Most of our Denver-area clients may already know that blogging is a smart inbound (internet)marketing tool. It adds fresh content to your site and SEO power to your web pages. It draws viewers like a magnet. Of course, if you’ve been blogging for a while, you also know that coming up with new ideas for topics can become a chore.
The bad news—if you don’t post fresh, creative content every few days, your traffic will take a nosedive. The good news—there are many powerful ways to get inspiration for your blog content. Here are just a few:
1. Set up Google Alerts
Save time and energy by setting up alerts for topics of interest to your blog. Google Alerts are email notifications that bring current news right to you, so that you can get new ideas quickly and easily. Monitor topics and subtopics relevant to your industry and discover new sources of content without having to spend hours scanning the Web.
2. Subscribe to other blogs
Find out which blogs are authorities in your niche and subscribe to them via RSS feed. This is another great way to find out what others are saying about the topics that matter to you. This not only short-cuts your search for new blog content, it also ensures that you’re staying on the cutting edge of your field.
3. Engage with bloggers
Blogging is all about engagement, right? Engaging with other bloggers boosts your own blog’s visibility and helps establish your credibility with others in your niche. It’s also a rich source of ideas for content. Use others’ blogs as a jumping-off point for your posts. Rather than just comment and post a link to your site, add to the conversation. You might be surprised by how much useful information (and inspiration) you’ll get from fellow bloggers.
4. Set up an editorial calendar
Staying organized can help you squeeze more content from your topics, so consider setting up an editorial calendar. An editorial calendar gives your blogging efforts structure, and keeps you from having to scramble for material at the last minute. Make a list of your topics, then your subtopics. Use the above ideas to add new subtopics daily or weekly. Plan out and schedule your blog topics at least a week in advance, and you’ll never lack for fresh content.
5. Ask for help
Does your business participate in social media marketing? If so, you have a vast human resource at your fingertips. Get blogging inspiration from your followers, friends and groups. Solicit stories, post questions and encourage people to share their thoughts. Some of the best blogs posts ever written were spawned from personal experiences, from controversy, and from the perspective that only conversation can generate.
Blogging ideas are everywhere—you just need to know where to look! Don’t let writer’s block stop you from creating the next great blog post. Try these ideas and before you know it, your blogs will be the “go-to” authority, the resource and the place bloggers come to when they need a little inspiration!
