that you recommend for your readers to purchase.
Or, you could perhaps highlight two or three different machines. For instance, you could see that Coffee Machine A is the best for budget shoppers. At the same time, Coffee Machine B is the best option for people who want a machine that automatically makes many different types of coffee (e.g. lattes and cappuccinos).
Even though we’re using coffee machines as an example, the same idea applies to pretty much anything, really. Even if you’re a travel blogger comparing two hotels, you’d have the same options; highlight one hotel that’s better than the other, or explain why Hotel A is best for some people while Hotel B will suit others better.
Step 7: End With A Call To Action
You’ve captured your readers’ attention, and then you’ve laid out the options and showed them which products are better than others. Now’s the time to convert them into buyers.
A simple and straightforward call to action would be to tell them to click on an affiliate link to make their purchase. Some bloggers prefer putting those links under each product throughout the post, while others might only put it right at the end. Either one will work well, so choose one that you feel suits your blog’s style better.
When writing your call to action, remember:
- Keep it short and sweet.
- Don’t be afraid to use verbs strongly, like “Buy Now” or “Click Now”.
- Use words that invoke enthusiasm and help them imagine owning the product, like “Buy Now To Enjoy A Professionally-Brewed Coffee Each Morning”.
Final Thoughts
Lastly, don’t be afraid to get creative. Remember: this template is just that, a template. It’ll be helpful as a starting point. As you gain experience writing product comparisons, you’ll start to develop a unique style that helps you stand out from other blogs!
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Product comparisons not only help your blog make money, but also turn you into a trusted expert. Click here to discover how to write a product comparison that converts your readers!
