January 2, 2013

How to Find New Blog Topics

Keeping your website content fresh is a critical component to achieving good search engine results.  The search engines prefer websites that add new content regularly.   The easiest way to do this is with your blog.

Of course, sometimes that is easier said than done.  Even the best writers suffer from writer’s block and the pressure of knowing you need to write something often makes it worse.

Here are just a few of the tricks I use to keep fresh blog ideas coming.

  • Keep a notebook where you write down potential blog topics as they you think of them.   Sometimes the best ideas come to you when you are out shopping or watching your favorite tv show but when you try to write a blog post these great ideas are forgotten.  I like to keep a notepad where write down my ideas to use later.  When ideas come to me when I'm out and about, I sometimes leave myself a voice message on my phone, or text or email myself a note. When it is time to write a post you can flip through your brilliant ideas and find a new topic to write about.  
  • Look at common customer questions about your products or services.
    Do customers seem to always ask the same questions about your products and services?  Can you answer these common questions in the form of a blog post? 
  • Look at competitor’s blogs or websites.  What information are they sharing?  Don’t be afraid of looking for ideas on other websites.  Of course you can’t copy their ideas exactly but you can use them to develop your own ideas.   
  • Look at the articles you receive in your email.  Find ideas and inspiration there, and then rewrite or write newly your view of the subject matter.
  • Look for seasonal inspiration.  Are there topics or issues that come up seasonally for your readers?
  • Ask your readers to submit questions or topics of interest.
    Quite simply, ask your readers to tell you what topics they want  you to write about.   Ask on your website, or in your newsletter. 
  • Review your analytics and find your most popular posts.
    Look at your analytics and see what posts get the most traffic or review your blog to see what posts get the most comments.  Can you expand further on the topics or write about similar type posts?
  • If all else fails, don’t be afraid to hire a copywriter.
    Let us write, edit and publish your blog posts for you.   

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