You’re always looking for ways to bring more readers to your blog, and you make it a point to reach out to other bloggers to spread the word about your latest posts.
And while you were easily able to churn out awesome and informative blog posts when you first started writing?
Now, you’ve noticed that it’s become harder and harder to create blog content and come up with content ideas for blogs.
In short: you feel like you’ve hit a creative wall, and you’re concerned about losing web traffic — and revenue — as a result.
Before you fall into an inspiration rut, make it a point to read this post.
In it, we’ll tell you where you can find some of the best blog content ideas and seek out creative stimuli that will have you writing like crazy again.
Don’t shut down your page just yet — instead, read on.
Don’t Be Afraid to Get Personal
When you’re trying to create blog content but feel like you’re stuck, sometimes your own past experiences are the best place to look for ideas.
First of all, readers are definitely curious about the person behind the screen — they want to get to know you on a deeper level.
Plus, showing your vulnerability will certainly help to forge a stronger emotional connection between you and your readers. This will keep them coming back for more.
You can talk about things like what you had to sacrifice to start your business, how you juggle your personal and professional life, or even just share a favorite recipe, local hangout spot, or hobby that you love.
Don’t be afraid to let readers into your life — that’s what creates loyal followers.
Create a Follow-Up Post
If you want to come up with website content ideas that you know your readers will love, then we suggest taking a look back at some of your most popular posts.
Then, figure out how you can write some sort of a follow-up or updated addendum to them.
For example, maybe your readers especially loved an article about the biggest cyber security threats facing small businesses. You could write a post that identifies new threats, and talks about the steps that companies can take to prevent them.
You could even write a more in-depth post on one aspect of the popular post. Maybe one of your tips included writing stronger passwords, but you only covered it in a general way.
Write a more specific post that outlines how to create a strong password policy, passwords to avoid, and how often employees should change their passwords to keep hackers at bay.
Check out Trending Topics
We know that you’re likely a bit nervous about weighing in on controversial political topics or offering your opinion on what’s going on in the news cycle.
However, the truth is that in many cases, having an opinion one way or the other can actually help you to build your brand.
The trick is in finding a topic that’s current, but not overly controversial. In other words, you don’t need to get into who you voted for. Instead, show that you have an opinion about hot topics within your industry.
Maybe you work in the tech world and can offer some serious insight into the potential problems of an over-reliance on artificial intelligence in the business world.
Or maybe you run a fitness or diet blog, and have strong feelings about whether or not going vegan allows people to actually get all of the nutrition that their bodies need.
Whatever you choose to write on, remember that you don’t always have to choose a side.
Instead, it’s about adding your voice to a popular conversation in your industry, and then examining the pros and cons of each side of the story.
See What Your Competitors Are Up To
Last but not least, if you’re really stuck on creating content for your blog, we suggest that you take a look at what your competitors are writing about.
We’re not suggesting that you copy all of their blog posts and content ideas.
Instead, doing a bit of research will help you to pinpoint exactly the kinds of topics that your target market is interested in — and then allow you to put your own spin on things.
For example, maybe you own a shoe store, and you notice that your competitors are talking about how to style flat sandals for spring.
You could take it a step further by asking friends, employees, or even just strangers on the street to pose in a pair of your bestselling flats, and ask them to pick out their own outfits to match them.
Then, your post could discuss why they chose those outfits, include street style photos, and even include a subtle link to the product page where readers can buy the same pair of shoes for their own closets.
Create Blog Content Everyone Will Read and Share
We hope that this post has helped you to understand that you can create blog content even when you’re not exactly feeling your most inspired.
Take a look at your past posts, weigh in on a trending topic, and even conduct a little competitor research to figure out what you should write about next.
Above all, don’t be afraid to get personal.
Of course, properly optimizing your blog for SEO is another essential part of running a successful website and blog.
You need to make sure your website is in good working order and that you’ve chosen the right keywords.
For more blogging and SEO advice, be sure to keep checking back with us to learn how you can always stay a few steps ahead of the competition.