You spend so much time on this damn blog thing but you can’t ever think of anything to say. Bust through this exercise with me and you’ll get to 100 post ideas in no time. That’s right – 100 blog post ideas to pull from when your brain is stalled.
So how do you go from 0 to 100? All you need is a little research on your subject matter and a spreadsheet.
Pick Five Subjects or Issue Areas
If you’re a non-profit working on environmental policy, the subject matter could start with what the communications-powers-that-be have designated as your key message areas. What does your group focus on specifically? If you’re a business, it could be the products or services you sell.
You don’t have to limit yourself to five subjects, but it is the minimum. The more the merrier.
Brainstorm Blog Post Types
I refer to Skellie’s post on ProBlogger for the basis on my ideas: 7 Types of Blog Posts Which Always Seem to Get Links and Traffic
To summarize:
1. Resource list: A list of links to educate users on the subject matter
2. List of tips: Like a resource list but with tidbits of advice from you
3. Good advice
4. Arguing a popular point of viw
5. Interview with high-profile person
6. Best-of lists
I skipped one (#6: Killer Headlines) because that’s not a type of a post because all of your posts should have killer headlines, right?
Now, multiply these blog types by your subject areas and voila, you already have 30 post ideas! If you can figure out two ideas for each type, you’re up to 60 total ideas!
Rinse and Repeat Posts
List out any and all posts that you’re likely to keep updating. For non-profits, this could be bills in state legislatures or advocacy campaigns. For businesses, this could be sales or industry news. Think of at least 10 of these with varying frequency from “as it happens” to even “annually.”
Total blog ideas: 70
Guest Posts
Yes, these in fact count. These might even count more because your guest bloggers will bring in people with them. If you can get 5 organizations or customers to post on your blog, you’re now up to 75 post ideas!
Solve A Problem
Alright, we’re in the home stretch. We all get random and sometimes frequently asked questions. Use the opportunity to solve your commenter’s and others’ questions through a blog post. If you can get 10 questions up, that’s 85 ideas!
Go Back and Evaluate
Whew, didn’t think we’d get here so fast, eh? Well, 15 more ideas and we’re home free. Now’s the time for a little reflection, go over your list and jot down even more ideas to for posts or even subject areas. Multiply them and before you know it you’ve reached…
100 Blog Post Ideas!
Now put it all together into a handy spreadsheet (headings: idea, subject, type, frequency) and pin it your corkboard.
Mine looks like this:
