Get in the habit of reading the content published in your niche: in blogs, social media, and books. When you discover something promising, document it. Of course, you don’t want to plagiarize headlines or copy, but you want great ideas to inspire yours. Create a “swipe file” of inspiring ideas.
Monitor your market
Stay plugged into what’s going on in your field. You can keep tabs on industry news with alerts, feeds, and media monitoring tools.
Extend ideas
Don’t let a big idea be a singular idea. Use mind mapping apps, a whiteboard, flip chart, sticky notes, or whatever you prefer to brainstorm subtopics and ideas that relate to the core idea and build a bigger story.
Ask your readers
Ask your readers how you can publish content that will help them succeed. You can do this via email invitations to surveys, with on-site survey tools, through groups and forums, and, yes, in conversation.
Log your ideas
When you start blogging regularly, creative ideas will come at you constantly. You can’t get to them all immediately. Archive them. Whether it’s with a notepad, computer, cloud-based app, or recorder, summarize the idea to the point where it will make good sense when you return to it.
Publish an interesting mix
I believe a great blog delivers variety. This section offers ideas to vary the content of your blog to make it interesting to more people.
How to posts—The “how to” post is the most common style because it’s so well received. Deliver valuable insights on how to accomplish something more effectively, and you’re bound to produce magnetic posts.
List posts—List posts work. Create them often.
Resources posts—Resources posts aim to enlighten readers by listing helpful books, blogs, shows, products, services, apps, or any type of resource.
Roundups—A roundup is a resource post, but instead of pointing readers to resources, you pull the resources into your story. A popular example is a post where an expert panel is asked the same question.
Interviews—Interviews are great for bringing various points of view and personalities to your blog. You might vary the form by presenting written, audio, and video interviews.
Stories—Storytelling takes practice, so start small. Open with an anecdote, prediction, flashback, a conversation you heard, a joke, whatever. Your stories will get richer and more personal, and your blog will get more interesting.
Contrarians—Take a contrarian stance now and then. Tackle myths, mistakes, and misconceptions. Express your stance.
Curation—Curation is presenting the works of others. It doesn’t mean your brain gets to go on vacation. Put some effort into it. You can tee-up favorite stories with an explanation of why you like them. Roll a collection of ideas together to support a story you want to tell. Present opposing views.
Reviews—Be a voice of authority and an industry curator by reviewing books or any form of media. Review anything you deem relevant and potentially useful.
Guest posts—Invite guest bloggers to contribute to your blog. When you make friends on your blogging journey, offer to trade guest posts. Or find someone with writing chops who would welcome the opportunity to find a new audience.
Writing tips for your blog
Most blogs don’t accomplish much. They’re uninspired and boring. The writing’s often forced and phony.
As the hub of your personal brand, you can’t allow your blog to be heartless. You don’t need to be an exceptional writer, but you must bring passion and originality to your writing. Work at it. Experiment. Gather feedback. You’ll learn what does and doesn’t work.
Here are some tips to put you on the path to becoming an increasingly effective blogger:
Learn from experienced bloggers
Identify a short list of blogs and bloggers who appeal to you and make a deliberate attempt to understand why. Is it the writing style? The depth? Honesty? Humor? Wit? Sarcasm? Emulate stylistic ideas from some of your favorites. Your style will begin to emerge.
Write several headlines
The headline or title of your post is the most important line you’ll write. Put ample effort into making it great. Don’t settle for your first idea. When your post comes together, revisit the headline you first wrote and write five to ten alternatives. You’ll likely arrive at a stronger one.
Identify with the reader in your lead
After your headline, your lead or opening is the most important passage and must draw the reader in. Communicate to the reader why your post is going to be meaningful. Arouse curiosity about what’s to come.
Writers tend to stare at their screens obsessing over the lead for too long. If this problem plagues you, skip the lead and start writing. Your first sentence or paragraph may become much easier after you get a first draft down.
Teach, don’t preach
Avoid making your blog a heavy-handed attempt to advertise your products. Adopt an educator’s mindset to win your readers’ trust.
Have a point of view
Are you concerned some readers won’t love what you have to say? Say it anyway. It’s not a popularity contest. Write what you feel. Great bloggers share their opinions and present a strong point of view.
Write naturally
Nothing is more tedious than a blogger posturing as a journalist. Relax. Lighten up. Be yourself and write in your natural voice.
Be transparent
Write with uncompromising integrity and don’t be afraid to address real issues, problems, and challenges. Tackle the tough questions.
Increase your word power
Powerful blog headlines and copy feature powerful words. I’m not talking about big words. I’m talking about words that trigger emotions. Review your drafts looking for opportunities to tighten your copy, inject active verbs, and dramatize your story.
Make it easy on the eyes
Most readers are skimmers. Use short paragraphs, line breaks, white space, subheads, and lists to make your posts look inviting and maintain interest. Include images and captions.
Give it rhythm
Short sentence. Short sentence. Boring, right? On the other hand, when you run on and on and on with ideas that could be broken up, you run the risk of making reading a chore. Strive to give your writing