Don't Just Sit There, Blog. How to Get Ideas
I recently posted my Top 10 Posts for 2015. As I read through the list, I was looking for patterns. I was wondering what made all these posts so popular.
What struck me is that every popular post I wrote was based on me having done something.
Either I read a book, or traveled somewhere, or tested a recipe. I didn’t just post my thoughts about a topic.
It occurred to me that good, original content comes from really throwing yourself into something.
Nobody cares about what you ate for dinner. Unless you give them a recipe. A recipe you actually tested. With photos.
Likewise, nobody wants to read a rant about politics. Instead of just writing your opinion, get out and cover a political story that impacts people. Get out and take photos. That’s news.
Things to Do to Help You Create Good Content
Here are some things you can do to produce better content:
Read Books
I hear so many bloggers say that they don’t have time to read. Reading is so important to creating good content!
Three of my top 10 posts came from reading books. Another one came from reading a magazine.
When you read, it gives you a chance to get passionate about a topic.
If you can’t find the time to read, listen to audio books and podcasts while you do the dishes or work out.
Read Blogs
I also hear bloggers say they don’t have time to read other people’s blogs. This too is critical. Zach over at Blogging.org makes the point over and again. Find inspiration from is already happening.
This is so much smarter than trying to work from nothing.
My most popular post came from reading other people’s blogs on a regular basis.
Also, number 8 on the list came from reading lots of blogs as well.
Go Somewhere
Take a trip. Take a tour of a company or farm. If you’re a food blogger, visit a restaurant or farmer’s market.
My #3 most popular post from this year was a result of not one but two visits to dairy farms.
Learn to Do Something
Test recipes. Figure out how to make something from scratch. Post tutorials. Take pictures or post videos.
Interview Someone
Interviews are really great because they bring a freshness to your blog. They’re easy, too — you can just ask the questions you want to know and then post the questions with the answers.
You can do interviews by email or by phone. Or start a podcast.
I could have just posted the videos of the mom whose child is recovering from autism (my most popular post) but I wanted to make sure the post would rank better, so it was smart to include a keyword-rich interview.
If you need more inspiration, Start Blogging Online has another 100 Ideas for blog posts to get you motivated.
What Do You Think?
Have you noticed that your best posts came from doing something?
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