WordPress How To: Quick Tips for Gathering Great Post Ideas
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If you have a blog, you must always be on the lookout for great post ideas. You want to think about topics that not only appeal to your visitors but also reflect your knowledge and expertise, which builds trust. Trust equals more business.
You do this by covering current topics of interest about your products or services. The topics include what your customers ask you and what you can provide actionable information on, such as in this article.
If you do a good job, readers will be encouraged to want to read more and bookmark your website. In addition, great articles can instill confidence in placing that order or signing up for your newsletter.
To succeed in this effort, you have to take the time to craft an excellent article. Of course, this requires you to hone your writing skills so you can cater to how folks consume online content.
And no, “AI slop” will not do. You need to write articles of value in your own voice and personality.
What to Write About
I get asked all the time how I come up with post ideas, since I write so much, considering I have several blogs that I must take the time to post on each. Add to that the fact that my Blogs are decades old. So, “How do you come up with new stuff after all these years?”
Honestly, sometimes, it’s not easy. “Don’t you run out of ideas?” “How do you come up with something new and fresh?” “How do you stay enthused about such a pragmatic, detailed process?”
Consistency and commitment.
I never said it’s easy. But it may be easier for me because I’ve been doing this for so long. It’s a habit. From knowing how to optimize articles without thinking about it to having a system that tracks future potential content ideas.
Writing is a Skill… and Challenge
Good writing takes time, and excellent writing takes even more. This is just a fact.
I run into shallow, keywordy, SEO ‘d-to-death posts every day. Now add AI gobedly gook that I can spot a mile away. They serve no purpose other than to disappoint and reflect a lack of depth on the topic and the site’s ulterior motives (affiliate links, ad clicks, SEO keyword stuffing).
Content creation is challenging for every blog owner, from startups to established and more prominent blogs. Unfortunately, many folks don’t think about developing a system for approaching this important task. Believe me, having a system will make all the difference in the world.
The goal is to have a blog that gets bookmarked and, better yet, subscribed to. Your first step, naturally, is to be aware of how everything related to your business that you read, see, or hear can be turned into an interesting blog post.
You want to stay aware of industry trends and current events, particularly those that may affect your product or service or its customers. And, start taking notes.
How to Collect Post Ideas
Some use their calendars; others take manual notes by carrying a journal to write down inspiration when it hits them. Whatever works for you, find a system and stick to it.
Keep notes on what your customers ask about most.
The best thing you can do is track the questions your customers ask. If I see a pattern forming with the same questions, others will likely want to know the answers or your thoughts on those topics as well.
Once I am asked a question twice, I make a note. The third time, it becomes a draft for a future post or is added to my FAQ. This way, that information is readily available to site visitors. Or, if I am asked again, I can also provide a link to the answers and details the questioner is seeking.
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. Then, from the questions on your FAQ page, you can link to a more comprehensive and detailed article on your blog.
I have a little red diary-type notebook on my desk. I know, it’s old-fashioned. But I love notebooks—and could probably collect them if I let myself. I love all the neat designs and how they feel in my hands! (Plus, I get to doodle!)
When I get the slightest flash of what could turn into a WordPress post, I write ideas down. Right then and there. I know I’ll get distracted if I don’t, and the idea will disappear. Don’t do notebooks? You can use note apps on your phone for this, too.
Subscribe and read as many other bloggers as you can in your area of focus.
Reading is how you keep up with trends and conversations. You’ll undoubtedly run into post topics you can quickly put your unique spin on or voice your opinion about.
I have a folder in my email program called “My Blogs” and subfolders for each blog. 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-familiar writer’s block.
When you land on a blog with a topic you want to expound upon or add your little twist to, create a bookmark folder in your browser. For example, my folder is called “Future Posts.” I then bookmark that post’s page for future reference.
Many blogs offer the option to email posts. In that case, you can email yourself a copy to be filed in your email program’s blog folder. You can then refer to that folder when you write your fresh and original post on the topic. (Fresh and original means no copying, that’s copyright infringement!)
Something I also do…
If I hit a time-sensitive topic enough to jump to the front of the line, I’ll 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, then take quick notes on the direction I want to take in the content area.
Don’t see the Quick Draft Widget? Ensure you are on your Dashboard (click Dashboard in the top left sidebar), then click the Screen Options tab at the top right. Check the box to the left of Quick Draft. This approach provides a collection of drafts I can draw upon for future posts.
Outdated Posts to Draft
When I find an outdated or no-longer-relevant post, I do not delete it. Instead, I temporarily set it to draft status and investigated how to update it to keep it current. You want to keep that permalink available for any inbound links.
Then, you want to update the post as soon as possible after you put it in draft. Otherwise, a 301 redirect to the current content should be implemented to prevent site visitors from receiving 404s.
BONUS TIP!
Check out Google’s AdWords Keyword Planner. Don’t worry; you don’t have to buy ads to use the tool. Instead, you can “see” what folks are searching for to add to your collection of topic ideas.
Log in with your Google account credentials, click the wrench icon at the top/right, then choose Keyword Planner. Next, you can query Google’s database to find out what folks are searching for relative to your market and topic.
You’ll see the search volume and competitiveness for each PPC amount. Then click the Download button to save the information for later reference.
Another fun site to get topic ideas is AnswerThePublic. Once you type your keyword phrase, the site will display what folks are searching for. If they are searching for answers, here is your opportunity to provide them.
Always Be Open to Unexpected Potential Topics
It is a rare talent to sit at a keyboard, type daily, day in and day out, and produce relevant, interesting posts. The best approach is to have a collection of resources that have sparked your creative juices across various topics.
When writing great posts, remember, first and foremost, to think about what your readers want to read. Solve a problem, make their life easier, and address their concerns. That’s what matters.
By always having that radar on when you find these gems or have those incredible epiphanies, you will habitually jot them down, bookmark them, file them, or draft them. You’ll always have ideas at your fingertips to write about.
Get your system in place, and you’ll save a ton of time and make creating your posts more enjoyable for you and your readers.
At your service,
