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On your first day at blogging, you feel like writing a million posts. But within days, it seems you've never been ready to go this lane. Why? Because you don't have more content to write on. Every one of us experienced this at one time or the other.
Then, demoralized writers start running searches for content topics ideas, content ideas tools, unique content ideas for a blog, how to brainstorm content ideas, and content strategy ideas among other similar topics.
I wrote one post per day for 30 days when I started out. I was forced to watch my screen for another month because there was nothing to write about. I seemed to have dried out of ideas and information to share.
I struggled with this until the blog started experiencing natural ranking and people were reading the few posts. They didn't only read, they dropped comments - asking questions that give me clues to writing more and more. I must be close to a thousand posts by now.
Now, the question is, how do professional bloggers keep writing fresh content? How can you continually be finding something worthy to write on?
Then, demoralized writers start running searches for content topics ideas, content ideas tools, unique content ideas for a blog, how to brainstorm content ideas, and content strategy ideas among other similar topics.
I wrote one post per day for 30 days when I started out. I was forced to watch my screen for another month because there was nothing to write about. I seemed to have dried out of ideas and information to share.
I struggled with this until the blog started experiencing natural ranking and people were reading the few posts. They didn't only read, they dropped comments - asking questions that give me clues to writing more and more. I must be close to a thousand posts by now.
Now, the question is, how do professional bloggers keep writing fresh content? How can you continually be finding something worthy to write on?
Most Effective Methods to Be Getting New Ideas to Write On
Below is a collection of six sources of inspiration to find new things to write on without getting out of the scope of your niche.1. Provide Customer Care or "Contact Us" Resources
Do you know why you need to include your contact details on your blog? I know you must have read that you shouldn't - perhaps to avoid spam.
I advise you to use this, especially when you're starting out. I know answering every question, when you don't have extra help, can be time-consuming. I have experienced this lately but it's one of the best ways to get post ideas.
One of my blogs was not ranking well until I started receiving messages asking questions from my readers. With every question, I saw the need to write fresh posts. If Mr. A should ask a question, Mr. B and C may be too shy to ask the same. Then, why not give them before they even bother to?
Readers should tell us what they want to read. Not the other way round. We should listen to them and write accordingly.
I use my clients' questions during calls to tailor my next posts and it's working better than even using keywords search tools.
I advise you to use this, especially when you're starting out. I know answering every question, when you don't have extra help, can be time-consuming. I have experienced this lately but it's one of the best ways to get post ideas.
One of my blogs was not ranking well until I started receiving messages asking questions from my readers. With every question, I saw the need to write fresh posts. If Mr. A should ask a question, Mr. B and C may be too shy to ask the same. Then, why not give them before they even bother to?
Readers should tell us what they want to read. Not the other way round. We should listen to them and write accordingly.
I use my clients' questions during calls to tailor my next posts and it's working better than even using keywords search tools.
2. Read Your Ranked Posts To Tap New Topics
One of the keys to writing long posts is to read some of your already ranked posts all over again. While reading, you may see the need to explain something a bit further. This editing and addition can transform your articles into unique pillar posts or skyscrapers.
Read: How to Write Non-Pillar Posts and Still Rank on Google Page 1
Similarly, you can see the need to create new posts from the existing ones. If you realize that adding words to the ranked ones can make them excessively long, you may just create other posts and link them to/from the old ranked content. See Link Building: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly.
Following this guide, you can end up with three new topics from just an existing one. If you do that with 30 existing posts, you'd add 90 posts without stressing about further research on what readers are looking for.
Because you're linking to the new posts from/to the old ones, you're going to win more clicks and views to the newer posts - thereby boosting your ranking on Google. See How to Increase Blog Pages Views With Small Page Visits.
Read: How to Write Non-Pillar Posts and Still Rank on Google Page 1
Similarly, you can see the need to create new posts from the existing ones. If you realize that adding words to the ranked ones can make them excessively long, you may just create other posts and link them to/from the old ranked content. See Link Building: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly.
Following this guide, you can end up with three new topics from just an existing one. If you do that with 30 existing posts, you'd add 90 posts without stressing about further research on what readers are looking for.
Because you're linking to the new posts from/to the old ones, you're going to win more clicks and views to the newer posts - thereby boosting your ranking on Google. See How to Increase Blog Pages Views With Small Page Visits.
3. Create Supporting or Opposing Content to Other Bloggers'
Reading other writers' posts can be the right source of content ideas. I had personally read from other bloggers to see the need to cover something new. If you think you can write better, do it. If you think they're wrong, use your new post to establish your correct views. This is what I did in my post, "How Google Truly Rank Posts Up to No. 1 Position" and "Which is the Best Among Bloggers, WordPress, Wix?"
Even the professional bloggers among us still take time to consume competitors' posts. He may write his post in support of their views or to oppose them. Readers seem to enjoy it if you quote another writer, and support, or oppose his views with your own ideas and findings.
Even the professional bloggers among us still take time to consume competitors' posts. He may write his post in support of their views or to oppose them. Readers seem to enjoy it if you quote another writer, and support, or oppose his views with your own ideas and findings.
4. Create Long "Questions and Answers" Posts
Sometimes, to start with, you should use Q & A post format. These types of posts usually rank well because readers believe they will find answers to nearly all their questions in such posts. As a result, you may witness a quick rank for the posts. Related to this are your posts enjoying being ranked for snippets which have their cons and pros.
If things happen as planned, you can visit the posts again. See why people could be reading it more. Take topic ideas from that and write separate and longer content on that.
If things happen as planned, you can visit the posts again. See why people could be reading it more. Take topic ideas from that and write separate and longer content on that.
5. Use Readers' Comments To Create New Posts
Some blogs are not allowing comments because of spam. I don't condemn this. Spams can cause a drop in your ranking if things are NOT checked. It happened to me also in the early days of my blogging career.
But when I returned to moderation before comment publishing, the problem was solved. You only need to ensure no comments appear on your blog without passing through moderations.
Read: Should You Allow Comment on Your Blog? Why It Matters or Not
Going through and answering questions in your readers' comments will give you clues to what they feel about your works. And most times gives you more insights into what to cover in your next posts.
But when I returned to moderation before comment publishing, the problem was solved. You only need to ensure no comments appear on your blog without passing through moderations.
Read: Should You Allow Comment on Your Blog? Why It Matters or Not
Going through and answering questions in your readers' comments will give you clues to what they feel about your works. And most times gives you more insights into what to cover in your next posts.
6. Follow Forums or Online Groups in Your Niche
Being a member of Quora has given me ideas about what people look for in blogging, SEO, and online content marketing. Questions are usually twisted over and over to know if there will be different answers. I've got several post titles merely checking what people are asking on forums.
One important fact is if a person can ask a question aloud, no matter how stupid it may sound, a million other people are silently asking the same.
Write a post to answer them. You may be lucky to rank higher for your blog than if you just answer the same question directly on Quora or in the forums.
One important fact is if a person can ask a question aloud, no matter how stupid it may sound, a million other people are silently asking the same.
Write a post to answer them. You may be lucky to rank higher for your blog than if you just answer the same question directly on Quora or in the forums.
Read: Beyond Keyword Research: 5 Tactics to Write For Real Searches
I don't advise writing on trending topics unless you're in News and Gist niche. However, if you know what's happening right now in your industry, you can tailor your topics to evergreen write-ups.
Because the audience will be searching for the latest updates, your posts are likely to rank for the same terms not only at that period but for a very long time.
7. Follow Industry Trends
No matter the niche, there should be news websites, forums, or established blogs to follow. These are the best places to know what the next topics should be about.I don't advise writing on trending topics unless you're in News and Gist niche. However, if you know what's happening right now in your industry, you can tailor your topics to evergreen write-ups.
Because the audience will be searching for the latest updates, your posts are likely to rank for the same terms not only at that period but for a very long time.
Conclusion
I personally follow a few blogs. These guys will always have something to say. And when they drop them, they're unique, fresh, and at the right time. You can also achieve the same if you just follow the guide they follow.
There you have it. If you do what successful people are doing, you're more like to succeed.
Do you have better ideas on how to keep getting new topics or content ideas for your blog? Do you think any of the suggestions above is working fine for you? Share your experience. Leave a comment below.
There you have it. If you do what successful people are doing, you're more like to succeed.
Do you have better ideas on how to keep getting new topics or content ideas for your blog? Do you think any of the suggestions above is working fine for you? Share your experience. Leave a comment below.
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