What the Heck Do I Blog About?
I get this question about once a week. And half of the time, it’s coming from a company with an established blog. Why?
Starting a blog is easy, keeping one going…well, that’s another story.
There comes a point in the life of almost any blog where you start to think you've got nothing left to say. Every tip’s been given, every argument discussed that the frequency of your posts ever-so-gently slows to a mere crawl.
It happens to the best of us (me included). But regardless of your industry, there’s always something to write about.
Tip 1: Forget about marketing. Blogs are indispensable for attracting, acquiring and engaging customers. But these are perks, not purposes of the channel. Don’t approach each entry with the sole intent of marketing your wares. Even when done indirectly, this limits your vision. Just share content without any motives — it can free up the process.
Tip 2: Let interests guide you. Nothing waylays the writing process more than sticking to topics you think you should write about. I’ve been guilty of this — more times than I’d like to mention. Instead of basing your posts on what’s trending now, let your interests guide you.
Tip 3: Use RSS Feeds. Other blogs can be a goldmine for ideas. Subscribe to some of the leading blogs in your industry to help stimulate the creative process. Even if you don’t consider yourself a though-leader in your field, you probably can offer a new bent on the most exhausted of topics.
Tip 4: Revisit past posts. There’s always room to expand on past insights. I mean, think about. How much can you really say in just 500 words or so? Revisit old post as a way of inspiring and informing new ones.
Tip 5: Lean on readers. Blogs are great for creating conversations, but they can also guide the direction of the blogs themselves. Look back at what readers are saying, and write to their questions and concerns. The worst thing to happen is your blog becomes even more interactive.
Tip 6: Reconsider your sources. Books, magazines and blogs dedicated to the industry of your business are always helpful. But reading some seemingly unrelated materials can spark ideas for posts as well. Consider topics like philosophy, ethics or history to inform your next entry.
Tip 7: Spend less and less time blogging. Sounds counterintuitive, right? But some of my best posts are those that took me almost no time to write. Free your mind and just let your thoughts flow. You’ll be surprised how productive you can be.
Tip 8: Write. Besides reading, writing is one of the easiest and most effective ways for coming up with additional content. But I’m not talking about writing just when you need content for your site. Do it everyday. Even if you never use the stuff, writing aids in the practice of writing. In fact, your posts will just get better and better for it.
This post was originally published on Digital Pivot.