Writing a blog post is easy!
Well, that is if you have a topic in mind to write about!
The experienced bloggers make it look so easy to crank out post after post. They always have new ideas. In fact they probably have so many ideas that they have to pick just which one of their many ideas to use for any given post.
For new bloggers though, many times the hardest part of writing a post is having a topic to write about.
Why I Struggled
In the past there were many times I struggled with just what to write my post on for that week. It seemed like I should have had 100 things to write on but I could not think of even one.
- I always felt that I had to find something that no one else had ever written about. We all know that there is no such topic.
- I felt like I needed to be an absolute authority on whatever it was I decided to write about. Well there were many more people out there who were far more of an authority than I am on most everything.
- I thought that I needed to write like someone else because my style of writing was not good enough.
I was wrong about everything. There were thousands of topics out there to write about. New people come to the internet everyday and they have not seen what others have written. I just needed to write in my own voice. Even if someone else wrote about the same thing, they wrote from their prospective and in their way. When I write about a similar topic, I will do so from my perspective and in my voice.
Ideas For Topics
Ideas for post topics are everywhere. You just have to be open minded and allow the ideas to come to you.
- Blog Hopping – I find that I get my best ideas when I am reading lots of posts and commenting on them. This usually brings in a flood of ideas for future posts.
- Google Alerts – To get to Google Alerts go into your Google account and click on “more” in the top bar, then on “even more”, then scroll down to “Specialized Search” and click on “Alerts”. Put key words in the box and choose from the drop down lists below the box. Google will then send you current information on the keywords you picked.
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LinkedIn -There are discussions on different topics. Most of these are current and are a great place to get an idea for a post.
- Social Networks- Places like Facebook and Google + are great places to have discussions or even post a survey. Either of these can lead to great topics for posts.
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Twitter- While it is a social network it is a little different. Look and see what is trending or being discussed.
- Your List- Build a relationship with your list. When people from your list ask a question or send you an email with a comment on a particular topic, this question or topic would make a great post
- Forums- Start commenting on forums in your niche. Through these conversations you will find post topics.
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A Problem You Have Had- My favorite posts to write are about mistakes I have made or problems I have figured out how to solve, no matter how insignificant. I once did a post on how to change the size of the box we type our posts into in the wordpress back office. It was amazing how many other people did not know how to resize that box.
- While You Are Sleeping- I wake up in the middle of the night with post ideas. When I am sleeping seems to be a great time for me to get post ideas. I even keep a pad of paper by my bed.
Like I said post topics are everywhere. You just have to be open to the ideas.
There have been times and still are times when I struggle to get an idea for a post. I find though that those times correspond to times when I am not as active online as I should be.
What About You?
Are you someone that posts ideas just flow out of like a fast moving river or are you the person who struggles for post topics? What are the reasons you have had in the past or have now coming up with blog post topics? Do you have some additional suggestions of places to get ideas for post topics?
I would love to hear your thoughts so leave me a comment. Please share this with your friends now also.
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{ 22 comments… read them below or add one }
Hi Dee Ann,
I was in bed last week and a topic came to mind but I was too tired to get up and & don’t keep pen and paper by my bed. I just asked God to help me remember and he did so the next morning I sat down and started writing.
You’re right though, ideas can come at any time. One other thing when you’re blog hopping. Read the comment and if someone has more questions, there’s another blog post.
I enjoy writing about things I’ve learned the most and that can really be about anything I’m doing at the moment. Like you though, writing about out mistakes will benefit our readers so that they won’t do the same thing or either they have and can relate.
Wonderful post and good ideas. Thanks for sharing and hope you’re enjoying your week.
~Adriennd
Adrienne,
I had never thought of using questions people have in comments on other blog posts as post topics. At least it never was a conscious thought. It is a great idea.
I love to write about things I have learned also. I think most of my posts would be about what I have learned and my mistakes.
I figure if I learned it there are others out there who would want to learn it as well.
Thanks for stopping by.
Dee Ann
Dee Ann Rice recently posted…Link Cloaking Made Easy!
Hi Dee Ann,
Oh that happens to me sometimes. But I get ideas all the time. The trick is to remember them he he.
Usually I keep a “note” open on my desktop when I’m blog hopping because that’s where I get some ideas. I also get them when I am just going out about town. I see a person, or a business, or something clicks. Then Boom….there is a blog idea. That’s why I keep that good old fashioned little paper notebook and pen in my purse. One or two words, and I can remember.
Thanks for sharing your own experience because we all feel like that from time to time. Also you have given some great ideas of how to break that block!
Donna
Donna,
I also keep a little notebook and pencil in my purse. I am always thinking of something and if I do not write it down, a minute later I can not remember it. I am off and thinking of something else.
I think we all have writers blog sometimes. I think when we are starting out it is worse because we think we have to have something special to write about. I finally figured out it just has to be a topic. Not every post will be great but they will all be good.
Thanks for your comment.
Dee Ann
Dee Ann Rice recently posted…Link Cloaking Made Easy!
Hi Dee Ann,
Excellent suggestions. I’ve never thought of some.
Often when I am relaxing with a cup of coffee ideas come to me. Typically I thought I’ll remember them when I’ll get back to the computer. Before I knew it I got involved and I would forget the idea. Sometimes it was just a headline, but still..
Now I don’t take any chances. I always have a notebook by my side and when something comes to me I jot it down.
Take care,
Dita
Dita recently posted…How To Change Admin Username In WordPress To Boost Blog Security
Dita,
I am always jotting stuff down. I also keep a notebook so I can write down anything I think of before I lose it.
It seems like my mind is going so fast sometimes if I don’t write stuff down I am on to 5 or 6 other things and forget the first one.
Thanks for stopping by and commenting.
Dee Ann
Dee Ann Rice recently posted…Does Your Theme Make The Grade?
Hi Dee Ann,
I too struggle with blog posts and yet it is such an important part of the business and shouldn’t be neglected. I think I will have to take myself into a corner and have a stern word with myself.
Thanks for the topic ideas
Rob
Robert Corrigan recently posted…The Easiest eBay Start-Up Ever?
Robert,
What to write about can be a struggle and I think the more we struggle the harder it is to figure out something.
Sometimes we just need to step back and look at the whole picture in order to see the topics right in front of our face.
Thanks for stopping by.
Dee Ann
Dee Ann Rice recently posted…Link Cloaking Made Easy!
Hi Dee Ann,
Like you I used to think that I had to write something totally unique and unheard of, but I do know now that there is close to no topic that is untouched. Everything has been written about at some point and some over and over already.
What counts, though, is to write it with your own touch, words and vision. That’s what make a post unique and different.
Thank you for your great tips.
Sylviane Nuccio recently posted…Simplify Your Writing To Get More Readers And Keep Them
Sylviane,
I think you are right. It does not matter what you write about but do it from your prospective and with your writing style and it will be fresh and new.
I have read about the same topic lots of times and every time I learn something new because it is from someone elses prospective.
Thanks for your comment.
Dee Ann
Dee Ann Rice recently posted…Link Cloaking Made Easy!
Hello Dee Ann,
I just wanted to thank you for the excellent video “TRiple Your Blog Traffic”….Sorry for the delay in getting backtp you on that but I had run into some snags on my web site!!!
Thanks,
Les
Les,
Thank you for your reply. I am glad you enjoyed the video.
Dee Ann
Dee Ann Rice recently posted…Link Cloaking Made Easy!
Ah Dee Ann, a girl after my own heart… I wake up plenty of times in the middle of the night with a great idea
Then if I don’t have a pen or my phone to note it, forget about it…. out the window in the morning. I think sometimes it’s easier to come up with a blog topic when you’re NOT trying to come up with a blog topic.
I keep a long list of ideas that come from whatever sparks an interest. Reading other blogs is great because sometimes you think of something the author didn’t say that you can expand on, or maybe you disagree and want to share your opinion.
I recently started using an editorial calendar and I find it makes it easier because I map out all my topics for the month. Then I never have to sit there and wonder “what should I write next?” I just look at the calendar.
Good tips here, thanks for sharing!
Carol Lynn recently posted…Top Marketing Blogs This Week: How To Write A USP, Business Mistakes To Avoid And More
Carol,
I like the idea of an editorial calendar and having it laid out for a month just what your blog post is going to be on.
I hate sitting down and figuring out just what I am going to write on even when I am picking from a list. That way it would be all decided and I could just start writing.
Thanks for sharing.
Dee Ann
Dee Ann Rice recently posted…Perseverance Pays Off
I totally agree with having a hard time trying to figure out what to write. Once I got going, what I started to hate was the reading the same posts over and over again, with no real spin of style to each post.
Instead of learning something new from a different perspective, some posts sounded like they just copied each other without really learning what they went through and how they came to write that post in the first place.
It took me forever to tell my own story and now that is what I try and dig for when I deliver a post. You provided some great ideas here and I will make sure to check back as a reminder.
Sonia recently posted…Blogger Spotlight: Bren Lee, My Girly Parts & Pibbles & Me
Sonia,
I am glad you like my ideas for finding post topics. I really hate it when I struggle for a topic.
Reading about the same exact thing from the same prospective would not be good either.
I really do try to put my own bent on everything I right.
Thanks for stopping by and have a great day.
Dee Ann
Dee Ann Rice recently posted…How Should I Host My Blog?
Dee Ann
I mostly get my topics from the groups I belong to on Facebook or Google Plus. People ask a lot questions at times and I try to hone in on them or simply ask them.
In my 2 years online I rarely had issues coming up with a topic, my issue is actually writing. Sitting down and organizing my thoughts enough to have them make sense to the reader. Frankly, sometimes I just don’t feel like writing.
Allie,
Facebook and Google Plus groups are a great place to get ideas especially if people are asking questions.
I like to write. Once I have a topic I can sit down and write. I think writing is the fun part. Between the two of us we would do great.
Thanks for stopping by.
Dee Ann
Dee Ann Rice recently posted…Link Cloaking Made Easy!
Hi Deeann! Whenever I get a new idea for a post I make a list if I’m not in front of the computer. Then I open a draft, make a title that will jog my memory banks about what I was thinking at the time, save it until I can flesh it out.
My head is always bursting with ideas and I have a stack of saved drafts just waiting to come to life, along with a series I’m doing on our feral cat colony and a chapter story I’m writing.
I like the topics you’re writing because they answer many of the questions I have about blogging. I’ll be back often and thank you.
Madeline,
I write down all of my ideas also. If I don’t I forget them.
That is great you have a lot of drafts started.
I admire your ability to write. I usually have ideas for posts but there are times I wish I had some drafts as backup just waiting to come to life. I will have to think about that and start making rough drafts when I think of ideas.
Thanks for your comments and I am glad you like my blog.
Dee Ann
Dee Ann Rice recently posted…Right-Click-Copy Enable or Disable?
Hello Dee Ann,
Isn’t that horrible to have these ideas popping out during sleep? LOL!!! I do keep my yellow notepad on my iPhone and oftentimes, I write my ideas there. And iPhone is always nearby me…in sleep, office, washing dishes, everywhere!!!!
The thing about me is, whenever I am washing dishes, cooking dinner, or driving somewhere far away…this is when all my flood of ideas starts flowing down like honey. Good thing the new iPhone out there have this “voice text” messaging so it’s perfect when I’m driving and I cannot text message…well, voice messaging is PERFECT.
Thank you Dee Ann for sharing your experience and wisdom. Great post!!!!
Angela
Angela McCall recently posted…The Big Four Internet Marketing
Angela,
It always seems we get ideas when we cannot write them down right then.
I to like the new voice messaging on the new iPhone. That is so handy.
My notepad on my phone is full of all kinds of stuff including post topics.
If I do not write things down when I am thinking of them they are gone.
Thanks for you comment.
Dee Ann
Dee Ann Rice recently posted…Win The Struggle With Time Management