Ever wonder what it takes to write amazing blog posts? Creativity matters to some extent, but you’ll need more than that to make an impact.
In this digital era, it’s easy to create a blog for free. The challenge lies in writing original content that resonates with your audience and fills a gap in the market. Things are even harder for bloggers in highly competitive niches like beauty, eCommerce, or health and wellness.
Writing great content requires passion and outside-the-box thinking, but it also involves research, planning, and technical know-how. For example, you’ll have to learn about digital marketing, search engine optimization (SEO), and other technical aspects.
Even if you know how to write a successful blog post, you can still hit a creative block. You may feel like everything that needs to be said has already been said, and that there’s not much you can do to hook your readers. In those moments, it’s essential to make your voice heard and look at things from a fresh perspective.
Not sure where to start? Use these strategies to create engaging blog topics that draw readers in.
Write for Your Audience
Content is still king, according to a recent survey by Neil Patel. Not only does it drive traffic and sales, but it can also boost brand awareness and streamline your marketing efforts.
However, you can’t just publish a bunch of posts and expect to get results. The key is to focus on quality over quantity—and that starts with creating a positive user experience. Simply put, it’s crucial to write with your audience in mind and deliver genuine value.
First, think about your customers’ needs and pain points. Second, research the market to see what’s trending in your industry. Source ideas from social media, customer surveys and polls, and platforms like Quora, Reddit, and Answers.com.
After choosing a topic, adapt your writing style to the reader’s age, level of understanding, and knowledge of the subject matter.
Let’s say you have a blog targeted at HR managers. In this case, it doesn’t make sense to cover basic topics, such as how to screen and interview job seekers. Your target audience already knows these things.
Instead, put a fresh spin on the topic or focus on what your readers may not know. Returning to the previous example, you could write a blog post on hiring for remote roles or leveraging online advertising to attract talent.
Think about What’s Missing
The internet is flooded with blog posts offering pretty much the same information. If you do what everyone else does, you’ll get average results at best.
Don’t just follow the crowd and create cookie-cutter content. Instead, think about what’s missing in your industry or niche, and then try to fill that gap. Use the following resources to see what people are looking for:
- Twitter trends
- Answer The Public
- Google People Also Ask
- Google autocomplete
- Customer reviews and testimonials
- Forums and chat rooms
- Upvoted Quora posts
- Google Analytics
- Blog comments
- Social media comments
You can also look for blog post examples in your niche. If, say, you’re a digital marketer targeting freelancers, check out the Wix Blog, Search Engine Journal, and MarTech for inspiration.
Next, think about what you can add and where your expertise fits in. Perhaps you have a different perspective on the subject or want to share some insider tips. Go ahead and speak your mind, even if that means raising controversy.
Diversify the Content on Your Blog
In a recent HubSpot survey, 49% of respondents said they prefer funny content. More than one-third were interested in reading content they could relate to, whereas 30% preferred educational posts.
Your readers may have a common denominator, such as their love for crafts or technology, but they’re distinct individuals with different preferences. Therefore, it makes sense to diversify your blog content and approach topics from different angles.
Let’s see a few examples:
- Share customer success stories
- Interview industry experts
- Write in-depth guides
- Share little-known facts about your industry or niche
- Debunk popular myths
- Compile a list of software programs, online tools, resources, etc.
- Start a virtual challenge and create a series of blog posts around it
- Share your opinion on current trends or events
- Answer frequently asked questions
- Write about a goal you achieved
- Review and compare products or services
- Create and share printable checklists
- Share and discuss case studies
If, say, you have a business blog, it doesn’t mean you can’t inject some humor into your posts. It’s perfectly fine to share funny stories or anecdotes or create a relatable comic strip about startup life, marketing fails, and similar topics.
Repurpose Your Best-Performing Content
You might already know how to write a successful blog post, but you can still get stuck. If that happens, repurpose your best-performing pieces into videos, slides, and other types of content.
Consistency is one of the fundamental pillars of blogging. You can write amazing content and still have little or no results if you don’t post regularly.
Neil Patel recommends blogging daily or every other day. In some cases, publishing just one more post per week can increase traffic by over 18%. However, this doesn’t mean you must come up with a brand new post every time you blog.
So, what you can do when hitting a creative block is repurpose your blog content.
Let’s say you wrote an in-depth post on how to stay fit during the holiday season. Your readers loved it, and now you want to present it in a new format to further drive traffic and engagement. Here’s how to go about it:
- Create an infographic summarizing the key takeaways of the original blog post;
- Turn your content into a video tutorial featuring exercises, recipes, or practical tips
- Launch a podcast inspired by your blog post;
- Share success stories of people who followed the tips in your blog post; write about their experiences and the challenges they faced;
- Create a listicle-style blog post that highlights specific exercises, recipes, and healthy eating tips;
- Curate a collection of helpful resources, such as fitness apps and exercise programs, revolving around the tips shared in your post;
- Launch a 30-day workout challenge for those who want to stay fit during the holiday season;
- Compare different workouts or diet plans that meet your readers’ needs.
Pick one or more strategies, create the content, and then publish it on your blog. It’s a simple, efficient way to highlight evergreen content and provide further value to your readers.
Leverage User-Generated Content
Most business owners receive feedback and questions from customers. If you have a blog, readers may also leave comments on your posts. That’s what user-generated content (UGC) is all about.
This type of content may also include customer reviews, success stories, guest posts, social media posts, and more. Anytime someone mentions your brand on Facebook or Twitter, that’s user-generated content.
UGC has the power to inspire, educate, and engage readers. As an entrepreneur, you can use it to drive brand awareness, expand your reach, and build trust with potential customers. Plus, it costs nothing to publish user-generated content on your website or blog.
With that in mind, ask your customers to leave reviews and testimonials or answer product-related questions. Share their insights on your blog and social media pages, or incorporate them into your email campaigns.
Create Blog Topics That Set Your Brand Apart
No matter what industry you’re in, it’s not easy to keep your blog fresh and engaging. Big companies cover every possible topic on their websites and blogs, and some publish content around the clock.
The average person doesn’t have the time or resources to blog multiple times a day. But even so, you can use your blog as a branding tool and gain a loyal readership.
The key is to come up with engaging topics that resonate with your target audience. Think outside the box, diversify your content strategy, and repurpose your best-performing posts. Check your competitors’ blogs for inspiration, but bring your unique perspective to the table.
