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Consistency is one of the most important aspects of running a successful blog. But it’s easier said than done.
After all, people are fickle and lose interest quickly. They’ll more than likely abandon and never return to blogs that leave them hanging without content. To combat this, bloggers work tirelessly creating an endless stream of blog post ideas. Of course, these blog post ideas must encapsulate the perfect combination of interesting, informative, entertaining, and everything in between.
It’s a tall order if you ask me.
The fear of running out of blogging ideas horrifies newbie bloggers and experienced bloggers alike. But luckily, as you get deeper into your blogging career, you start figuring out ways to always keep a stash of post ideas in your back pocket.
So how do I always have an overflowing list of blog post ideas?
Set up your blog in a way that inspires you
Your blog shouldn’t only aim to please your readers. In fact, it should work for you first.
Add images, fonts, colors, menus, and anything else that makes you excited to look at your own page. If you don’t even want to look at your own blog, why would you want to write great content for it? And if you don’t love it, why should somebody else love it?
I love the clean lines and simple background sprinkled with bright, colorful images on my blog. The images that I chose for my main page inspire me to write about my favorite topics. Even if I’m feeling blah, one look at my page fills me with blog post ideas because I’m so excited to add to it. That’s often half the battle– deciding that you want to write.
Actionable tip: Divide your menus into as many categories as possible.
Just make sure you keep it organized with clear sub-menus! If your usual stream of blog post ideas is MIA, take a peek at your specific menus to help narrow your focus. For me, seeing the word “Beauty” in my navigation bar doesn’t do anything for me. But seeing “Tutorials,” “Tips,” and “Reviews” gets my brain thinking about specific blog post topics I could write about.
Be socially engaged
As much as I hated “group work” in college, I have to admit, the most profound thoughts about Wordsworth and Poe always seemed to emerge when three English-major brains were forced together in relentless agony. (Okay, it really wasn’t that bad.)
Talking to strangers is intimidating, especially for introverts like me. But it is one of the most productive ways for me to gather ideas and make connections (i.e. networking) at the same time. See, multipurpose!
Actionable tip: Respond to at least 5 social media posts everyday from others in your niche
Twitter is my favorite platform for this because I can chat with other beauty and lifestyle bloggers in real time, and it is super easy to bounce ideas off one another. If you are ever feeling lost for words, pop on to Twitter and strike up a conversation. Or better yet, join a Twitter Chat! You’ll come out of there with more ideas than you know what to do with.
Browse Pinterest for blog post ideas
I’ve used many different social media platforms in my little life, from Xanga, (remember that?) to Myspace, to Facebook, to Google+, to Snapchat, to Instagram. They’re all useful in their own way, though none are quite as idea-spurring as Pinterest.
The premise behind Pinterest is sharing useful ideas and content, (as opposed to sharing the fact that you stubbed your toe, twice.) What you see is a compilation of people’s best work. Seeing all the awesome things other people dream up is often enough to give me that kick in the butt to dream up something awesome of my own.
Actionable tip: Browse your favorite topics, keywords, and people, and think about what you can add to the ongoing conversation.
You are sure to stir the pixie dust in that creative brain of yours. Blog post ideas are everywhere on Pinterest, and everything is fair game.
Don’t worry so much about coming up with “original” ideas
Honestly, is there any such thing as an original idea anymore? Anything worth talking about has been talked about before. But alas, it has never been talked with your special flair.
Why do you think tag videos are so popular on Youtube? You think it would be pretty boring, watching multiple people answer the same questions and talk about the same topics, yet it’s not. Sure, the topics are similar, but it is what each individual brings to the table that makes it interesting.
Actionable tip: Even if you think it’s been said before, write it anyway! Right now.
Never dismiss a topic because “it’s been done before.” If it’s something that you are really passionate about, you’ll no doubt cover the topic in a special way that no one else can. Think about what makes your viewpoint unique, and go with it!
Ask yourself the tough questions
I think I’m just programmed to be a writer, so I’m always asking myself questions. My inner monologue almost never shuts up! Even if you aren’t wired like I am, the key is to never stop thinking. Let me repeat that- never stop thinking.
Look around you. What do you see? A table? A tree? A roll of toilet paper? Some things make for more interesting topics than others, but try practicing on anything you see.
Actionable tip: Ask yourself, What is my opinion on this? What do I want to know about this? How can I improve this?
Do this for multiple items and events each day. You may not formulate a hard-hitting blog post from gazing at your toaster, but you explored your options, and so you know that for sure now. You’ll spend as much time whittling down your blog post to-do list as you do adding awesome ideas to it. And that’s strangely a good thing.
Always keep a notebook and pen handy
What’s that you say? “But can’t I just use my phone?”
No. No, you may not.
Here’s why. Typing a note in that boring, uninspiring little notebook app on your phone is so simple that you just type and forget.
You add to the list until the document stretches 30 miles long. You look back only to find not a single idea from the list developed into an actual blog post.
So the blog post ideas that did make on to the blog, where did those come from? Those are the ideas you likely scribbled sideways on a Post-It note at work, or on a napkin at dinner.
Why is this? It’s because typing linear lines on a boring background kills your creativity. There is no space for creative brainstorming, for drawing little pictures, and for hashing out idea webs.
When you dislike an idea in your virtual notebook, it gets deleted, never to be heard from again. When you end up not liking something in you real notebook, you cross it out, but it remains present as a reminder of what didn’t quite work. Having everything there for you, being it the good, the bad, the messy, in the exact place you decided to write it, does wonders to encourage your mind to keep thinking about a topic.
Actionable tip: Get a small notebook and a pen you enjoy using. Keep the set with you at all times, and write down any ideas that come to mind, no matter how small.
Shop my favorite notebooks >> Fringe Studio Hello Beautiful Faux Leather Journal
Shop my favorite pens >> Staedtler Triplus Fineliner 0.3 mm
Let go of your inhibitions
A blog post doesn’t magically materialize from a four-word idea; it takes much more thought and care to flesh it out.
Actionable tip: Give yourself creative space to scribble, draw, and map your ideas. Forget about keeping a tidy notebook filled with equally purposeful ideas.
You’ll be surprised in finding that an idea you initially cast aside as boring and overdone blossoms into an epic mega-post. Or what started as one mediocre idea, somehow morphed into two life-changing ideas.
Try these tips out for yourself
The fear of running out of things to write about neared the top of my list of fears going into blogging. Next to, of course, people finding my blog uninteresting and pointless. Okay, I still find that horrifying, but now, I know I’ll never have nothing to say, because the world is my inspiration, and I’m in it every day!
That’s all for today!
Like this post? You’ll probably find this one helpful too >> The Most Underrated Organization Ideas You Need to Know
If you find this post interesting, informative, or just plain entertaining, tell me about it in the comments below. And don’t forget, sharing is caring. Share this post!
Till next time. ♥︎
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FTC- Not sponsored by any brands mentioned. All opinions are my own. Some links may be affiliated.
Rylee says
Great ideas! I love going on Pinterest for ideas too. That’s always my recommendation.
Kay says
Pinterest is just the best! Glad you enjoy 🙂
Roxanne says
I agree with the part about not trying so hard to come up with “original” ideas. I mean you don’t want to totally copy somebody else, but the fact is a certain type of posts are popular. It’s a good thing because you can get views and not have to think so hard!
Roxanne xoxo
Kay says
This is one thing I wish I had figured out sooner, haha! Thanks for reading 🙂 xo
Sunny says
One thing that works for me is forcing myself to write one or two ideas every morning before getting out of bed. I have my best ideas in the morning and if I don’t write them down right away, I forget them. Putting pen to paper first thing makes sure I don’t lose any great ideas because my days are so busy!
-Sunny 🙂
Kay says
That’s a great idea, Sunny! Thanks for reading 🙂 xo