5 Tips for Generating Blog Content

Anyone who has ever started a blog other than a personal journal knows the challenge of consistently generating content.  Here are five things I do to try and keep consistent content.

TIP #1 - Write in Chunks

Writing is a tricky thing. Sometimes words just flow quickly from your mind into the computer, but other times you can struggle to construct a single sentence. While it's worthwhile to work on being disciplined, the reality is that you will produce more and better content when you're inspired.  When you're inspired, write a lot!

TIP#2 - Don't Be Afraid of Short Posts

If you're like me, you tend to write long posts.  I don't even mean to do it. I just start typing and by the time I'm finished I've written far too much.  Because of this tendency, whenever I write a shorter post, I don't feel like I've created something worthwhile.

It's ok to write shorter posts.  Ever post doesn't need to fully explore the subject. You just need something to say.

TIP #3 - Break Long Posts Up Into Multiple Posts

As I said in the previous post, when I sit down to write, I tend to write far more than I anticipated.  When a post turns into an e-Book turn it into a series (and be sure to include links to the other posts).  Ideally you'll want to give each part a unique title and I would avoid simply using something like "Blog Series Part I" (in the past I've done this poorly)

TIP #4 - Get Evernote on Your Phone & Record Every Idea You Have for a Post

I'm a big fan of Evernote.  Whatever note taking app you use, always keep a running note for blog ideas.  Right now I have 13 blog ideas in my Evernote account.  Several of these ideas would function well as a series.  Half of the list have no content besides a title, and the other half have actual points and outlines.  These ideas go back as far as two years.

In addition I have 24 blogs in draft form in my blog software.  Once again about half of these posts are just an idea, and the other half I have already started writing.  I recently posted a blog which I started writing four years ago.

You always want to have lots of ideas for what to write when you're inspired

TIP #5 - Find External Content to Supplement Days 

I know I don't have enough to say to consistently produce 30 posts per month of original content.  More importantly, as it turns out other people are generating some incredible content.

THREE THINGS I DO:

1. Free Stuff on Fridays - Just find free stuff you want to share
2. Blog Round Up - Simply share links to your favorite articles and blogs of the week
3. Videos - Anytime I see something on YouTube I want to share, so long as it isn't urgent, I scheduled it for the next open Saturday or Sunday