Do you ever have a day where you can’t come up with a blog post topic? You sit and think and think and think and nothing happens.
Do you put off blogging, hoping that at some point you’ll get some inspiration, but realize three months have gone by and you’ve written nothing?
If you ever feel blah about your blog, you’re in good company.
Many bloggers and online business owners struggle to churn out good content on a consistent basis… unless they know the tips I’m going to share with you today.
Here’s how to get past the blogging blahs and get back to creating great content. By the way, the last one is my favorite.
Make sure to watch the whole video. There’s a little behind-the-scenes footage you won’t want to miss.
Click here to tweet about this video.
In the comments below, I want to hear from you. Tell me…
1. What’s one tip you learned today that you’re going to use for your blog?
2. What’s your best tip for when the blogging blahs hit?
Thanks for watching. If you like this video, please share it with your friends!
Hi Jenny,
Thanks for thisI I’m going to do a brain-storming session and make a huge list. I also agree with scheduling a regular time to do the writing. My blog is published in our local newspaper, so I know I have to have something done every week, so that deadline keeps me motivated.
I ask friends, colleagues and clients for topics that they are interested in reading about. I also look for topics that keep popping up for me…recently it’s been abundance, and the art of saying no. I also like having one of those big calendars up on the wall. I can write in topics in advance. Sometimes holidays inspire a blog topic too!
Take care, and thanks for all of your wonderful work!
Dr Susan, PositivelyBeautiful.com
Congrats on getting your blog into your local paper. That’s amazing!
It is funny how we can get in feast or famine mode with blog post ideas. Sometimes I’m overrun with them. Other times, the good ‘ol list keeps me on track.
Hey Jenny
1- I love the idea of scheduling time – fairly obvious – but Im not doing it, and everything else seems to get done ahead of writing! time to make time thanks 🙂
2- I keep a list of ideas, there’s a list on my phone, and a list in my dairy of blogging ideas – often inspiration strikes me in the middle of the night – so my list is a little crazy but often a good place to start.
Thanks for you tips – I love them all
Katex
Things like blogging are easily put on the back burner. That’s why scheduling is so great. Glad to see you see that in yourself, Kate.
Inspiration while sleeping 🙂 Love it. Mine usually comes in the shower or on walks.
Hi Jenny,
Great video – thanks! (Love how your sidekick dances!).
My favorite blogging tip is in line with Kate’s – I always make sure I jot down blog ideas when they occur to me. If I don’t, even when it seems like the most amazing idea ever, I lose them. So I have a white board in my office and a note pad in my purse to capture great blog topic ideas.
Keep up the great work!
Alexandra
Ah, the sidekick only dances when directed. If you watch closely, I was giving her hand signals. Otherwise she just stands there, tail wagging, seeing I’m happy but not totally getting what’s so fun 🙂
It’s totally the worst thing ever when the most amazing idea ever gets lost! I’m with you–note pad in my purse is essential!
Jenny,
Great ideas! One tip I have — I use evernote and I keep it open in one of my browser tabs. One folder is dedicated to blog ideas. As something sparks, I jot it down on the big list of ideas.
I often come up with blog topic ideas when I’ve figured out a solution to a client’s problem — I then jot that idea/solution down as a blog post topic and voila – new post for the week!
Mei Mei is something special 🙂 Nothing beats working with your pup!
Ooo, I love a techy tip. I hear great things about Evernote but I’ve yet to get on that bandwagon. Thanks for sharing that here, Michelle. I know there are Evernote fans reading.
Dance party! Love the tips Jenny. 🙂
Another idea that falls into your idea juicing category would be to flat out re-use content.
This makes sense particularly for content that provides people with a couple different ways of handling a situation, like your video. There are 6 shortcuts! A reader or viewer probably won’t implement all of them the first time they come across them. So there is likely value in providing the same shortcuts again so someone could be reminded of the tips and notice the ones that they had forgotten about from their first viewing.
I know I’ve gotten the same newsletter about ‘9 tips to beat procrastination’ at least three times (over a two year period) from someone and I open it every single time. And I’ll probably continue to open it because it gives me the opportunity to pick out the one tip that will help me in that moment.
Maybe re-using content works better for a newsletter instead of a blog because the newsletter doesn’t contain a record of all your previous posts. Anyway, love getting your newsletter and watching your videos!
Great point about content re-use, Ali. I used to do that when my newsletter and blog were different. It’s not so easy to do now.
I have seen other folks take older blog posts and re-jig them. Same story told from a little different angle.
It’s a great point you make about reuse. I know that Laura Roeder’s newsletter is different from her blog and I’ve seen some of the same newsletter tidbits come through more than once. Not everyone reads everything we write so in many cases, it’s fresh content to many eyes!
Thanks for sharing that here!
Yesterday I couldn’t get an idea – so finally I went for a walk. 4 minutes in had it. I created a post that actually resonated with people. Two comments already this morning!
The list is something I’d been considering, I think now I’ll actually do it (on a work date with a hot beverage outside my home… because that feels more creative and fun!)
Thanks,
Caryn
Love when blog posts come on a walk. It’s like two wins in one!
Great ideas, and your presentation always makes me smile. I love a doggie square dance. Thanks for all the great content your provide. You are a super hero to me.
I love to ‘walk a thought’ with my CEO & Top Dog Sheba. We set out on our walk, Sheba excited to be alive, and I’m excited to find answers to the ‘question’ that pops into my mind. I don’t force a question, but take a breath and listen. A question always appears.
Yesterday I tried the same question on foot with Sheba and then on my bike. The questions vary, for example yesterday I had the thought “What is the difference between will power and power will…” and then I assume that I will be given visual images and thoughts that provide pieces of answers to the question. Yesterday was filled with rich ‘content’ as I watched runners move with ease and move with angst. I noticed how biking effort was with the two different approaches and thoughts in my own body. I saw kids playing on a playground, some gently and some with force taking a toy, one from the other. The way the water flowed across a bank of rocks.
Yesterday, it kept my mind busy so that 10 mile bike ride breezed by, and Sheba loved her day in the sun. Today, I’ll mine that experience with a blog on my site.
Nice example of using everyday experiences for blog posts, Robin. Thanks for sharing your story here. I think there’s something to that doggy energy that helps make the ideas flow outside… But I’m certainly biased!
Great ideas!
I write blog posts almost everyday so I know all about “blogging blahs”! What I found that works for me is to view my posts as regular columns that I publish every week. For instance I´ve made a “Superfood of the week”-column and a Q&A-column. This works really well because I don´t have to think of a new topic every day.
Thanks again Jenny, you rock!!
Great point, Brigitte! Themes are a great way to do it. I’ve seen other bloggers work with that idea and I totally forgot to include it in the list. Nice addition!
Ugh, so timely! I was having HUGE blogging blahs this week and didn’t keep my normal Monday appointment with myself. The video re-energized me and I am now recommitting to my weekly blogging schedule!
Cheers for getting back on the wagon, Mindy!
Hi Jenny,
I just wanted to say those are great tips. I’ve begun making a folder in my gmail of conversations I have with clients where I help them solve a gardening problem. It’s useful because I can copy and paste some of the content to get me started on a blog post.
Thanks for your gorgeous videos. I’m really enjoying them and I love your energy. x
Great way to keep track of client questions, Nicola. Thanks for sharing that here!
My favorite tip is to regularly schedule blog posting time. Thanks for the inspiration!
Jennifer
Get it in your calendar, Jennifer! I’m happy to provide the inspiration!
My ‘tip’ as such is an extension on your ‘meditate’ one: I find I get a ton of ideas when I’m in the shower, driving a familiar stretch of road, and even doing the mundane housework (cleaning the loo never looked so good!)… 🙂
Thanks for the video tips, Jenny – I usually brainstorm a list of ideas at the end of each month for the following one, adding to it as the month then proceeds. But I do like your suggestion of brainstorming that list even further. Some ideas make the cut, and others fall to the wayside. At least for the moment – I can always go back to them at a later date 🙂
I love the shower for ideas, too. And dog walks!
I love having a long, long list of blog topics. You’re right–some do fall by the wayside as time passes. It’s also comforting to know that I have an infinite supply of ideas for when those blogging blahs hit!
I like them all. I’m gonna brainstorm my big list and schedule.