How to Generate New Ideas For Your Blog

Cross posted from the General Assembly blog.
Essentials-of-blogging-and-content-strategy

One of the most frustrating things about blogging – or writing in general – is coming up with new and fresh topics. You may call it “writer’s block,” and everyone who is even somewhat engaged in creating written content has run into writer’s block at least once.

Well, no more for those of us who blog for our brand! Here are a dozen different ways to help you establish regular topics that you can count on for keeping your blog fresh, relevant, and compelling to your readers.

For more on starting a blog for your brand, check out the first post from this series.

1. Remember why you’re blogging.

Often, taking things back to their most simple form can help regenerate the original purpose of starting a blog in the first place. When all else fails, refer to your original goals for your blog, and start there.


2. Remember for whom you are writing.

Always, always, always try to empathize with your audience, your readers, those who are interacting with your brand. What are they saying? You may find that a reader comment is easily translated into a full blog post.


3. What does your audience need to know?

Consider everything your company is doing right now – all the projects everyone is working on or just completed. Now ask yourself, what do our customers, users, channel, or fans need to know? Tell them!


4. Read other blogs.

For inspiration for content, style, topics, and ideas. Following blogs in your market space also helps you keep tabs your competitors, customers, and the market itself.


5. Every company event is a blog post.

What is your company doing in your community? There’s no better way to gain genuine goodwill and press than organizing a company outreach into your community.


6. Every company success is a blog post.

Every success should be touted from the rooftops as well as the company blog. Did your company raise some money, win a new customer (get permission), do well in a market survey, win an award?  Every company success should be a blog post.


7. Every new product should be several blog posts.

The beauty of the 300-500 word SEO optimization is that you can stretch your content over a series of blog posts.


8. Every new feature is a blog post

Not only because it’s a new feature, but because it’s an opportunity for you to teach your users and/or customers how to use the new feature and why the feature was added.


9. Every company team member is a blog post.

Sometimes, when a team member leaves, it’s a blog post, too, as you fondly remember the team member’s contributions and wish them well in their new adventure.


10. Company news is a no brainer.

Some of the above points may also serve as “news”, but actual news that used to be traditionally shared in a press release should be on the blog immediately after the press release, or, some might argue, instead of the press release.


11. Company history

Detailing your company’s history is a great way to share your humble beginnings, your culture, your team, and generally why your users and customers have stuck with you for all this time.


12. Teach your audience how to use your products

This is a great way to maintain a long series of blog posts, and using video and great images really adds to these posts. Also, your sales and support teams can (and should) refer to these posts for their direct contact with customers.


13. Have your support team answer the most frequently asked questions.

Answering FAQs is a great way to address your customer’s needs, and for your team members to shine in their deep technical knowledge of your offering or the dynamics of your market.

That’s a baker’s dozen ways for you to avoid blogger block, and keep your blog’s content new, fresh, compelling, and relevant to your company culture and your audience.

Explore Digital Marketing at GA

Kevin is a serial entrepreneur and veteran of 7 tech startups. He runs Atlanta Tech Blogs, Pitch Practice, mentors startups and entrepreneurs at ATDC, and teaches Digital Marketing courses at GA.

Comments

Leave a comment

More from Kevin

  • Normal is just a setting on the dryer

    We’re in session 3 of Digital Marketing at General Assembly, and the word “normal” has popped up in our discussions of analytics and measurement.  What is normal? Some would say “normal is just a setting on the dryer”, but we’re not talking about “life” normal, but marketing analytics normal.  In the DGM world, “normal” is…

  • How to Generate New Ideas For Your Blog

    Cross posted from the General Assembly blog. One of the most frustrating things about blogging – or writing in general – is coming up with new and fresh topics. You may call it “writer’s block,” and everyone who is even somewhat engaged in creating written content has run into writer’s block at least once. Well,…

  • How To Start Your Email Newsletter

    Cross posted from the General Assembly blog. There are many parts to a content marketing strategy. One of the most important parts is an email newsletter. Despite many cries to the contrary, email is not dead as a marketing tool. In fact, email remains the most effective digital marketing tool, in spite of the meteoric…

  • Week 1 of Digital Marketing @GA

    I could not ask for a more enthusiastic and engaging group for this session of Digital Marketing at GA’s Atlanta location. In our first two sessions, there has not been a dull moment.  So far, we’ve delved mainly into creating a brand and articulating that brand’s message.  Last night we got a great insight into…

  • How To Start a Blog For Your Business

    Cross-posted from the General Assembly blog. In the daily operation of Atlanta Tech Blogs, I have spoken to dozens of daily and weekly bloggers about what, how, and why they blog. Unfortunately, I’ve spoken with many more businesses who do not blog. The reasons so many startups and small businesses do not blog are many,…

  • DGM: It’s on

    The Digital Marketing (DGM) class at General Assembly‘s Atlanta campus starts TONIGHT, and it’s on from the start.  Here’s a quick peek into what the next 10 weeks will hold. Day 1 – we’re bringing Pitch Practice into Digital Marketing! Can you believe it? That’s right, the first step in your digital marketing journey is…

  • Teaching Assistant Needed for Digital Marketing Class

    I’m leading the Digital Marketing class at General Assembly Atlanta starting Tuesday Jan 27. The class will take place every Tuesday and Thursday night through April 2 at GA’s location at Ponce City Market in Midtown.  The class is full, and we need a teaching assistant.  While there will be an occaision or two to…

  • 4 steps to outsource your blog

    After Monday’s post outlining some of the benefits of outsourcing your content marketing, I received several surprised reactions and comments, mainly they didn’t even know they could outsource their blog.  Here’s where we are: You know you should have an active company blog You know why you should have an active company blog You know now that…

  • Social Media Strategy Class Recap

    I’ve written before about how we learn more when we teach something.  Last night’s Social Media Strategy Mapping class at General Assembly was no exception for me.  I always learn from those whom I am supposedly teaching, and that is a very good thing. Another full house at @_GAAtlanta for Social Media Strategy. pic.twitter.com/gbGOAGLlmy —…