Though fun and relatively easy to do, blogging does have its own set of challenges. One is running out of blog topics. We’ve all been in that situation. That seemingly helpless moment when you can’t seem to come up with new ideas for a blog post, or even find a hint of inspiration, to say the least. It can be frustrating, and at times, you may feel like throwing in the towel. But that should not be the case. Here are simple workarounds that you can try in order to get your creative juices flowing again.
1. Talk about your experiences
Great content is not always influenced by what you find on the Web. Sometimes, exceptional write-ups are based on a person’s own experiences, so why not share something about yourself that you think will benefit your readers?
Think about your expertise. What did it take for you to get there? What are the challenges that you've faced? How did you overcome them? Pick out experiences that you think can be relevant to your readers.
For instance, you are blogging about insurance and financial planning. If you're running out of topics, why not write about your own financial plan or the way you determined which insurance policies were right for you and your family?
People love hearing (or reading) stories that are based on actual people and events. Why? True-to-life experiences don’t need to be backed by research because they actually took place. The mere fact that it happened is enough proof.
2. Ask your readers
Asking your readers is not laziness. It’s about making your blog interactive and letting your audience know that you listen to them.
Remember, making a blog successful is not a one-way street. You need to know what your readers and target audience want. There can be strategies on how to find out, but you can simply ask.
You can do this through different ways. First off, you can post a question in the comments section when interacting with readers. Otherwise, you can put up a section on your blog that acts like a survey form where they can choose what they want to read next time.
3. Create an idea inventory
Ideas come very randomly. In my case, they usually pop up while I'm in transit, having lunch, in the shower, or even while working. It’s probably the same for you. It's easy to make a "mental note", but trust me when I say that you’ll end up forgetting it later.
So, if an idea comes to mind, no matter how ridiculous it seems at the moment, write them down. It doesn’t matter if it’s on a piece of paper or a note saved using an app on your mobile device. These ideas can inspire new and fresh ideas for topics, so it’s best to have them ready when you want to revisit them, especially when you seem to be at a loss on what to blog about next.
4. Know about the latest buzz
When you’re having a hard time picking a topic, head over to social media, online hangouts, and forums and see what interests your target audience. Joining online communities will give you a clue as to what’s setting your niche market abuzz and what content appeals to them at the moment.
5. Consider outsourcing
When you’ve tried everything, and you're still stuck without any ideas, you’re probably drained and burnt out. When that happens, you need to step back and take a break. Don’t be discouraged. It’s normal. We need to take a breather so we can regain our focus and drive.
During this time, you can consider accepting guest blog posts or hire freelancers to create content for your blog. Not only will this give you a break, but this can also infuse your blog with a fresh angle and perspective.
