Don't Know What To Write? Tips For Finding Blog Content

This post is written by contributing author Genevieve Brazelton. 

Coming up with blog content is one of the biggest struggles for many of my clients. I often tell them they’re making it too hard, but they roll their eyes at me as if to say, “For you maybe, but I’m a soapmaker, not a blogger.”

So in an effort to help make writing your posts easier I’ve got a few quick tips for finding content, because really, it shouldn’t be torture to write your posts. 

Photo: mugfaker

Write What You Know

Or at least what interests you. The first question I ask when someone tells me they’re struggling with finding content is: What information do you seek out regularly, regardless of work or what do you talk about to anyone who will listen? Are you obsessed with cute cat videos? Are you always up on the latest fashion trends? Do you read every article you can find on natural fiber dying?

Even if it’s unrelated to your work this information is part of who you are and what makes you different. Share the information you find, or your opinion about what the conversations that are happening, or how these ideas actually affect your work.

Let Readers Get To Know You

When buying any sort of creative or handmade item, customers almost always want to know more. They want to know what inspired you, how you made it, or how you got as amazingly talented as you are. The story behind the item is endlessly fascinating to most. Share your inspiration through words or images, document the process of making and tease it out over a week or a month, or share your struggle with a new design or learning a new process.

Use Other Blog Posts

I’m going to bet you read other blogs on a somewhat regular basis and they most likely create some sort of response in you. Maybe you gain insight on a part of your business that you’ve been struggling with, you get sparked to try something new, or you discover something new. Write out your reaction as a post all your own.

The bonus with this is you can often start a conversation with the blogger who inspired you. Send them a quick note with a link to article, they’re certain to be flattered.

Create A Series

Maybe you have a big idea that you want to explore, but keep putting it off because you feel you don’t have the time. Break it down into smaller pieces, it gives you content for a longer period of time and becomes less daunting.

Another approach is to find something easy that you can do on a regular basis without much effort. It might be sharing your favorite internet photo finds for the week or your current design crush or the books you wish you were reading.

And since inspiration can strike at any moment keep a running list of ideas that you’d like write about and make sure to jot down a few notes about where the idea came from just in case you don’t remember when you get back to it. Also setting up Google alerts is a great way to help keep things fresh.

If you’re one of the lucky ones who always knows what to write share some of your ideas in the comments.

Genevieve Brazelton endlessly researches the newest ideas in creative and social media marketing so you don’t have to. Genevieve’s strength is her keen outside perspective and sometimes infuriating logic that puts structure to dreams and lays out paths to goals. She is also the business side of Lightbox SF. Read more about her here.

Connect to Genevieve via twitter or facebook.