Constantly generating new blog ideas

Writing actively and consistently on your blog is one of the top things I recommend for any small business. Coming up with content on a weekly or bi-weekly basis can be time consuming and frustrating. One of the best strategies I have found for constantly generating new blog ideas and content is to use blog posts already written as a springboard for new ideas. Instead of starting from scratch, leverage the hard work already done and create more content. By asking a few key questions, you can find new blog articles, develop different angles, and keep your content pipeline flowing.

White there are many ways to do this, there are a few simple and powerful questions to help you go deeper into your existing blog content and generate more blogs and more content.

What’s the Opposite of This Topic?

Writing a new blog article that explores the opposite viewpoint of a blog article is an easy way to establish more content. This approach can challenge your readers’ assumptions and present a new perspective. This can also work to showcase you as the expert and authoritative voice on the topic and in your industry. 

For example, if your original blog was about “Why blue is the best color for website backgrounds”, you could do a flip on the article and write about “Things to be aware of when using the color blue”. This method helps to diversify your content and also helps engage readers who might have different experiences or opinions. In another real world example, an article for a cooking blog could talk about how “Salt and pepper are key seasonings” but that could springboard into another one of “Going beyond salt and pepper for seasonings.” 

When you review your past blog articles, some questions to go over include:

• Are there any potential misconceptions about the blog article or the topic that could be clarified by exploring the other side?
• Could readers benefit from learning about when or why the opposite might be true?

Can Any Section of the older Post Be Expanded?

Very often, you’ll find that in a past blog you wrote that there is a section, even a single paragraph or bullet point, that can generate enough curiosity or interest to become a blog article of it’s own. If you’ve already touched on multiple aspects of a given subject matter, consider drilling down further into each one.

For instance, in a post about choosing the right website host, we mentioned the importance of uptime. That small section can be expanded into a dedicated blog about what uptime guarantees really mean and how to measure them effectively. Taking that one small part of the blog, we can not only expand into another blog, but further prove our knowledge and authority on the subject. 

When going through your past articles, ask yourself:

• Which sections or points could be elaborated into a full post?
• Did any part of the post feel rushed or too brief to cover thoroughly?

What Questions or Points Were Left Unanswered?

Every blog post has its limitations. Those limitations can be in scope, length, and even (unfortunately) overall quality. By reviewing your original blog article, you can identify any questions that remain unanswered. These unanswered questions could easily become the topic of a new blog article.

For instance, after a post on how to optimize content for SEO, you might realize you didn’t touch on local SEO. Those could become dedicated posts.

Questions you can ask to help find unanswered questions in your posts are:

• What didn’t you have time or space to cover in the original post?
• Have readers asked questions about this topic that deserve a deeper dive?

Can This Topic Be Refreshed for a Different Audience?

Sometimes when writing a blog, it might naturally be written to one particular audience segment of your clientele. When reviewing a blog you can sometimes find ways to adjust the article to appeal or apply to a different audience.If your blog originally targeted beginners or entry level audience members, how could you rewrite or expand the article to a more advanced audience? We’ve written blogs that are geared more to small businesses owners, and I can take those ideas and retarget them to non-profit organizations. 

Repackaging a topic for a different group can help you reach a broader audience without having to create something entirely new.

Questions to consider:

• Can the same topic be rewritten for a different skill level?
• How could the post be adapted to appeal to a specific industry or niche?

Each article has the potential to inspire more articles

Going deeper into your past blog articles to generate new ideas is a great way to keep your content pipeline flowing. By taking the opposite view or a deeper view, you can open your blog up to a new audience and establish your credibility even more. By doing this, publishing a new blog article weekly or bi-weekly is a much easier task. When written with care and knowledge, each blog post holds the potential to inspire several more, turning your content into a valuable resource for your audience.