Blogging is a key element of any successful SEO campaign, as businesses which publish blogs earn 97 percent more links to their website than those that don’t. But while there’s plenty of incentive to blog regularly, finding exciting new ideas can be tough when you’re writing multiple posts each week.
Fortunately, you can try a few tricks to generate blog post ideas that excite you and your audience. Here are a few of the best.
Speak to your readers
One simple but effective way to generate blog post ideas is to engage with the people you’re trying to attract — your readers.
Create a brief survey to learn what your audience wants to read more of, and offer an option for them to share their own ideas. You can send this as an automated email whenever people subscribe to your blog posts or newsletters, or distribute them on a regular basis (e.g. once per month).
Alternatively, interact with readers in comments sections and on social media. Ask which topics they prefer to read about, whether they would like to watch the same content in a video instead, and anything else that could be beneficial.
Study the latest trends
Take advantage of Google Trends to gauge the popularity of particular keywords and topics.
Google Trends provides a function to view trends across various areas, such as Sci/Tech and Business. Alternatively, you can browse trends based on keywords.
It’s a fantastic tool for staying up to date on trends related to your business and industry. And geographical information is included, to aid with targeting specific locations.
Monitor industry news for relevant stories
Pay attention to the latest news in your industry or industries relevant to your company, your products/services, and your audience. Even the smallest change in regulations or the hype surrounding an upcoming product launch can inspire an engaging blog post that appeals to your target readers.
On a similar note, any expos or conferences you attend can provide plenty of fuel for numerous posts. Capture photos and videos to enhance your text with original visual content, as posts featuring images tend to get 94 percent more views.
Take inspiration from content published on other websites
Read lots of articles, blog posts, and press releases? Watch insightful videos and listen to business podcasts regularly?
You might see or hear things that inspire, frustrate, or even outrage you. Take advantage of these reactions and consider how you can share your own views on the same topic.
This may take the form of a blog post written as a direct response to the original source material, linking back to it. It’s possible that the original writer/video host/podcaster will see your post and link back to it. That could drive more traffic to your site and help you gain authority.
It should go without saying that any quotes you use should be referenced properly and credit must be given where it’s due.
Take advantage of these techniques to generate blog post ideas that appeal to your audience, and you could see real results over time.
Want to work with our Orange County SEO agency to reach a wider audience? Get in touch to find out how we can help you!