Face it. You’re no Hemingway. And frankly, you don’t need to be. Keeping a business blog doesn’t require you to be a literary giant but it will require you to come up with some topics to write about.
In the end, knowing what to write is more important than knowing how to write. Which means, you can stop worrying over whether or not you can wow an audience of online onlookers and start worrying about having some ideas to start with. Here’s a quick list of places to go for topics when your blog is blank …
Your Clients: We’re not talking testimonials here. We’re talking about turning your customers’ problems and successes into the basis for blog posts. Take a particular client and address their issues and the solutions you came up with to solve their problem. Try to illustrate a larger point using their specific example. Chances are there are other people out there facing some of the same troubles and would benefit from reading the story of someone’s positive experience. You’ll have to be careful not to sound too self-serving but writing about what you know is easier than crafting content out of nothing. And what do you know better than your own business?
The News: Scanning news headlines for hot topics and relevant industry info can provide inspiration for blog posts that benefit your business. Relaying important news and information in a way that’s easily read and understood can be a perfect way of educating your clients and boosting your reputation as an expert in your field. Also, have a look at competitor’s blogs. Having an idea of what others in your industry write about can be a great way to drum up some ideas. Of course, you can’t steal their material but you can see what works and what doesn’t and take it from there.
The Rest: The Internet is a treasure trove of material and ideas are never further than your next Google search. There are plenty of sites with never-ending lists of blog topics and starter ideas. Polls, lists, trends, industry surveys, frequently asked questions, how-to articles, glossaries of common terms, beginner’s guides, statistics, mistakes, dos and don’ts are all among the usual suggestions. And they’re good ones. Mix ’em up, keep it fresh, and don’t get easily discouraged.
The Ibis Network / www.theibisnetwork.com
I find as a blogger that readers are also very interested in how our business works. The more we can explain to them about how we price, how we negotiate, and how we provide a needed middleman/advisor to make their transactions flow more smoothly, the more they will aprreciate our role.
Most people want to know that you know the community you are selling in. I blog about hyper local stuff – hikes I go one, restaurants I eat at, businesses that I use. I have just started to turn to these as item to blog about because it’s stuff I know about.
I’m with Jan. I think we should always write about what we know. Posts about lifestyles in various communities in your area, parks, dog parks, cultural activities, restaurants and specific local sports will always catch the interest of the reader. Write what you know and give your blog a voice. Be sure to include video!