Coming up with ideas for blog content on a regular basis can be rather difficult for many people. It’s one of the biggest objections I hear whenever I speak on blogging. How do you think up new stuff to write about that isn’t just a repeat of something you have already done?
During this month long challenge of 21 blog posts in 21 business days, I’ve found myself at times even pondering what to write on next. But, what I have come to the conclusion is that by using one of the four options below to inspire content for your blog, you should almost always have a wealth of content available. These are the four areas I turn to when I am trying to think of something to write about:
1. Content written by others. No, I don’t mean go copy & paste something you liked that was written by someone else. That’s called plagiarism. What I mean is go out & read content written by others in your industry. You will come across posts that you like that you can then write in your own words or make it applicable to your area.
Another thing I do with these posts written by others on a rather regular basis is use it as a underlying theme to a post. I may write what I liked or didn’t like about the other person’s post. Or I may write a blog post why I agree or disagree with a concept/idea that they shared. This is a great source of content for your blog, and can also help you learn things from time to time.
2. New Products. No matter what type of business or blog you run, there is always something new coming to that industry. Either some new piece of technology comes about or you find something that you really enjoy implementing into your business. When you find these things, they can make some really great topics for blog posts. People love learning about new things and how they might be able to use it to make their job easier. I’ve written numerous posts about things I use when building a custom WordPress site for a client and have received many comments thanking me for providing help to others.
3. Past Experiences. Getting content ideas from here can be a blessing or a curse depending on what you pick to write about. In the past I have shared funny stories of working with clients, but some that share stories can end up getting into hot water by sharing things that they probably shouldn’t have. You have to always remember to use a good level of discretion when writing content for your website as it will live on the internet forever.
But, on the other hand sharing things you have experienced and had to do in the past to reach a level of success or accomplishment can make great content for your blog.
4. Your Inbox. This last area is probably my biggest secret weapon for new blog content. Every day I receive anywhere from 10-20 emails from clients of past, current, and potential regarding all types of topics. What I realized a few years ago was that if I was receiving the same question on a regular basis from those I’m connected to, how many other thousands of people were asking the same question and looking for an answer. The video tutorials alone that I have created to answer questions related to WordPress have generated well over 3,000 views.
These are the ways I come up with content for my blog. What about you? What is your inspiration for your blog topics?