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Mar
11

Ten Guaranteed Ways To Provide Value Based Content When You Just Don’t Feel Creative

 Ten Guaranteed Ways To Provide Value Based Content When You Just Don't Feel Creative

 
Question: How do I keep coming up with good content for my blog?
 
We've all had it, you know that dreaded writer's block when we have a set time for blogging and our ideas just won't flow?  I, for one, cannot simply be creative on demand.  There, I've admitted it.  That's the first step, right?
 
Here's what I've found.  Oftentimes, it's when I least expect it, a brilliant idea will come to mind for my next blog post.  You know, when you're in line at the grocery store, driving around town, or even while bathing the kids.  Usually an inconvenient time to get my blog writing in.  I've found that a few quick tips can be to carry a pad and paper with you (or use your smart phone to jot down your ideas).  I like to open up a draft email and type in my thoughts for later.  Other times, especially while behind the wheel, I'll dial my home office and dictate my thoughts into my voicemail.  During a creative time I open up draft blog posts and write a title or a sentence to use at a later time.  These tricks have really served me well the majority of the time. 
 
But then there are times…

Still can't get the creative juices flowing?  Here's ten guaranteed ways to provide value based content when you just don't feel creative:

1. Share a top 5 list that will pertain to your industry including: Some examples include a Top 5 Must Haves, Mistakes To Avoid, or Strategies to Implement.
 
2. Interview someone you admire: Create 3-5 questions that you can ask a business partner, colleague, mentor or even customer/client of yours.
 
3. Summarize a great book or article: Share what you've recently listened to or read and pass along the highlights or even dig in detail into one chapter.
 
4. Inspire others with a quote or YouTube clip and share why you chose it: Inspiration is a language that anyone can understand.  Find music, quotes, clips or a passage that others will appreciate.  Make sure you do include your take on it to make your piece original.  I use the standard of a minimum of 100 original words.
 
5. Review a product, service or affiliate link of yours: Great way to promote yourself while still giving value to your readers.
 
6. Edit an older post of yours and make it more up to date: Ever found an older post that is still relevant, but needs some sprucing up?  Easy to make a few edits rather than starting from scratch!
 
7. Create a link love post: This can be a series of links you round up based on when they were posted, topic, or niche.  Another take on link love is to ask your circle, business partners or blogging friends for an answer to a pointed question and share those with the links to their blogs.
 
8. Take the most recent business tip you learned and turn it into a 2 minute YouTube video: Do a quick intro to the video and tip in your blog, then link your video tutorial.
 
9. Create a post expanding on a recent blog that was written by a peer or mentor in the industry: Give your take on a point in their post and then share your thoughts or perhaps why you disagree (politely) with their view.
 
10. If all else fails, invite a guest blogger!  Guest blogging is a fantastic way to share great content, promote other bloggers, and add backlinks to your blogs.

Share YOUR no fail way to crank out a value based blog post in the comments below!

 

Please be sure to tune in to the next installment of Ask Dani, where you can ask your home business, social media, leadership or blogging related question.  Your question may be the next one featured!

 

About the author

daninm

Dani in a nutshell? Mom of 2, Entrepreneur, Network Marketer, Coach, Social Media Junkie, Health Nut, Dog & People Lover...oh and a total ROCKSTAR! ;) Helping folks navigate social media and rock their home biz! A mom of totally awesome 4 and 2 year olds. I love to network; let's connect! (910) 333-6FIT Ready to transform your life in 90 days? Join the challenge today: www.mychallengerocks.com

39 comments

41 pings

  1. Sandra
    Twitter:
    says:

    Thanks for the tips Dani! Very useful and timely :o )
    Sandra recently posted..What Not To Wear

    1. daninm
      Twitter:
      says:

      Your conversation sparker in our group was a catalyst behind getting this post finished up! :) Hope it sparks something for YOU!

      Dani

  2. Ryan Biddulph
    Twitter:
    says:

    Hi Dani,

    All power tips here.

    My best ideas hit me when I’m not looking for them. It really resonates with your experience.

    The truth is each moment offers us with a blog post idea. The more you can quiet your mind the easier it is to see the content that’s just waiting to be served up.

    Thanks for sharing!

    RB
    Ryan Biddulph recently posted..Is Your Facebook Group Hip and Happening

    1. daninm
      Twitter:
      says:

      I am so with you, Ryan! It’s my everyday experiences that constantly prompt me to think of a blog topic!

      Dani

  3. Roy A. Ackerman, PhD, EA
    Twitter:
    says:

    Great post, Dani.
    Here’s another idea:
    When you do feel creative, don’t stop at one! Write a few. Pick the best one to post now. Save the others (and hone their message) for those less fortunate days!
    Roy A. Ackerman, PhD, EA recently posted..Breakthrough- Treat the Disease- Not Just the Symptoms!

    1. daninm
      Twitter:
      says:

      Great suggestion Roy! I like both layers of your tip…strike while the iron is hot…but also hone the message later. A great tip as a few days may go by and new ideas have been sparked!

      Dani

  4. Beverly Monical says:

    Really great tips for us that sometimes get hit by “The Block”. It has helped me think about something for my next post.Thanks Dani!
    Beverly Monical recently posted..Waa Baby Bev Has Branding Questions

    1. daninm
      Twitter:
      says:

      Run with it Beverly! ;)

      Dani

  5. Jeanine Byers Hoag
    Twitter:
    says:

    Great suggestions, Dani! Like you, my ideas often hit me when I am doing something else.

    Often when I am still for whatever reason. And that is a reminder to me to create more moments of stillness, on purpose. Even a few minutes of meditation makes a big difference!
    Jeanine Byers Hoag recently posted..Wardrobe Remix- Second Week Favorites

    1. daninm
      Twitter:
      says:

      Great suggestion to meditate in our busy day! For me, oftentimes when my children are going to sleep and I’m resting in a quiet room with the lights off…I have a light bulb moment! :)

      Dani

  6. Marty
    Twitter:
    says:

    Hi Dani,
    I’ve been pretty lucky in the last few months. Having a block has been pretty rare. I usually only need to think of one line for a subject and once I start writing, it just flows out of me. The most frustrating time for me is thinking of a great idea while I’m driving. It is pretty hard to record thoughts somewhere then!
    Marty recently posted..How to benefit your mind and body

    1. daninm
      Twitter:
      says:

      I agree…driving and blogging don’t mix! I pull over and dictate into my phone or when desperate measures need to be taken…ask my passenger to dictate for me! LOL It’s a true story, happened this week. :)

  7. Kesha Brown
    Twitter:
    says:

    This is excellent Dani! I have a swipe file full of content. Sometimes my problem is not the idea but making sure the content is not too long (I like to write and can easily go overboard) which is why I’m starting several series on my site and breaking up the content :-)

    This list will definitely get anybody’s creative juices flowing for new blog posts!
    Kesha Brown recently posted..Website Elements You Should Avoid

    1. daninm
      Twitter:
      says:

      I think writing a series is a great idea! I’ve done that with some of my technical posts on Facebook in particular so that I don’t overwhelm folks and give them time to implement.

      Dani

  8. Heather C Stephens
    Twitter:
    says:

    Hey Dani!

    Fantastic post with so many great ideas! I use your method of emailing myself and calling my voice mail. I’ll also open up a record file on my phone and dictate a post if the juices are flowing! :)

    Keep up the great work!

    Heather
    Heather C Stephens recently posted..Lean Mean Email List Building Machine You Already Own but are Not Using

    1. daninm
      Twitter:
      says:

      Thanks Heather! Busy moms learn how to multi-task quickly! :)

      Dani

  9. Steve Nicholas
    Twitter:
    says:

    These are some great ideas, Dani! I think that another thing that is helpful is figuring out when a blog topic has a lot to cover and doing a series instead of a single post. This way, you have days worth of material instead of just one.

    1. daninm
      Twitter:
      says:

      Absolutely! That needs to be a Tip #11 for sure!!

      Dani

  10. Jayne Kopp
    Twitter:
    says:

    Hi Dani, I am no stranger of lack of creative juice from time to time. I also know what you’re saying about getting an idea when your hands are full or when its impossible to stop, drop and write.

    Great ideas to open up some creativity to stamp out dreaded writers block.

    Thanks for sharing!

    Jayne
    Jayne Kopp recently posted..Use the Fear of Failure in Your Favour!

    1. daninm
      Twitter:
      says:

      You’re welcome Jayne! I like that: Stop, Drop and Write! (Hmmm a future blog post for you?)

      Dani

  11. Janet @ The Natural Networker
    Twitter:
    says:

    Dani, aloha. Loved the ideas in your post. Oftentimes I will send myself an e-mail to remember an idea. I find that as I read blogs and tweets I frequently find quotes or themes that appeal to me for expansion. Ideas are everywhere.

    From everything I have read about how to get your posts noticed, posts that are lists are the most clicked/read.

    Like you, I find that people respond well to short video clips too. Thx so much for sharing your ideas. Aloha. Janet
    Janet @ The Natural Networker recently posted..Network Marketing—A to Z 8 In a Series of Fun Facts- Figures &amp Tips by Janet Callaway The Natural Networker

    1. daninm
      Twitter:
      says:

      Janet, thank you!! And I appreciate your connecting with me too! Lists are so much fun for me to create…I’ve found that your title can make a WORLD of a difference too when creating a list post.

      So true. Love your words: Ideas are everywhere!

      Dani

  12. Tim says:

    Hi Dani,
    Your post is insightful. I use something like your method but not exactly…

    When a post idea grabs me, I scramble for a pen and pad on matter where I am. If I can get, I take it as a note on my phone.

    If I want to rant, I’ll rant straight into my phone recorder and later transcribe.

    Funny enough- One Idea just hit me hard now:) when I want to rant, I could switch on my video camera and just rant on and then upload to youtube…result? Instant traffic, more natural followers, more loyal followers etc.

    Dani, thanks for posting this, you’ve just allowed a killer idea to hit me:)

    1. daninm
      Twitter:
      says:

      Tim…fantastic idea! Instead of pen and paper, carry the flipcam! :)

      Dani

  13. kisane says:

    Great post and ideas Dani. I’ve also gained more valuable tips from the comments your post has generated!

    The other day I went to the newsagent and bought myself a little notebook to fit my bag and a new pen so I could jot down ideas whenever I was out. It’s working really well for capturing ideas on the run!

    I think I might follow-up now in thinking more about capturing stuff on video.

    Great post for generating ideas – thanks :-)

    Kisane
    kisane recently posted..My E-Mail Inbox Is Cluttering Up My Mind!

    1. daninm
      Twitter:
      says:

      Thanks Kisane! Video is so great and then less to write. I love the natural way we share things with the spoken word too!

      Dani

  14. Nanette Saylor
    Twitter:
    says:

    What a great collection of super easy blog post starters! I love to open up my favorite daily readers to pull a quote for inspiration, too. And when all else fails, expanding on a piece of a previous post works, too.

    I so appreciate the “push” today, since I’ve gotten lazy about posting lately, ’cause I was working on alot of other writing/content stuff and just wasn’t finding that creative spark to add to my blog, too. Now I’m ready– armed with your list, I’ll never be at a loss for content again!

    Wishing you well-
    Nanette
    Nanette Saylor recently posted..I Believe… in “BE-ing”

  15. Ian Belanger
    Twitter:
    says:

    Hi Dani,

    I know exactly what you mean about ideas coming to you at the absolute wrong time. This happens to me all the time and I never had a good way to overcome it.

    Thank you for giving me some excellent ideas on how I can remember these ideas until I have time to write a post.

    Thanks for sharing and have a great day!
    Ian Belanger recently posted..Are All Celeberty Endorsements A Good Thing What If It’s Charlie Sheen Doing The Endorsing

  16. Dahlia Valentine
    Twitter:
    says:

    Dani… I really like #9. And to expand upon that, you could read someone else’s list post and talk about 1 item on that list.

    For example, I could take #3 on your list and turn it into an article titled: “How to Write Book Reviews That’ll Instantly Increase Your Amazon Commissions.”

    Hmmm… that gives me some ideas. I’m off to explore! Thanks for bringing back a little late night mojo.

    Cheers,
    Dahlia
    Dahlia Valentine recently posted..7 Days on Twitter- 60 Followers- 21 Posts- 50 Earned and 3 Lessons Learned

  17. Marcus Baker
    Twitter:
    says:

    Hi Dani,

    Excellent tips, many of which I use.

    One thing I learned early on as a blogger is that you will never run out of ideas for posts if you remember that you have an opinion that can be expressed about anything.

    Read something that you have an opinion about? Express it in a post and then invite others to agree or disagree in the comments section. Works like a charm.

    ~Marcus
    Marcus Baker recently posted..4 Point Goal Replacement Surgery Checkup Available Here

  18. Devesh @ Blogging Tips
    Twitter:
    says:

    Hey Dani,

    Awesome post. I really like all these awesome content ideas.

    I use Blogging communities and forums to get blog post ideas and i think blogging communities is one of the best way to get content ideas.

    Anyways, Thanks for sharing this awesome post dani. Keep up the good work.

    ~Dev
    Devesh @ Blogging Tips recently posted..4 Things You MUST Do to Become a Successful Affiliate Marketer

  19. Amberly Mauszycki says:

    Excellent suggestions Dani! I find myself having writers block every now and then, and what helps me is to look at what’s popular and what people are searching for right now. I will also listen to some tunes while thinking of ideas and that helps me get a creative spark! Tip #2 is my favorite, you can always find great tips to blog on by learning from someone else!
    Amberly Mauszycki recently posted..Inspiration Is The Recipe To SuccessWhat Inspires You

  20. April Williams
    Twitter:
    says:

    These are all really great tips! I have a smart phone that has a voice recorder and I use that a lot when I am out and about. I will hear people talking about something or when I am laying in bed and see a commercial that generates an idea I will record it into my phone. (I actually get a lot of great ideas from commercials oddly enough).

    I have had writers block the last couple of weeks because I have been so busy with other stuff so these tips are very useful! Thanks girl!

    April

  21. Oliver Tausend
    Twitter:
    says:

    Hi Dani,

    I agree that we need tools to record our ideas immediately, even in inconvenient situations. Sounds that you are doing a great job at this. I definitely can learn from you here, so thanks a lot for sharing.

    Take care

    Oliver
    Oliver Tausend recently posted..MLM- Learning The Skills From Tom ‘Big Al’ Schreiter Pt 4

  22. Mavis Nong
    Twitter:
    says:

    Hi Dani,

    Thanks for sharing these great ideas. No more excuses for not producing content consistently and frequently.

    All the best,
    Mavis
    Mavis Nong recently posted..How to Beat the Changes to Organic Traffic Generation Rules

  23. Lynn Brown
    Twitter:
    says:

    Thanks Dani for sharing some awesome tips and ideas for your blog.

    I will be inspired by something I see when I am out and about, or talking to family and friends. I also learned way back when, to leave a note pad near your bed. I would wake at 3 a.m. with an idea or thought and would try to remember it in the morning. Now, I write it down and am able to get back to sleep!

    I especially glad to see you listed taking your older posts and updating them. That is a great way to recirculate and revitalize those posts.
    Lynn Brown recently posted..Facebook Tip on Linking Your Fan Page

  24. Ana | Traffic Generation
    Twitter:
    says:

    Dani – great blog!

    And I do love your tips; the one about YouTube is so easy to implement, it’s no brainer. :)

    In case you need some more ideas and hope you don’t mind a link, here are a few more: 202 Tips to Increase Blog Traffic

    Look forward to seeing you around!

    Ana
    Ana | Traffic Generation recently posted..How to Build a List- Rich Man- Poor Man List Building

  25. Jennie says:

    Hi Dani,

    Great tips for a newbie like me.

    Thanks for your valuable tips, looking for more from your blog.

    Cheers

    ~J
    Jennie recently posted..MC700LL A Apple MacBook Pro MC700LL-A 133-Inch Laptop Review

  26. Shiva @ Webmaster Tips
    Twitter:
    says:

    Hey there Dani,
    I think a list post is one of the best idea when you do not get any idea about new posts but the bad thing about lists posts is that you have to do a lot of research. Like you said you can also start writing link love posts, review posts and so on. Thanks a lot for the list.

    Regards,
    Shiva
    Shiva @ Webmaster Tips recently posted..How Do I Start Link Building

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