You've been staring out the window for 17 minutes.
Nothing.
Your head remains empty, like the theater auditoriums in the winter of 2020.
You have no idea what you should write about in your next blog article .
So...
Most of the time, all it takes is a little spark to inspire you.
So here it is for you:
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10 sources of inspiration for your blog articles
Just before we begin:
Set aside a notebook or create a folder in your favorite app.
Write down all your ideas for your blog immediately. This is the only way to ensure that you don't wake up the next morning thinking, "I had this brilliant idea yesterday about what to write next..."
Blog writing tip #1: Get inspired by your clients and customers
"As marketing strategists, we should change the saying 'Always be closing' to 'Always be helping.'"
~ Jonathan Linster, LinkedIn
Every communication with your customers is a gold mine full of tips about what interests them.
It was email correspondence with a customer that prompted me to write blog article . It was about content planning.
Conversations with your customers are full of questions they ask you—and your answers to them. Hidden within these are many little details that trigger a "Wow, I didn't know that..." reaction from your customers.
Write down these conversations as soon as possible. Or copy the emails into your notes app with your collection of blog ideas.
It's quite possible that this "aha" moment will also be very interesting for your blog readers.
Blog writing tip #2: Eat what you've cooked
"Great content is the best sales tool in the world."
~ Marcus Sheridan
No matter what you sell, your sales pages are packed with solutions and results that you get when you buy your product.
Go through your sales page section by section and create a list of the results you promise your prospects. Write down what they will learn or experience when they buy your product.
These results can give you ideas for what to write about in your next blog articles. You can describe the solutions you offer in more detail or pick out individual aspects.
And…
You can link to your product in each of these blog articles. This way, you get great content and sell at the same time.
Blog writing tip #3: The springboard technique
"Do not seek to surpass others, but yourself."
~ Cicero
No one denies how inspiring it is to absorb the content of the competition.
The ideas of others are the ultimate food for your thoughts.
Find bloggers, YouTubers, or podcasters who create content related to your topic.
Check them out. Use their content as a springboard. It will give you lots of ideas for what to write about in your blog.
Always make sure that you do not copy:
If you are a food blogger and an article by a competitor inspires you: "12 quick vegan lunch ideas for stressful days"... then don't write "15 vegan recipes for your lunch."
Take a look at the recipes, the ingredients... and create something of your own. Write about how you steam broccoli to achieve the perfect consistency or your favorite ways to prepare quinoa.
Blog writing tip #4: Angle in the comments
"Traditional marketing talks at people, content marketing talks with them."
~ Doug Kessler
The comments under your blog articles and YouTube videos are a constant stream of clues about what your audience wants to read from you.
They tell you about their experiences and the obstacles they encountered.
Browse through the comments under your content. Write down all comments and questions that are worth writing a blog article about. You can even ask questions and start a conversation if you want more inspiration and need a more specific direction for your article.
Blog writing tip #5: Clarification
Ever since the internet came into existence, nonsense has been written.
When you consume content from your industry, you will often find yourself thinking, "What nonsense..."
This can inspire you to do better yourself. Write a great blog article about how it really is. Debunk the myths in your niche. Explain why this approach or that method doesn't work and what to do instead. Or write about the topic from a different angle. Bring in aspects that have never been discussed before.
Disagreements with other bloggers are fertilizer for your blog. You can use them to enrich your entire content calendar .
Blog writing tip #6: The Amazon trick
"We need to stop interrupting people with what interests them and be what interests them."
~ Craig Davis
It is an old copywriter secret:
Get inspired by the table of contents of popular books in your niche.
Most of the time, a quick glance is enough to get your brain going. It reminds you of all the details you already know and that are important for your niche.
It's a factory of ideas.
If you write a blog about marathons and are stuck for ideas, go to Amazon, type marathon into the search field, and select the Books category.
Now all you have to do is take a look at one of the most popular books. You'll have your list of topics in no time: equipment, stretching, running technique, energy, training...
And in-depth subtopics for each topic: running shoes, running socks, hydration belts, and running backpacks.
Ask yourself what you already know about these topics. What information and instructions could you write about them in your blog?
You don't have to read the entire book. After all, you don't want to copy the content; you're just using the table of contents as a kick-starter for your creativity.
Blog writing tip #7: Spin-off articles
Focus on the core problem your company solves and deliver a wealth of content, enthusiasm, and ideas on how to solve that problem.
~ Laura Fitton
Sometimes you can find the best tips in your own virtual home.
Choose one of your blog articles and read it carefully. Think about what spin-off articles you could write on the topic:
- Supplementary step-by-step instructions for a specific subtopic that you have touched upon
- Explain a concept in the article in even greater detail
- Answer questions that arise before, during, or after the topic.
- Best practices for doing something you mentioned in your blog article.
Spin-off articles are quick and easy to write and can be seamlessly linked to your existing article. This keeps your visitors on your blog longer.
Blogging tip #8: The power of forums and groups
Content marketing is all that's left of marketing.
~ Seth Godin
Forums and group discussions are an excellent place to get new tips for writing your blog articles.
It's the same process as with the comments under your own content: scan through the discussions and write down the ideas in your notebook.
- Questions you can answer
- Ideas that you can expand on and elaborate further
- Things you disagree with and want to correct.
In Facebook groups for self-employed people, for example, people often ask which is the best website tool for freelancers . To avoid having to repeat my entire wealth of experience in this area over and over again, I wrote a blog article about it.
Incidentally, this is a good way to pick up on the language your customers use. What words and specific phrases do they use? Incorporate these into your own content.
Blog writing tip #9: Social media scanning
It's a dialogue, not a monologue, and some people don't understand that. Social media is more like a telephone than a TV. ~ Amy Jo Martin
You can also use the table of contents technique on social media. Go to your favorite platform and see what people are talking about.
You don't have to read through the articles and posts. Just look at the titles. Let your brain ponder the topic for a moment and ask yourself, "Do I have something to say about this? If so, what exactly?"
Ten minutes on social media can give you a dozen ideas for what to write about in your blog.
Blog writing tip no. 10: The boy needs some fresh air
If your stories are only about your products and services, that's not storytelling. That's a brochure. Give yourself permission to make your story bigger.
~ Jay Baer
Sometimes you just need to get out.
Use the time to observe. Observe people and situations or principles in nature. Reflect on what ideas this brings to mind.
Perhaps you observe someone doing something particularly skillfully. This inspires you to create best practice content. Or you see someone struggling. This triggers you to write a new blog article with step-by-step instructions.
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Don't get lost in research
Always remember, you just need a little help getting started. You don't have to re-explore the entire topic or read all the social media posts from the last week about it.
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Your next steps
The next time you're at a loss for what to write about in your blog, choose one of the three methods, set your timer for 30 minutes, and write down everything that comes to mind.
