Writing is an Acquired Talent… and Challenge
If you have a blog you always have to literally be on the prowl for great post ideas. This includes thinking about the topics that not only are what your visitors want to read about, but that engage them, cover current topics of interest and make them want to read more.
Then taking the necessary time to craft a worthy article.
This is a challenge for any blog owner from those just starting out to established larger blogs alike. Creating content, good content, takes time and a well thought out approach. If you want to have a blog that gets bookmarked and better yet subscribed to, you have to be exceptionally aware about how everything you read, see or hear can be turned into an interesting blog post.
This includes being tapped into industry trends and current events that may have an impact on the use of your product or service or your customers who use them.
How to Collect Post Ideas
- Keep notes on what your customer ask about most. Those questions are goldmines for future blog posts and your FAQ. From how-tos to more detailed studies or whitepapers, let your customers guide you on your topic priorities. If you have these questions on your FAQ page, you can link to a more comprehensive and detailed answer on your blog.
I have a little red diary type notebook that is pretty much with me all the time. I know old fashioned. But I love notebooks — and could probably collect them if I let myself. Love all the neat designs and how they feel in my hands! (Plus I get to doodle!) When I get even the slightest flash of a good idea, I write it down. Right then and there. If I don’t, I know I’ll get distracted and the idea will be gone. There’s notes apps on your phone you can use for this too.
- Subscribe and read as many other bloggers in your area of focus as you can to keep up with trends and conversations. No doubt you’ll run into post topics that you can easily put your own unique spin on or voice your opinion about. I have a folder in my email program called “My Blogs” and then subfolders for each of my blogs within. When I get an email that notes something I want to address in a future post, I highlight that topic and then file it in the appropriate folder for when I have that all too common writer’s block.
When actually at a blog with a topic that you want to expound upon or add your own little twist to, here again, create a bookmark folder in your browser for “Future Posts” and bookmark that post’s page for future reference. Many blogs have the option of emailing posts. In that case you can email yourself a copy to be filed in your email program’s blog folder for when you are ready to write your fresh and original post on the topic.
- Something I also do is to login to my WordPress Admin panel, and use that nifty Quick Draft widget on the homepage in your dashboard. I Title it with my idea and then put some quick notes about the direction I want to type about in the content area. Don’t see the Quick Draft Widget? Make sure you are on your Dashboard (left sidebar), then click Screen Options — top right. Check the box to the left of Quick Draft. This way I also have a collection of Drafts I can draw upon for future posts.
BONUS TIP!
Check out Google’s AdWords Keyword Planner. Don’t worry, you don’t have to buy ads to use the tool. This is a way to “see” what folks are searching for to add to your stable of topic ideas!
Login with your Google account credentials, click on the wrench icon top/right then choose Keyword Planner. You can query Google’s database to find out what folks are searching for relative to your market and topic. You’ll be able to see the search volume and competitiveness by the PPC amounts. Click the Download button to download the info so you can refer to at a later date.
Always Be Open to Potential Topics
It is the rare talent that can sit at their keyboard and just start typing away every day, day in and day out and produce relevant quality posts of interest. That’s why having a collection of resources available that have already spurred your creative juices is a great idea! You’ll soon find you’ve grown a healthy archive of post ideas that will be available when you need them.
Remember, first and foremost when writing great posts is thinking about what your readers want to read about. That’s really all that matters. By always having that radar on and taking a moment when you find these gems or have those incredible epiphanies to jot them down, bookmark them, file them or draft them — you’ll save yourself a ton of time and actually make creating your posts more enjoyable. For you and your readers alike!
At your service,
