1. Talk About Something in Your Industry
Most of you are niche bloggers, so surely there is something going on in your industry you can talk about.
Maybe there was a recent product launch, major news, controversy, or something you can give your opinion on.
If you stay on top of industry news in your niche, there will always be something to write about. For example, will you be buying [Product X]? Why or why not?
Or…
Is something getting too much hype and attention? Maybe you have an unpopular opinion and would like to vent. These posts can open up interesting discussions.
2. Publish a Review
Have you purchased something recently that’s relevant to your blog? Publish a review. And if there is an affiliate program for the product, this is a great way to earn additional revenue.
If an affiliation is attached to the review, earn a few credibility points by also mentioning features you dislike about the product. Yes, it may discourage some people from buying, but it will improve your credibility in the long run. The net effect is always worth it.
3. Ask a Question
I do this occasionally, and many times these posts get the most comments. This is because people love getting involved. It’s also a great way to jump start conversation on your blog.
Remember, blog posts don’t always have to be long. Sometimes shorter posts are refreshing to your readers. So if you ever need an idea for a blog post, just ask a simple question and watch the discussion begin!
You can see an example of this when I asked people where their traffic comes from.
4. Respond to Another Blogger’s Post
Perhaps someone wrote something and you’d like to add to it. Or maybe you disagree with a stance someone took on an issue.
Use your blog to write a response post and let the author know. If you’re lucky enough, they will announce your post to their readers, which could bring in additional traffic to your site.
Don’t be afraid to publicly disagree in your response. It’s always funny when people apologize to me for disagreeing with something I blogged about, as if I would get mad. I actually welcome other opinions because it would be boring if we all agreed.
As long as you’re respectful, you should never apologize for disagreeing and having your own opinion.
5. Create a Spin-Off of Another Blog’s Post
I do this quite often. Someone’s content may give me an idea for a spin-off post. For example, if someone writes about 5 things they love about AdSense, I might flip it and write 5 things I hate about AdSense.
I remember when Yaro Starak launched his affiliate program for his blog coaching service several years ago. It seemed as if everyone wrote a generic review of his free book — which actually promotes his coaching course.
So instead of publishing another glowing affiliate review, I wrote a blog post that focused on one quote from his free book, Blog Profits Blueprint. The quote was, “Most Bloggers are Poor Marketers.”
I figured that would make for an attention-grabbing title. So I wrote a post with that very headline. Even though I still reviewed the book, it was subtle and I focused more on the message. As a result, I sold three courses that week @ a $44 recurring commission.
What do you do to cure your blogger’s block?
Try Stumbleupon or Reddit for Ideas! I mean searching per your interests/Blog Subject
That said, I really like the post because it gives a couple different routes to take when writing an article. I like your Spin-off idea too.
Thank you for a great post! I’ve just discovered your blog, and I already love it 🙂 Again, thank you so much!
Hy lisa, I like read all of your article, because all of that is original and very useful to me. I think you’re the motivator for new blogger and you’re website is best teacher to me to know everything that I do not know any where,,,,
Thank You…
Thanks for the tips, it’s always good to get information that helps give a breath of fresh air to your writing.
Asking questions is a great way to get your audience to respond. Also I had another blog where I added polls and got readers to participate.
Hey Lisa,
You believe this or not, but what i’m saying is true.
Before two months, I was searching for ways to make money online and accidentally I found your blog for the search terms – ‘How to Create a Website using wordpress’. And then downloaded your free give away and from that e-book I found about Yaro Starak! Before two months I didn’t have a website and I didn’t even know how to create a website. But now I have two websites created. To say as simple as possible, my online journey started with your give away!
Thanks Lisa!
Sites like Squidoo, Enzine, Digg will give you some pretty good darn exposure. I also will visit Barns & Noble’s discounted books section to see if I can find something cheap to glean ideas from.
Asking questions is a great way to create the curiosity of the readers. Besides commenting the readers do not have other ways through which they can initiate a discussion so I think asking questions is a perfect tool.
Hi Lisa
Great blog, and awesome tips! I will use them for sure!
If I get stuck for ideas I sometimes look at blogs unrelated to my niche which usually sparks an idea and prevents me writing posts on the same topic as others.
Hi Lisa
Mu bloggers block don’t last for long, but maybe I will hit the wall at some point. These are 5 very good tips I will try to remeber. Thank you Lisa.
Another great post; what about for Tip #6
Start a poll or questionairre and get your readers to tell you what they want to read about. I know that’s a tactic some bloggers use.
Not only does that help to connect you with your readers it gives you plenty of ideas that you already know they are interested in.
I use Google alerts to look for ideas.
Tim
I would say #1 & #2 are very important often overlooked factors in terms of building your brand all the way down to website traffic/ search engine rankings from backlinks you can get as a result of writing/ publishing articles. To add to this great post, I will also point out the importance of knowing where to submit/ publish your articles given the fact a great article can only be if people can see it. Sites like Squidoo, Enzine, Digg will give you some pretty good darn exposure.
I have to admit, sometimes I’m experiencing a writers block. My cure is to get out, try some some sleep or like you mentioned respond to other blogs like now.
Great post, and awesome tips! I will use them for sure.
This is a really great idea. I recently wrote a book review for a client, and it was an over-all review. Next time I think I’ll take a page out of your book and do an entire post around one central idea from the book.
And as Linda said, stirring up the controversy pot a bit is always a good thing. Even though it’s safer to sit on the fence and not really offend anyone, people who are truly dedicated to a specific niche don’t really appreciate fence-sitters.
They like decisiveness. Because no matter what side of the fence you sit on, you stir up conversation. And when you boil it down, isn’t that one of the basic things bloggers set out to do? Make people think?
Delena
Some useful suggestions and can I add… write a reply to a comment.
I’m always surprised by the quality of comments.
Pick an interesting comment and go with the content for your next post.
Gives great publicity for the commenter and they will be the first to reply to the new post.
I’ve done it a couple of times.
Great idea, Keith! I’ve done that as well.
Great post, Lisa! I’ve taken your suggestion (Number 4) and answered your post with a couple of things that I do when I’m stuck for inspiration. Thanks for the tips!
Hi Lisa,
I like this post – straight to the point, specific, and useful.
I used to have trouble coming up with blog post ideas, but that problem went away when I narrowed my focus. I actually did that because I was starting two other sites that would need content and wanted to write less.
Well, I don’t write less; I write much more. But I am never short on ideas because I have more focus for each project now. The real problem for me is finding the time to actually finish some of them.
I suppose that is a nice problem to have really. 🙂
Anyway, have a great day!
Great post Lisa,
This really generates some great ideas for me. I don’t have a blog yet and I just started my SBI site. Naturally I’ve been slightly brainstorming things I could write about when I begin my blog.
I’m an okay writer (when it comes to writing school essays) but I often worry about if I’d be as good when it comes to building content for my site and blog.
This article is a great guide and starting point for me 🙂
Thanks again for this 🙂
Ti Roberts
I go to Youtube or 5 Minute Videos and look for clips related to my niche.
I also will visit Barns & Noble’s discounted books section to see if I can find something cheap to glean ideas from.
Hi Lisa,
As you may have noticed, my methods for fighting bloggers’ block are to write from personal experience and try create strange/unusual analogies. These ideas almost always come to me while I’m away from the computer, so when I’m struggling to write, I get up and do something else.
Most of my ideas come from life’s lessons that hit me out of the blue when I’m not trying to write – which can be frustrating because that means I have make sure I have a way of capturing my ideas before they float away. 🙂
OK, Kiesha, this will look like I am picking on you… but there is no way you have ever had a writer’s block.
If you tell me you have, I will have a heart attack! You write about such creative stuff that I don’t even want to hear about your block 🙂 You are the one that writes about blogging like salads and computer games!
LOL!!
Brankica,
That’s why I write about such crazy things as salads, computer games and Walmart stores – that’s the only way I can snap myself out of it – I try to think of the craziest thing I can and then try to squeeze something out of that. If even Superman has a weakness, you know I’ve got one for sure! 😀
Great tips Lisa. I recently started using RSS feeds to keep up with the news and some of my favorite blogs. All I have to do is scan through my news reader now to find something interesting to write about. The main problem is finding the right balance between “enough” and “too much”… if you subscribe to too many feeds then it just becomes information overload or so many ideas you don’t know which one to start with.
Hiya Lisa,
I don’t have much problem with writer’s block. The problem for me has always been finding time to write as often as I’d like to.
I started writing more Hub Pages just to get some of my ideas out on the web that I can expand on later. I find Hub Pages a great way to get started with just a little of the information that I can go back and expand on later. I’m experimenting but so far it’s going great. I can also write about things that are off topic from what’s on my blog.
I like your Spin-off idea too. That could work well for the new ebook I just purchased from Kristi Hines.
Thanks!
Hey Lisa,
I used most of these tips already and they are the best way to get new ideas.
Point number 1 – if nothing else, I will write about a plugin I am using and write a simple tutorial or a review.
#2 – I did reviews and one really bad one, it is now the second most popular post on my blog. So this really works. Just be honest, like Lisa and that is it.
I have to add here, I am acting like you when it comes to products because I learned it is the best way to go. So if I haven’t tried it, I will tell people I haven’t. If I dislike something about it I will tell people about it.
I learned from you that the honesty is the best approach and I can see results already.
#3 – I love how you spark conversations on your Facebook page with simple yet interesting questions. I often ask questions at the end of my posts. It works.
#4 and 5 – I read a lot of other bloggers’ posts and get so many ideas from them. Sometimes I will see they missed something, sometimes I will get another idea. But if it is a positive reminder I will mention their post as well and get them to come and see it.
The only time I don’t mention the post is if I am pointing a flaw in their posts, and unlike you, most people will get mad about it, so I don’t mention the post that gave me the inspiration.
Thanks, Lisa, no need to say that you hit it again!
I cure my blogger’s block by reminding myself that my field (mental health) always has something for everyone, and it’s important to get the message out there and reduce the stigma.
I like your suggestion about writing an unpopular opinion. Often, the peeps in my niche are very PC, so I like to get in there and still up the controversy pot.
I think it’s about standing out w/out being offensive.
Also, there’s a wealth of good ideas online for bloggers. This article, notwithstanding:).
To be honest my ideas come from many sources like other bloggers and forums where people have question..mostly I answer then in a blog post..
“Black Seo Guy “Signing Off”
When I started my blog I wanted to have a place where I can do a “brain-dump” of what I have learned with using computers. I would usually be asked the same questions on a continuous basis, so I wanted a place where I can write down the answers, since I know many others probably have the same questions.
Today, many of my posts still come from experience and answers to questions that I have received. Other times, I would just write when something rings a bell in my mind, or I have finally solved a problem that has dogged me for days or weeks on end.
Recently, I have begun to publish guest posts since I have read many people that have great ideas themselves, and write a lot better than me (I am never a fan of my writing).
I have had blogger’s block many times in the past, and sometimes I overcame it, and other times I didn’t I don’t stress out over it, though, because doing so will take away the fun of blogging for me.
@Stephen, I guess this answers your question as well. Whether it is interesting – well I always thought my blog was boring, considering some of the other blogs that I have read.
It’s funny you mention this because I read the TechnicallyEasy blog regularly and I was just thinking to myself, “How does this guy come up with something new and interesting EVERY day?!” haha
For me, personally, I write about sports and there’s literally ALWAYS something to write about. It’s not about if, but which story you’d like to do. And the industry is ALWAYS changing which also makes it very easy.
That said, I really like the post because it gives a couple different routes to take when writing an article. Not only does the advice help with writer’s block, but the different ideas also provide a variety of articles in the long run.