Writing useful, killer content is hard work. People blog for a week (a month) and then call it quits. Or they remain inconsistent. Why? Time constraints perhaps. Lack of creativity or motivation. Whatever the case, it presents an opportunity. An opportunity for you to trump your competitors by writing better, useful content more frequently.
It’s doable. It just takes a bit of commitment on your end. Commitment to writing (consistently) and sharing. No matter what industry your in, your head is riddled with ideas about how your business works and how your industry works. It’s your job to put those downs down on paper (or in this case, to put your hands on the keyboard and type away). That said, here are some writing ideas for you…
17 Ways to Deliver Killer (and Useful) Blog Posts:
- Apply the K.I.S.S. philosophy – “Keep It Simple Stoopid”. Have one main idea and stick to it.
- Write in “Plain English”. You’re not writing a term paper here so it’s ok to ditch complicated, fancy sounding terminology.
- Share stories (or case studies) that people can easily relate to. For example, here’s a Successful 365 Things To Do Facebook Page.
- Use analogies in your writing and use ’em often. Why? Because people can relate easily.
- Tell a story. Paint a picture with words.
- Use pictures to add emotion to your story. I use Flickr’s advanced search for this. I search for content that’s creative-commons licensed and that I can use commercially. If all else fails, iStockPhoto is a great resource too. (This tip was inspired by @MsCerissa)
- Create a post series. If you have a big idea you’re trying to convey, split it up into a series of posts rather than one large blog post. This strategy also leaves people coming back for more.
- Consider cornerstone content (landing pages, etc.). Cornerstone pages and content help you archive your most important archived work. This is great for attracting links and subscribers.
- Write your content from your BUYER’S perspective. It’s one thing to write from your own perspective. It’s another thing to write from the buyer’s perspective. Develop a sense of understanding for what it is your readers (buyer’s) want, and write information that meets those needs.
- Ask a question (or several). This is a great way to engage with your audience and elicit some feedback.
- Answer questions. The next time someone asks you a question, blog your response. You get to showcase your knowledge and provide an answer to a question that you can share often.
- Focus on your passion. If you’re scatter-brained and all over the place, it’s going to show. Focus on what you know and deliver quality content and that’ll keep people coming back for more. (This tip inspired by @calliemiller)
- Be yourself. Don’t copy/steal other people’s styles (it never works). Be original and have a style that’s all your own. Or to quote @staceysoleil: “Originality wins over formula posting at the end of the day.”
- Make your content easily sharable. A couple of plugins can help you with this: Tweetmeme, SexyBookmarks, and Facebook Social Plugins.
- Always respond to comments! If you want to take it a step further, reciprocate. Meaning, visit the person’s blog and leave a comment there. It’s a great way to grow you audience and network with other bloggers.
- Read what others our doing (particularly folks OUTSIDE of your niche). You might find some inspiration and creative techniques to apply to your own writing.
- Writer’s block? Do a video post. Here’s a great example from Ted Mackel on Understanding the 2010 Good Faith Estimate.
What would YOU add? What tips do you have for folks to write useful content?
Photo Credit: @RockYourDay