What should you write about in your blog?

Figuring out what to write about at your blog can be tricky. You might have so many ideas that you don’t know where to start. Or you might feel like you have no ideas at all. Lots of us fall into that category. You stare at your computer screen and think, “I have nothing to say that anyone else would want to read.”

Here’s the good news

You probably have a lot of great stuff to write about… you just don’t realize it. We often overlook the subjects that we’re best-suited to write about because we’re so used to thinking about them. We assume everyone knows about them and thinks about them like we do.

For example, suppose you’re an avid birdwatcher, and you just set up a website about birdhouses. You might suppose that anyone buying a birdhouse knows about the kinds of birds they’re likely to see. After all, identifying birds is second nature to you–it probably seems like it’s second nature to everyone else, right?

Not at all. That skill or knowledge you’ve developed is exactly what someone else needs. Someone else who buys a birdhouse might watch out their window and think, “Now if only I had the first clue what kinds of birds these are…” The knowledge that comes as second-nature to you is exactly what that person wants to read about.

Write about what you already know or love

One of the best starting points for blogging, then, is just to write what you know about and what interests you. The birdwatcher might write about how to tell the difference between two kinds of finches, or might write about why one kind of birdseed is better for bluejays than another kind. Someone who loves taking photographs might write about what kind of camera she prefers, and why, and what tricks she’s learned about to take great photos. A bicyclist might talk about the best local bike trails, or how to find a helmet that fits, or how to tell if your tires need air.

Whatever you love, study, read about, are skilled in, or are just interested in is a good topic for your blog.

Need some additional ideas?

A fellow named Chris Brogan wrote a list of 100 blog topics as jumping-off points for people to use. Take a look at that list–something might jump out at you.

But also consider tweaking those ideas to fit you. For instance, number 87 on the list is “Podcamp has to change.” You might read that and think, “I don’t even know what Podcamp is.” But maybe, if you’re the bicyclist, you might think that “Bicycling laws have to change” or “Bicycle seats have to change.” Either of those topics might make a great blog post!

Another example: number 27 is “How women use social media.” You might not have a clue how women use social media. But maybe you know a lot about how women do (or should) use gyms or hairstyling products or libraries. You can write about that!

So use that list of 100 topics as ideas, not necessarily as exact topics you have to stick to.

Consider the blogs you like to read.

What sorts of topics do those blogs cover? Do you have thoughts on those topics? Write about your thoughts on those topics and why they matter to you (or why they should matter to the reader). Do you agree with what those blogs say? Write about why they’re right. Do you think those blogs missed a point? Write about the point they missed and why it’s important.

Write about what’s happening in your life

This doesn’t mean that you have to wait until something monumental occurs. Everyday happenings can make excellent blog posts.

• Naomi Dunford wrote about getting her hand stuck in a box of wine and turned it into a marketing lesson.
• Charlie Gilkey posted a video of himself performing an acoustic song, and used it as an example of working through fear.
• Kelly Parkinson told the story of nearly getting a speeding ticket as a way to illustrate a sales technique called the “assumptive close.”
• Pam Slim wrote about an email she received from one of her blog readers, John the Baseball Player, because she really liked the email. It turned into a series of posts that generated a huge response from her readers.
• Gwen Bell turned a conversation she had in the car with her husband into a blog post about life and awareness.

As each of the folks above demonstrate, there are topics for blog posts all around us. The trick is to practice noticing them and taking the time to sit down and type them out.

So… what’s on your mind and when will you write about it?

Image credit: “Writer’s Block Dungeon” by Orkboi – Creative Commons Licensed.