How to come up with ideas for a blog post

Need to write a blog but stuck with a blank screen?

There can be nothing more intimidating than a blank word processor screen. It’s the old blank sheet of paper. You’ve hit ‘File’ ‘New’ then ‘Blank Document’. Even the file name sounds daunting.

Whether you have an existing blog, or you are setting up a new one, you will invariably find yourself someday sitting in front of your keyboard with a blank screen and a blank mind!

This article will help to get you through ‘writer’s block’.

One early tip to offer here is to set up a template document for your blog so you don’t have to face that dreaded ‘Blank Document’. Set up a ‘Your Name’s New Blog’ document so you are not starting from scratch. Set some prompts such as: 

• <Blog Title> 
• <1st Paragraph Sub-Heading-Intro>
• <Main Message>
• <Summary>
• <Call-to-Action>

Amend these to whatever works for you. The headings provide structure to work to rather than a blank page staring back at you. 

Points to consider

When setting about writing a blog, whether a personal blog or a business blog, there are some basics you need to consider.

Who are you writing for?

This is your intended audience. Who that audience is will dictate what you write and how you write. You’ll need a different voice for different audiences - you need to consider this when setting your writing style.

What are you writing about?

Be clear on what the topic of your blog is. Plan what you are going to write and keep on track. If other ideas come to mind as you write make a note of them - they may be suitable ideas for another blog.

What are the outcomes you seek?

This is where so many bloggers fall down. Not considering what they want their blog to achieve. The first thing you want people to do is read your blog, but then what?

Do you want to get a message out to as many people as possible? In which case you may just be seeking views. Do you want readers to click through to a link, perhaps to further information on your website? Or perhaps you want readers to comment either online or by messaging you? Perhaps an enquiry for more information.

A simple structure

Here is a very simple structure that also works very well if you need to put together a talk or a presentation.

• Tell them what you are going to tell them... your opening paragraph introduces what the blog is about.
• Tell them... the main body gets the story, or message, across.
• Tell them what you told them... your last paragraph, like an executive summary, reminds of the key points.

AIDA

This is a great tool to provide structure for your blog. This stands for:

• Attention – grab their attention and make them want to read on.
• Interest – build their interest in your blog, your story, or your business.
• Desire – create a desire to want to know more or engage with you.
• Action – provide a call to action, a way of getting in touch with you.

Removing writer’s block

If you ever find yourself with a complete mental block, do something different. 

Try writing somewhere else, a change of environment - coffee shop, park, garden… I do my best writing in Starbucks / Costa!

Try writing at different times of day to see what works best for you. You may be more creative in the morning.

Some ideas to trigger your brain…

Possible first lines for your blog:

• And everyone believed me...
• Just follow my lead and we’ll make it out alright...
• But what did he expect me to say?
• Looking back, I know that was the time I should’ve left...
• All I’ve ever wanted, all I’ve ever really wanted, was…
• I could hear laughter the other side of the door...
• He asked me what my three wishes would be if I ever met a genie...
• Well, I am never doing that again...

Finally - check out what’s trending on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram, etc and see if there’s an angle you can creatively blog about.

Author Bio | Keith Grinsted MBA FRSA

 

• Email

  keith.grinsted@gmail.com

  keith.grinsted@gmail.com

• LinkedIn

• Websites

  www.goodbyelonely.co.uk

  www.business-sos.co.uk

  www.membershipworld.co.uk

Born and bred in Essex (UK) and now living in Southend-on-Sea Keith has extensive experience across many sectors – private enterprise (startups, retail, and corporate), public sector (national and local govt), and third sector (Board Member and Trustee).

In the area of business turnarounds Keith has been referred to as a modern-day Sir John Harvey-Jones in the way he can look at a business and see opportunities the business owner has overlooked, or is simply unaware of

He is a freelance business writer having written eBooks under his own name for Business Expert Press in New York and a blog for Huffington Post UK, as well as ghost-writing for others.

For the past three years he has campaigned against loneliness and isolation through his Goodbye Lonely programme, having had a conversation on BBC TV with the late Captain Sir Tom Moore. He has been regularly interviewed on TV, Radio, and in national papers and magazines.

He is highlighting the wellbeing of remote / hybrid workers who are not being cared for by their employers to the level they require. He is a Mental health First Aider, a Wellbeing Champion, and has had suicide awareness training.

Through his life experiences Keith is passionate about the issues individuals face when they must start their careers over again and often, perhaps, reinvent who they are. Hence his award-winning LAUNCHPAD Programme helping those who are unemployed or facing redundancy get their career back on track.

• Open University Business School Alumni Award for outstanding contribution to society
• Investors in People Exceptional People Award for Community Engagement 

The single most important thing he works on is uncovering what it is they are passionate about. 

Keith believes that we are all capable of great things but we tend not to try new directions. Unless we release our emotions and uncover our passion, we will find setting a new course for the future very difficult. Keith strongly believes everyone should continue to learn and relate that learning to the work environment.

Keith is a great connector of people and has over 21,500 followers on LinkedIn and runs his Charity UK group with over 47,500 members. He is also Partnerships Director for Membership World.

January 2024