May 17, 2014
No Comments
These days, it seems like pretty much everyone is blogging. From news organizations to universities to moms, blogs have become a primary way to communicate ideas and involve readers in a conversation. Because most blogs allow comments, writers can receive prompt feedback from their audience and share ideas immediately.
Many people may want to create a personal blog but do not know where to begin. Getting started is usually the hardest part of blogging—but it doesn’t have to be. Below are five suggestions on how to find ideas for your blog:
Start with something you are passionate about
Blogs are mainly writing-based, and you will have a difficult time writing about something you aren’t interested in. Choose a blogging platform, like WordPress or Blogger, then decide what you want your posts to focus on. Exhaust the ideas that are in your head first—then ask friends, family, and anyone you can think of for their opinions on the topic.
Rely on experts and other bloggers
Once you have narrowed your blog topic, begin reading other blogs that relate to your content. What are these blogs talking about? Is anything new happening in the field? What hasn’t already been said about your topic? Use other websites and blogs to get the wheels turning, and then link to their site to increase readership, add credibility to your writing, and to make virtual connections. For an idea of where to start, visit Google Blog Search and search for keywords.
Frequently check social media
One of the easiest ways to find blogging ideas is to simply see what your friends are talking about. Visit Facebook, Twitter, Google, Pinterest, and online headlines to discover current trends and news.
Ask the Internet
Hundreds of underutilized web tools exist specifically to help online users keep up on trends and communicate with each other. Check out Google AdWords, Quora, Answerbag, Blurtit, and Yahoo Answers (to name a few) to see what topics are being asked and written about.
Use RSS Feeds
RSS (or Really Simple Syndication) feeds allow users to aggregate content from different sites. If you subscribe to an RSS feed, you will see a news feed customized to your specific preferences. RSS feeds display content from different websites based on the keywords and topics you are interested in. All of your news and blog updates are condensed into one viewing platform: an RSS feed.
Photo courtesy of Anonymous Account on Flickr.