Bloggers are expected to come up with fresh content ideas on a regular basis. But sometimes those ideas don't come easily. As bloggers, we're not immune from writer's block. Fortunately there's an easy way to brainstorm new blog post ideas.
Start with a basic blog post type, and move on from there.
While it's wonderful if you have a long list of specific blog post ideas you plan to write about over the next several weeks or months, you don't have to do that. Start with a few simple templates, and let them push you in the right direction.
Here are ten reusable blog post ideas that can work for any blog niche.
1. Interviews
No matter what you blog about, there are experts or other interesting people in your niche. If you're stuck for blog post ideas, contact some of them and ask if you can interview them.
2. News Summaries and Commentaries
If you can't decide what to blog about, do a quick news search for topics relevant to your blog. Summarize the news story (don't plagiarize, and always link back to the original source of the story). Then include your own commentary on the issue.
3. Reader Questions
Do your readers tend to ask you questions in your blog comments or via email? If so, file a few of those away (or just dig them up as needed). When you have nothing else to blog about, post one of those questions and your answer on the blog. Chances are good that other readers were wondering the same thing.
4. Reviews
Reviews are another blog post idea you can use over and over again. Just pick a product, service, free tool, or even a website relevant to your readers. Share your thoughts about it on your blog, and let people know whether or not it's something you would recommend.
5. Aggregated Lists
If you're really desperate for ideas, why not turn to your fellow bloggers? Even if you don't have anything new to say that day, others likely do.
Post a list of recent blog posts in the niche that you think your readers might enjoy. You could even make this a regular feature of your blog, such as posting a list at the end of each week.
6. Roundups
Similar to the last blog post idea, these are lists of links (and maybe short descriptions of the content you link to). The difference is that these posts highlight your own content.
For example, you might choose a specific topic your readers are interested in and then link them to the top ten posts on that topic in your archives.
7. How Tos
Readers love to learn new things. So why not publish a simple how to post? These are more obvious in some niches than others (like a DIY blog or business blog).
That said, even personal blogs can benefit from educational content. For example, if you blogged about an amazing dinner you made for your family, share the recipe in a later post.
8. Personal Stories
One of the best features of blogs is their ability to connect the author to their readers. And one way to do that is to share personal stories.
If you can't think of a great how-to piece or news item to talk about on a given day, share a personal experience instead -- what led you to blogging?, what was your biggest success?, what obstacles did you overcome?, etc.
9. Embeds
If you're short on time, as well as blog post ideas, consider sharing an embed from someone else. For example, there might be a great YouTube video related to your niche. Or you might find an awesome infographic that your readers would be interested in.
If the creator allows the material to be embedded in other websites, share your favorites when you aren't available. Just don't rip off content creators who haven't licensed their work to be shared in this way.
10. Guest Posts
If all else fails and you really can't come up with a blog post idea or the time to blog, consider inviting guest posters. These are individuals who submit relevant posts for your blog in exchange for a bio to promote themselves (usually including at least one link to their own website).
It's good marketing for them. And it's fresh content for you and your readers.
How do you come up with blog post ideas when you're facing writer's block? Do you have basic templates or post types you like to fall back on? Share your ideas with us in the comments.
Nice list, Jenn. I hate it when I get stuck. It doesn’t happen often, but when it does it’s maddening. This sort of list does help.
I was stuck this morning at All Freelance Writing. So I did an early announcement of the launch of this blog. 🙂 That’s another easy idea if you run multiple sites or blogs in a niche (or blogs in related niches). You can use posts to cross-promote.
One of my favorite tricks is to create a list – 10 items on my desk – 5 things I like about fall, etc. Then I spin that into a blog post idea.
For example, one of the items on my desk items list was a cactus. Post ideas include: How did you win over a prickly client? What do you do to get through a dry spell in sales? What’s the bloom in your cactus-like problem?
Lists are another great example Cathy. And I love the way you’re able to look at something so simple and spin it into post ideas. 🙂
Great list, Jenn. I’ve used all of these at different times. Of course, it can take a while to find a suitable embed, but if you’re stuck it’s really useful.
Unfortunately there aren’t too many videos in the writing niche that I’d want to promote. But I’m launching a DIY site and a gardening/cooking combo site over the next couple of months, and I imagine embeds will play a much bigger role on them. Plenty of those videos to choose from. 🙂
Great list!
Sometimes, I’ll rewrite older blog posts. It’s a great way for me to see how I’ve grown as a writer. Whew! All of us had to start somewhere.
I never thought about doing a ‘News Summary or Commentary’ as a blog post. Thanks for the tip.
That’s another excellent tip Amandah. It’s easy for old posts to get buried in our archives. And sometimes things change, where an old post could be reworked into a new one with updated information or references. Do you write a new post based on that old one, or do you actually change the original post and change the publication date? I’d lean toward the former, only because I don’t like the idea of changing old posts beyond basic edits. I’ve seen bloggers do that in the past where they change their opinions on things and try to hide what they previously said, and that brings up ethical concerns for me.
Hey Jennifer,
Great post to come up with ideas. I’m going to have print on canvas so I can see it near my desk all the time.
Thanks,
Dennis