One of the biggest challenges of blogging AND maintaining a blog is perhaps thinking of what topic to blog about especially when you are expected to write every day. In the modern Internet times when bloggers and more Internet savvy people are hungry for news and new ideas, sometimes, you can just run out of things to say.
Ah, the writer’s block you say. Blogging, like traditional journalism or creative writing can sometimes be exhausting. You think of a topic, write about it, but sometimes your readers won’t react the way you want them to. Oftentimes, you’ll receive no comment at all.
Chris Garrett of chrisg.com, suggests 10 Killer Post Ideas for writers who are fast running out of topics to write on. The list has already been around for some 2 years now and I’d like to share to you the list that helped me further my problogging and writing career:
10 Killer Post Ideas:
1. How to. Posts as such bring information to your readers. Anything that can be helpful to them such as How to’s, guidelines, and tips would be a good start. Think of the benefits it would bring your readers. Especially if you are doing niche blogging, how to’s are usually common.
2. Lists. Top 10, Top 5, or even Top 130. My entry Top 130 Ways to Get Links to Your Blog is a perfect example. Lists always work because you give something to the reader.
3. Campaign. Blogs for a cause can be funny according to Chris because you’ll never know what your audience wants to rally around. You may think of a good cause but launching such campaign entails a lot of hard work. It’s either the outcome is good or bad. But usually, campaigns whether good or bad, can create a buzz and always leave other people blogging about it.
4. Interview. I did this awhile back for a start up blog and it has helped me big time. Their answers are already full of information and are worth posting on the blog as is. However, there is the right way to interview people. Whether through e-mail, IM, or over the phone, make sure that you do your research first and prepare questions beforehand. Give the impression that you know at least some about your interviewee. Don’t ask him about things you already know. Ask him about the things you and your readers would want to know.
5. Review. Reviews are usually done on products or services. Most professional bloggers are sent stuff they usually don’t know about. Make sure though that you don’t review a product that has already been reviewed by a gazillion of bloggers out there.
6. Case study. Case studies can be very powerful. However, such entails comprehensive research. You can’t just write about something serious you just read on other blogs. Do your research.
7. Research results. On to the more serious stuff, research results can bring you a lot of good publicity especially if you did the research on your own. Surveys are pretty popular but there are other research methods. Work like your working on a serious school paper.
8. What’s new, trends. Write on what’s new with your niche( or what’s new with you). Blog on the trends in the Internet world. Everyday brings a lot of “news” so you’re sure you’ll always have something to write about.
9. Attack! Risky but often effective. It can bring you a lot of traffic and if you’re not careful enough, a lawsuit. It can also be a smart linkbait technique because you expect other websites linking to the controversial post.
10. Ask the audience. You may ask your readers questions. Leave them thinking and get them to send their feedback One reply can be a blog post in its own but of course, you still have to filter and present it in a worthy blog manner.
I am sure there are more that can be added to the list but these are tried and tested killer ideas. Now go. Write that “How Not to Gain Extra Christmas Pounds” entry and expect more incoming links.
