Creating fresh content for your business blog can be a full time job. Sometimes, it’s easy to get “stuck” – but creative ideas are all around us. Here are 31 days of content ideas to kick-start your blogging in the new year.
Ready, Set, Mark Your Calendar:
- Be the expert. Pick a common problem faced by your customers and give practical tips that solve it from your own experience.
- Create a list. The Top 5, 10, or… The Top 10 worst… or The Top 5 Best… List style blogs offer valuable information in a quick format busy people enjoy reading. Lists can be on trends, dos, don’ts, or industry information.
- Answer a customer question. When you answer the question from “John S. of Baltimore” you answer a question for many more as well. Here’s an example of how a Q&A piece from Google.
- Write a customer success story. Ask permission to turn a testimonial into a blog post. It can turn into a case study-format piece that show-cases the client a well as your services and quality.
- Share interesting reports. Sometimes industry data, reports or tips in your niche provide useful reference points to your customers. Don’t “over-tech” them, but let them see into your world. It builds understanding and trust.
- Post an infographic. The old adage is true – a picture is worth a thousand words. Picture that data. Here’s a free online infographic builder: Easel.ly
- Bust a myth. What common misconception can be a problem for your current or potential clients? Bust it!
- Write an inspirational or motivational post using famous quotes. Sometimes a single quote can give you plenty to say. Start by Googling “quotes about [topic]” Be sure to credit to the person you quote.
- Build a post around a rhetorical question.
- Go behind the scenes. Give your readers a photo or video tour of an area of your business. Describe its purpose, explain why you do what you do for quality, etc. Here’s a fun behind the scenes piece from MythBusters:
- Post links to articles that are useful to your audience. Don’t send them to a direct competitor, but share links from news sources, industry publications or associations.
- Start a poll. Getting people involved in answering questions can create some great conversations. You can release the results at a later date and may even get more material for future blogs in the process.
- Compile a link roundup. If you notice several interesting opinions on a topic or strategy, put them together into a single post of the best ideas.
- Interview an expert in your field. Share your interview as an audio file, video file or written interview report. (That’s a 3-for-1!)
- Blog about a recent experience. Travel, shopping, dining out, or an encounter with a particularly difficult problem to solve. Don’t rant and rave but turn it into something funny, inspirational, or informative.
- List the pros and cons of an idea, product, or service.
- Link to an informational video and share what you think about it.
- Write a series. Sometimes an item is too much for one blog. You can break it into a series that keeps readers coming back.
- Respond to recent articles or news that relates to your industry. Offer your own perspective and commentary.
- Tell your story. Most people enjoy about the challenges and dreams of others. Share why you started your business, made that last change or released a new product or program. Don’t let it get salesy.
- Share a success or failure and what you learned from it. Remember, to be honest and direct the focus toward the lesson or benefit. Keep it positive.
- Create an award. Customer of the week, Innovative Thinker of the Year, etc. Showcase the award recipient and their award.
- Make announcements about upcoming events or opportunities.
- Highlight a company milestone or an important moment and how it changed your business.
- Conduct a reader survey. Ask what they would like to read or any other question you choose. Stir up good conversations, learn about customer needs, create a following, and glean new ideas.
- Update an old article. Look over your older blogs. Perhaps you can expand a portion to create a new one, or perhaps it needs to be updated for a new season, year or product.
- Compare 2 or more related products or services to help your readers decide which is best for them.
- Discuss future plans. Give you readers a peek at what you will be doing in the coming season/ year to start gaining interest.
- Cultivate Culture Awareness. Your business has a culture. It’s typically an outgrowth of the owner’s philosophy, but it shapes the work environment and atmosphere of your company. Share it.
- Share Social Good. If your company supports a charity or does volunteer work, let your customers and readers know how you give back to your community.
- Invite a guest blogger to write a post for you. A strategic partner or industry expert can offer a fresh perspective and even bring additional readers.
Now that you have some great ideas flowing for your business website content, make sure you follow best practices. Keep your blog educational and helpful. Avoid over-selling in your content, but do offer opportunities through calls-to-action (CTAs). Don’t forget to keep SEO strategies for website content in mind.
If you’re interested in learning more about how to attract visitors and convert them to sales leads, read Inbound Marketing: Method over Madness for Business.
