10 ways to think up new post ideas

Posted by Ben on March 04, 2009 | Permalink | Hits: 2367 

< A positive outlook: 10 ways to get back into blogging | Overcoming blogger's block | 10 reasons to keep writing during quiet periods >

1. Check your categories. Which ones have a lot of posts? Which ones don't have many at all? The categories with very few posts in are the ones you should be starting with.
2. Read other blogs in your niche. Don't copy other people's content - but do write a follow-up post if you disagree with someone's viewpoint, or if you want to take their post in a new direction.
3. Read blogs outside your niche. Take an unusual topic and relate it back to your own niche. e.g. 10 ways blogging is like online dating. Well... I'm not actually going to write that post (yet) but I bet Evil Woobie might consider it!
4. Use Twitter. Sometimes I get some great ideas just by chatting on Twitter. I don't usually ask people for ideas, at least not directly. Sometimes I get a few ideas sent to me.
5. Ask a friend. Similar to using Twitter, but this should be done in private, and you might end up with a lot of good ideas in one go. Simply asking for topic suggestions can work wonders.
6. Break the mould. Change the style of your posts in some way. It doesn't have to be a permanent change, just try a different post every once in a while.
7. Write a review. You could review someone's blog, or a product relating to your niche.
8. Post a poll. Asking questions is a great way to get feedback. Posting a poll is a really easy way to get some quick stats that you can write up in a future post.
9. Check the archives. Is there an old post that needs updating? What about a post that needs a follow-up? See what you can achieve!
10. Just write! Not sure what to write about? Why not just write? Don't publish without going back and checking what you wrote - but you may end up with some interesting ideas if you just type a few random thoughts onto the page. Carole's Thoughtful Spot sometimes writes a post with miscellaneous unrelated comments - perhaps some of them could develop into a larger post. (I'm sure she'll say the whole point is that they don't warrant a post of their own, but you never know, there may be a few ideas in there that would!)

What do you do when you're short on post ideas?

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Comments on 10 ways to think up new post ideas

4

Ben | March 05, 2009 | Ben's home page | 207 comments

Lyndi, I surprised myself with how many post ideas I got from looking at my categories :)

6

Ben | March 06, 2009 | Ben's home page | 207 comments

Thanks Carol! :) Good tips, too.

8

Ben | June 03, 2010 | 207 comments

Thanks Karen! :)