HOW TO COME UP WITH IDEAS FOR BLOG CONTENT
Content is at the heart of any blog. It’s what makes people read your blog in the first place – and it’s what keeps people coming back to your blog time and time again.
If you’re just starting a blog, you’re probably full of exciting ideas for posts that you can’t wait to write (if you’re not, make sure that you’ve chosen a subject you’re passionate about). Somewhere down the line, whether it’s after 20 posts or 200, you’re probably going to be struggling to come up with new ideas. It’s a problem that every writer faces. Sometimes you just hit a rut in creativity. When you find yourself in these moments, try the following tips to come up with ideas for new blog posts.
Keep a Running List
One of the best ways to make sure that you don’t run out of ideas is to keep a list going. Often, you may think of an idea while reading something else, in the middle of a conversation, or while you’re out on a walk. Don’t let that ideal getaway! Write it down, and regularly record all your ideas in one place (a journal, a Google Doc, a spreadsheet, whatever works for you). That way, you’ll have a go-to source of ideas. If you ever need to come up with a blog post quickly, you’ll be prepared.
Read, Read, Read
Reading other content is one of the best ways to come up with your own ideas. That doesn’t mean to simply copy someone else’s topic (although you might want to write on the same topic if you have your own information to add to it). Reading an article might inspire you with an idea about a related topic, or you might come up with an intriguing question that leads to a blog post. The more you read, the more informed you’ll be, and the more information you’re processing, the more likely you are to come up with interesting and knowledgeable blog posts.
Look for Questions
Often, lingering questions produce some of the best ideas for posts. Our friends and family asking you similar questions about your industry in conversation? Write a blog post to answer them. Has someone left a question in the comments on one of your posts? It’s probably a great idea for a new post. Is there something you’ve always wondered about your subject? You guessed it – write a blog post about it. You can find questions in a lot of places. Try searching through FAQ pages related to your area of interest. Read other blogs and see if people in the comments have questions, or if other bloggers are leaving anything unanswered. Questions mean that there’s a need for information, and you can fill that need.
Update an Old Post
Look back through your blog. Do you have any popular posts that you could add to? Maybe you posted about a news item, and there have been more recent developments. Maybe you made a post offering advice and strategies, and you have some new ideas to add-in. It’s perfectly acceptable to add an update as a new post. If you think you’ll continue to have updates, you can even make it a series. A series is also a great way to add some consistency to your blog.
When in Doubt, Ask
Sometimes you can let ideas come to you. This is particularly true if you have a decent amount of readers or followers on social media. If you’re stuck for ideas, try reaching out to your followers with a tweet or Facebook post asking what they want to know about. You might come up with some great ideas, and you’re guaranteed to have at least one interested reader.
Chapter:
- WHY START A BLOG?
- HOW TO CHOOSE A NICHE FOR YOUR BLOG
- CHOOSING A BLOGGING PLATFORM
- SETTING UP A WORDPRESS BLOG
- HOW TO COME UP WITH IDEAS FOR BLOG CONTENT
- HOW TO WRITE ENGAGING BLOG POSTS
- MONETIZING YOUR BLOG
- FIVE BLOGGING MISTAKES TO AVOID
- GENERATING TRAFFIC TO YOUR BLOG
