As I always say, blogging is hard work. If you’re anything like me you’ll always have blogging at the back of your mind, thinking up crazy new ideas to make your blog that bit more noticeable than all the other thousands out there. With me, I’m constantly thinking about ideas for new posts, but I also recognise that other people don’t find it quite so easy, so this post is all about getting inspiration for your next post or article.
Brainstorm Ideas
This is my favourite way of thinking up ideas for new posts, as all it consists of is sitting down with a piece of paper and thinking up ideas for posts. Heck, you don’t even need to be sitting down, just think of ideas and write them down so you don’t forget.
Personally, the vast majority of my ideas will come to me when I’m lying in bed waiting to go to sleep, so I have a little notebook and a pen on my bedside table so that I can just jot down any ideas I have, and then elaborate on them the next day. OK, this might sound silly, but it works for me.
Read Around
I’ve written a lot of blog posts and articles in the past, and by that I mean A LOT. I constantly need to think up new ideas to write about, but sometimes they just don’t come from my imagination. What I do in this situation is to read around on different blogs and see what else is happening in that niche. That said; try not to just copy ideas or titles from other blogs. Put your own variation on the idea to make it unique to your website, otherwise you’ll just blend in.
Read More!
If you think you’ve read enough blogs but still can’t get any ideas, try reading a good old fashioned book. I know this isn’t a very modern way of operating, but I can guarantee it works. Go to your local library and find books on the subject, then take some ideas from there and put your own variation on it.
Just ask!
That’s right, just ask around. Do a tweet to your friends, a post on the forum or just ask your family. I find it incredible how little I see this method being used, as it’s a great way of not only finding ideas for posts, but also networking with other writers/bloggers for future interactions.
It’s all bull%*£$!!!
Woah! Hold on a second, have I gone mad?! Well, no, actually, I haven’t. I just think it’s very important to stress the point that different methods work for different people. The ones listed above work for me, but for the next man something completely different might work. Use the above ideas as a guide, but in the end it’s your website and you should stamp your own individuality on it.
Anything to add?
If you have anything you think I’ve missed out, feel free to leave a comment below and tell the world. If you really enjoyed this post, click on one of the cute little icons to share it with some more beautiful people. Thanks for reading!
Awesome post. Sometimes I struggle for ideas, but I find just relaxing and having a little brainstorm session will help me out. The notepad idea is good though, I’ll definately be investing in one
Having a little book with you is a must for all bloggers in my opinion. Personally I’m quite forgetful, so if it wasn’t for my book, half the posts on Teenius wouldn’t be here at the moment
lol
Over at TBP we have four writers and we still sometimes can’t get ideas for posts. I guess it just varies from blogger to blogger. Personally, I write a post around a title, so unless I can get that… there’s no chance!
The Blogging Park’s last blog post..Blog Flipping Guide – Part III
I suppose it’s just the luck of the draw. Sometimes you’ll all get loads of ideas and sometimes you won’t. I know it’s the same with me. I can go for days without thinking up any new ideas, then all at once I’ll get loads!
Great post!!!
I always run out ideas for my next blog post. Bookmarked.
Farrhad A | The Dollar Diary’s last blog post..Mistakes You Should NEVER Make- Learn From Me
Wow.. the moment I read this post I was already sad thinking what to write next on my blog. And after reading this got some nice motivation
.
I agree on the read on other blogs point. Another I’d like to add is, leave your room your PC. Get outside see what’s happening in the world, relax your mind, come back. You’re all refreshed with at least one new idea.
On the point, ideas while lying on bed. Its silly to say but I think of ideas when I’m in relax room, ROFL.
It helps for me atleast.
Nice Post Simon, btw
Thanks for the great comment, Enk.
You always seem to have great ideas for posts at Chdimar 
I too find relaxing really helps. A lot of the ideas for this blog come while I’m lying in bed, so I suppose relaxing does help
I try to have a few ideas left always. I will read my own posts again, maybe there are thing you can deep out more and more.
And I always get the strangest ideas on the strangest places, so I always carry a notebook
Thanks, I’ll subscribe!
Stefan/DSK
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Thanks for dropping by and leaving a comment, Stefan. Ideas do seem to come in the weirdest of places, hence the ‘It’s all bull%*£$!!!’ point as different ideas come to different people at different places.
It really starts with niche selection. Before starting a blog, one just has to make sure that the niche is something that you are excied about and also there is a lot of information to disseminate.
Niche’s last blog post..How To Add Your Blog Feed To Your Facebook Profile
Very good point, thanks for dropping by and leaving a comment
Probably one of the main reasons I got out of the MMO blog niche was because the lack of ideas. Sure, I new how to get them but just couldn’t be bothered posting more up which made the site lose traffic.
Now I can post when I like
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Really? I’ve always found that the MMO niche is relatively easy to get ideas for posts as there are so many other blogs to draw inspiration from. I once flipped a site in the ‘Dog Training’ niche. Now THAT is hard to write for
Well, it is easy at the start but maintaining quality and unique content is hard. For example you can find tones of things to do that have been done, but to get the most interested you need to keep being unique!
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If I’m not wrong, MMO stands for Money Making Online ? or what ?
Enk.’s last blog post..Using Wordpress as a Website
Yeah, MMO = make money online, making money online. Pretty much any different combination of those three words will work
lol
Just the thing I needed at the moment.
My strategy is to think about cool new stuff when not thinking about anything else. Like before going to sleep. Don’t forget to write an idea down, you’ll most likely forget the idea once you fall asleep. hehe.
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Thanks for visiting Gaya, glad you found what you needed and I hope you’ll visit back in the future
Very relevant article! It can be quite a challenge to keep coming up with fresh ideas. I try to have two or three ideas going at a time so that when I get finished with one I have another to begin. The notepad idea is a good one and I definitely use one! I have notpads, and post-it notes, going all the time!
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Thanks for the compliments on the article. Like you say, it can be difficult to constantly think up new ideas, so if possible it is best to have a backup, just incase you struggle.
For me, I try and add a new post up here every two days, so I have loads of ideas written down incase I can’t think of anything at the time
Great post. It is definitely the most important thing to think about writing your next article.
Good techniques to help me find inspiration.
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Glad you found it useful
Thinking up ideas for posts is extremely important (obviously 
), but there are ways to still make posts if you’re lacking inspiration.
Just here to say Hello. :s
I’m bored and really demotivated with my blog ratings right now.
Enk.’s last blog post..Using Wordpress as a Website
Just keep going. You’re a great blogger and you do have a great blog, just shame it isn’t getting much exposure as you post some really great content.
Regarding the demotivation, I’ll soon be doing a guest post on ‘Teenwebguru’s blog all about fighting bad blogging points
I would say peeping around the blogosphere and browsing through lots of site would help you to get an idea of what to write. Great post Simon
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Yeah, I suppose that sort of goes with the second point. I love the way that you seem to post unique ideas on your blog though. Thanks for the nice words btw
Try a survey on your site or to your list. Ask people what they want and then deliver it.
Reading is a great way not only to get ideas for posts but also increase knowledge about the niche. We can get ideas for exploring and experimenting and then we can write about it.
Very good point. I suppose that just emphasises the point that reading is one of the best things to do!
Brainstorming is essential for any blogger and It’s not silly to have a notebook at your bedside! I do too, is also very important to keep it in your pocket all the time.
Darren Rowse recommends to find content and learn from the editorial style from magazines. One of my favorite places is a good bookstore full of great novels, books and magazines!
The magazine point is an interesting one, thanks for bringing that suggestion to this blog!
Believe it or not, a few days ago I was in a maths exam and I suddenly had an idea for a great blog post. I knew I’d forget it so I ripped off a bit of my tracing paper and wrote it down. By the end of the exam (I had 10 mins spare at the end) I’d flled up the tracing paper with ideas
I struggle to find ideas, but thanks to this post its a doddle!
Now i just need to find time.
huh, this is one my nightmare in blogging, it always haunt me :/ but I have tried to note down my ideas and it is now working for me .. what about you guys ?
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Reading around is great. Books are so important to building a strong vocabulary and getting new ideas. Books are the best way to learn.
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Yeah, I find that just having a look around at what other people are doing can often get my imagination flowing. And, like you say, there’s nothing better than a good book for inspiration!