05/04/19
05/04/19
Before you even think about opening that Word document, it is time to get down and dirty with research.
And I’m not even talking about the research required to actually write the post. No. I’m just talking about the research required to come up with the topic(s) you need to write about.
Coming up with topic ideas for a blog post can be one of the hardest parts of blogging. There is a lot to consider: facts, news, opinions, competition, and most importantly your audience.
Each post revolves around your audience. Because without them, your post would be sitting in a corner by itself.
Let’s take your blog post to the dating stage by completing some topic research first.
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4 Tips to Help You Create Unique Blog Topics Your Audience Will Love
1. Brainstorm
Before you start researching topics (and ruin your thoughts with what others think) it is always important to take your own thoughts into consideration first.
You are your best advisor and critic. So make sure you do your own brainstorming before anything else.
Get a journal and start writing your thoughts. Or use the “show up and throw up” method. Sit down with a blank document and start writing whatever comes to mind. Once your thoughts start to dwindle, go back through and edit. Find what is worth it, and what isn’t.
This is a great way not only to clear your mind but to also come up with the best topic ideas.
2. Check out the competition
Keep your friends close, and your enemies closer, right? Well, your competition might not be your enemy, but you get the idea.
Your competition can be a great source for ideas. But this is not to say that you should copy what they do! No, no.
Instead, check out what they are talking about. What blog posts have they written recently and what was the audience’s feedback? If you find unanswered questions, go ahead and answer them in your own blog post!
Just take what you find, and run with it. But please, please, please make sure that you do not directly copy or plagiarize someone else’s work! The last thing you want is to get in a legal battle simply because you were lazy.
So be yourself, and just use your competition to your advantage. Monitor their sites regularly and remember to stay one step ahead.
3. Stay up to date with the news
One of the greatest things you can do to stay relevant in the industry is to stay on top of industry news. It is extremely important to find a few highly regarded blogs and websites in your industry. Check out those websites daily to see what is happening that you need to know about.
If something is important to your audience that you think you should talk about, DO IT! This is your chance to prove that you are cutting edge and up to date.
So take 30 minutes to an hour out of each day just to read. This will not only improve your knowledge but also your writing skills.
4. Use keyword research tools
And last, but certainly not least, it is important to use keyword research tools to finalize your thoughts.
My favorite keyword tool to use is SEMrush. It is simple, easy and to the point. Within seconds, you get valuable data that you need to formalize the topics you need to write about.
SEMrush shows you the search volume, competition, pay-per-click cost and more. It is truly beneficial to any content creator to take their writing to the next level.
Simply search the main topic you want to discuss, but don’t get too picky.
If you think it is important to talk about ‘the best products for winged eyeliner’, simply search “winged eyeliner”. You might find out that people aren’t actually interested in what you were going to write about. Or that there are too many other results for that topic and you would easily get lost in a sea of results.
Take a look at all the combination of searches for whatever your search might be to discover what is worth writing about.
And the best part about SEMrush is that they are free! So go ahead and check it out.
Conclusion
Great blog posts start with greater blog topic ideas. So take a few minutes before you start writing to do the proper work required to get your blog to the next level!
Do you have other tips and tricks on how to generate great blog topics for your blog? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
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About the Author
Why, hello there! I’m Cathrin, the creator of The Content Bug. But since we are already virtual best friends, you can call me Cath. After working in the digital marketing industry, I decided it was time to share my love for online content creation, social media, and SEO with the everyday hustlers of the world… like YOU! You can almost always find me at a local coffee shop writing, reading and working on new things for The Content Bug. But when I have some free time, I love hanging out with my dog, going to a yoga class, and being outside. Stay connected with me on Pinterest, Instagram, and Twitter to see what I’m up to!
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