I recently asked a group of business women the following question: “What is stopping you from blogging?” Several of them responded by saying that they were afraid that they couldn't come up with enough blog post ideas. What if they got started and didn't have enough to blog about? Not enough content!
Actually, I should start with the fact that I felt the same way before I started blogging. My first blog was on July 24, 2009 and I titled it “Scared” because, well, I was. I really had no idea what I was going to blog about, but the one thing I learned from the movie Julie & Julia (one of my favorite movies of all time) was that you just need to pick something and start to blog. LOL
So ask yourself this – Why do I want to blog?
- To generate leading authority status for you or your business?
- To drive traffic to your website?
- To keep a log of your growing children? (Maybe I should start a blog about my grandbaby.)
- To share recipes you love with the world?
- Maybe you just have stuff in your head that you want the world to know?
Once you know the “why”, the content will come. You know the line “build it and they will come.” It doesn't just work for baseball fields. It works for blog content as well.
The one thing I can tell you is that you have, within your immediate grasp, enough information in your brain to write your first several blog posts. You can worry about the rest later.
5 Ways to Get Blog Post Ideas
Blog Post Ideas – 1. Brain Dump
Sit down with a piece of paper and start to write one, two, or three word phrases that explain something you have done or know something about, just as they come to your mind.
Blog posts, pictures, what can I write, 10 minute blog, brownies, laundry, WordPress, marketing, trucking, assistant, and I could go on and on. (Brownies because they are cooking in the kitchen and smell so good.)
OK, you get the idea. Just randomly write down things that you know anything about. Then pick 5 of them that you would feel comfortable having a discussion about with a colleague-those are your blog post ideas!
Blog Post Ideas – 2. Ask a Question on Social Media
Asking questions on Twitter or Facebook can really give you some great ideas. I once asked the members of my Decisive Minds Fan Page “What is the 1 thing you really need help with in your business?” I got some really great answers which lead to 5 new article ideas.
Blog Post Ideas – 3. What Topics are Trending in Your Industry?
What are other experts in your field writing about? What topics are on the front of industry magazines? Are there particular subjects that are trending in your industry? For example, right now in business, there is a lot of talk about blogs. Yes, there could be many other people right now writing an article about what to write blogs about but none of those posts would be like this one. The fact that I am writing it makes it unique and different from the others.
Blog Post Ideas – 4. Google Adwords Keyword Planner
Have you used the Google Adwords Keyword Planner to see what people are Googling about your topic? The Keyword Planner will give you hundreds of ideas for blog posts.
Blog Post Ideas – 5. Guest Posts
There are lots of people in your industry that would love to be guest bloggers on your site as long as your site fits with their topic. If you look at my blog you will see lots of blogs from guest bloggers.
My friend and mentor Adam Urbanski has a saying “Anything worth doing is worth doing poorly to begin with!” That means don't wait for perfection. It rarely comes! Just get started. Write your first post about how scared you are, like I did. You can even call it “Scared” if you want to – I don't mind. I promise your post will be different than mine! Just take action and move forward! Then drop me a line to let me know you did it!
This post was originally posted June 2010. Updated January 2018!
Very great top 5 tips for post ideas!
Never really thought of using social media to get ideas … great idea! 🙂
Thanks!
–PK
Your welcome Piotr! Thanks for reading, Michele
Thanks Karen, If you have any questions while you are setting up your fan page let me know. Actually that is one of the things I will be teaching during my upcoming webinar series “Online & Social Media Marketing Mastery Summer Program 2010” which will begin next week. If you want more details you can check it out at http://OnlineMarketingWithMichele.com . Thanks for commenting – I love to meet new like-minded people.
Thanks,
Michele
Michele ~
I’d have to say you’ve done a mighty fine job of taking away the “fear” factor and building the confidence of people who are sitting on the fence or skiddish about starting a blog!
I really love your “rapid-fire” approach to finding ideas to blog about – paper and pen! – and write down what’s on your mind right now. Simple.
Write On!
Melanie
#blog30
LOL – You should have seen it the first time I did it – I had a legal pad that started out with one column and before it was done I had words written in every direction – I think some might have been upside down! :)) It really works any time you get stuck! Thanks for reading,
Michele
Hi Michele,
I like the suggestion about not having to write them all yourself!
With that in mind, I’m lining up guest bloggers to help me do just that! 🙂
~Henry~
Hey Henry, That has been on of my saving graces. The day I realized I don’t have to do it all I just need to provide good information for my readers! Good luck and be sure to leverage those guest blogs on social media!
Michele
Good idea, Michele. I hadn’t considered putting questions on social media.
Thanks also for introducing me to Commoncraft. I love their work already.
Your so welcome Virginia! I am glad you got something new out of the post! It works spectacularly! Michele
I made a list called “What to blog about” and I keep it on my desk top. When I’m working… and get a new idea… I quickly add it to my list. Many of my ideas come from the suggestions you have made in your post.
I have about 45 ideas that I have not used yet…. so I’m okay for awhile.
I love the guest posting idea. After Blog30… perhaps we could connect?
Hey Kathryn – That is exactly what happens. All of a sudden almost everything that happens to you during the day is a possible blog post. LOL I would love to connect in July and see what we can do together! Thanks, Michele
Hi Michele
Great brainstorming suggestions, thank you. I don’t seem to be short of things to write – usually the latest post comes from a last minute comment from somewhere. Then the new idea pushes in front of what I had originally planned. I’ve got some half posts that are now out of date, so much has pushed in front !
I have asked questions on my blog. But not in social media. So that’s something to try.
Thanks for your thoughts, Michele.
Anthony
Hi Anthony! Thanks for checking out the post. I am so glad that you got a new idea out of it! Using social media really works! Thanks, Michele
This is fantastic. I think I will return to this post on many occasions, especially when Im stuck. Thanks Michele
Thanks Fiona, I am so excited that you found the information helpful! Michele
Awesome Sally! Thanks for reading! I know you are like all the rest of us – we have so much to say but sometimes it just doesn’t seem to be right in the front where it can come out. LOL
Hi Michele,
Your tips for how to generate blog post ideas are good examples of how to do effective targeted research. Now that we have so many social media tools and venues, they are a literal goldmine for ideas — as well as places where we can connect with others of like mind.
Thanks for this post!
Nancy
Thanks Nancy, I agree! With social media there are almost too many ways to get ideas! LOL Thanks, Michele
LOVE the Adam Urbanski quote! My favorite part. I am always telling clients and prospects “Practice makes PROGRESS, and that’s more interesting than so-called perfection!”
“Once you know the why the content will come.”
I wouldn’t have believed you a couple weeks ago. I’ve been struggling with generating blog content since I started mine. Once I finally got really clear on my message, I was shocked. I wrote a post this week, and the very next day, I started out just jotting down a few ideas and had a whole new article before I knew it. I submitted that one as an article and will wait until next week to post it on my blog 🙂
thanks for the great tips!
Super tips Michele. For me, the most important point is my big Why. Once I know why I am maintaining a blog on my website, the inspiration flows. It also helps to plan ahead and take advantage of inspirational moods when words and thoughts flow and the post becomes akin to an expressionistic art work.