How To’s & TutorialsHow to find blogging inspiration
Many popular artists will tell you there is no such thing as a real writer’s block, but we assure you that’s more than possible. To make matters even worse, it is extremely difficult to overcome and to find blogging inspiration in such a situation! The experienced among you who regularly find themselves starring in a blank wall instead of creating content know the problem has to be overcome and use a variety of inspirational tactics to make it happen.
Nowadays, when blogging has become highly competitive, growing a website with thrilling content is simply compulsory. It is the need of that constant intelligent and novelist stream that makes certain bloggers shine with genius content, but leaves many behind, waiting for the right moment of inspiration to strike.
However, a creative blockade can happen even to the most talented bloggers, sometimes because they are busy, but sometimes even out of the blue. We’re all human, and running out of ideas is something normal for each of us.
1. Considering other blogs
A real blogger knows the world doesn’t rotate around his work, and complements his ideas every day with other people’s blogs. This routine is very beneficial for developing a content style and coming up with fresh ideas, and it also keeps you in line with all trends and alterations in your industry. For a person who genuinely knows how to use other people’s work, this could mean staying on top of competition, as long as he’s really keeping up with the daily habit of checking blogs, and looking for new features that could make his website more reader-friendly.
2. Paying attention to Google alerts
If not sure how to proceed, follow the newest events, and set up Google alerts to stay aware of hottest topics and subtopics. This way, you will keep a close eye on potential content sources and information; and will be able to implement whatever trend is shaking your niche at the moment. For those who don’t know it, Google Alerts is a searching web tool that collects daily mentions from the web, and indicates which keywords and phrases you should search/use to stay popular on the network.
3. Getting to know your customers
Where otherwise would you look for ideas if not among your current readers? They are simply a wealth of precious suggestions, and you can use social networks to meet them, and ask questions concerning their interests and needs. Twitter and Quora are a perfect way to discover to discover that.
4. Keeping an idea diary by hand
You never know when inspiration is about to strike – it may be while you’re out with your friends, or simply drinking your morning coffee and thinking about your activities for the day. The problem is that you have to grab the moment, or it will be lost forever. That’s why we recommend you to use note tools, such as Evernote, voice memos, or a simple pen and piece of paper.
5. Using keyword tools
Are you one of those bloggers who severely underestimated the need to use keyword research tools? These programs can help you drive traffic to your blog, but they can also inspire you revealing some of the newest and most interesting ideas being browsed on the web. We suggest Uber Suggest and Google’s Keyword Planner, being the two most popular tools for the purpose.
6. Scheduling your content
Planning your content in advance is important, so dedicate at least one hour per month to do it.
7. Subscribing to related blogs
In order to make the most of your blog, keep an eye on competitors. As odd as it seems, subscribe to their blogs and monitor their content, here and there commenting in order to attract the attention of users. If nothing else, you will get inspired to write on your own blog, and will remain in line with the same trends your competitors are following.
8. Posting polls and interacting with customers
Readers will always prefer a blog where they are invited to participate, which is why you should think of relevant polls that can engage them, and ensure some first-hand feedback for you. The same practice can be applied on social networks or each post separately, and should be done at least once per week for users to understand you’re there and you’re following.
What is more, polls are great for obtaining users’ opinions on common industry controversies, offering a contextual overview of the subject, and inviting them to share opinions. You can maintain an unbiased position or express your position right away – whatever helps you engage with your readers is welcomed, and will deliver results.
Once you have the results ready, use them as the material for your upcoming posts, follow-up articles, and media releases.
Remember that you are the master of your craft and that there is a reason why you chose to become a blogger – readers want and expect your tips, and are only waiting to be involved in a conversation instead of reading journalist statements. Their perspective on things matters to you and other readers as well, so make sure you’re not simply disseminating information like news portals do.
9. Sharing content from similar blogs
Simpler than guest-blogging, gather few jump off points by sharing content from other blogs, or report what they posted and add links to their content. You can be even more professional and cite right away what they’re saying, both in order to agree and disagree and to share your perspective. Being familiar with other popular blogs from your industry will show readers that you genuinely care about the quality of your content.
10. Reviewing comments on regular basis
Why would you post a question if you’re not planning to use the answers? Obtaining comments is an indicator that you’re moving in the right direction, as people are interested, and they are talking about you. In case you’re not handling this so well, do some guest posting or ask another website to interview you, and you will soon have the authority status you always wanted.
However, bear in mind that it is a demanding task, and you have to stay alerted for every question. For ideas, check the never ending supply of popular forums, and pick topics and comments for your next post. It is also forums where you can discover what people think about your content and improve the things they don’t really like.
11. Writing as often as possible
We’re not saying that you have to come up with a new idea every day, but rather that you have to be active, and even repost stuff you believe readers liked the most. The more thinking you invest, the more creative your content will be, because writing, the same as every other talent, needs practice and hard work.
Don’t forget that daily activities can improve the quality of your writing, so make sure you work as much as it takes to make actual progress.
Generators of blog topics
These generators incent your inspiration and make sure you will be able to create clickable and engaging content. Let’s check out some of the best ones:
HubSpot’s Blog Topic Generator
HubSpot’s Blog Topic Generator requires you to name three nouns related to your topic, and dishes back at least 5 awesome topic suggestions that you can use.
Portent’s Content Idea Generator
Portent’s Content Idea Generator is one of the simplest, yet most powerful tools used to motivate writers. Rather than 3, it will require only one word to deliver excellent topics, and will allow you to add quips, quotes, or even jokes to make content more personal.
The Blog Post Idea Generator
The Blog Post Idea Generator delivered by Build Your Own Blog works with a different concept: it won’t ask you to input keywords, but it will consider where you come from and what your audience is to list cool ideas with a single click. Obviously, you will have to customize those to meet your needs, but we are sure this is the place to find the fanciest possible post ideas.
Blog Title Idea Generator
Inbound Now’s Blog Title Idea Generator functions in the same way Blog Post Idea Generator does, and also gives access to some cool suggestions.
The Link Bait Generator
The Link Bait Generator is not as fancy as flashy as our other suggestions, but its simplistic approach to blog ideas discovery and the neat design do make these ideas happen. Besides, there is a great catch about Link Bait Generator many people don’t know about: it considers the phrasing and titles of your previous posts, and your style, and it determines what you came for and what you’d write about.
ContentIdeator
ContentIdeator is another great product to consider, where suggestions are based on keywords. Its main advantage is that it can generate multiple lists of suggestions.
Buzzsumo
Finally, Buzzsumo represents an amazing title structure project which looks only for the ‘best from the rest’ topics and brings them to your attention. You want to have to learn how to use it at all – the procedure is as simple as copying a site URL or typing in a word.
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