One the biggest struggles we all face when writing blogs regularly is finding new, relevant content. When we first start blogging, we’re wide eyed and bushy-tailed about all the topics we want to cover and all the ideas we have in mind. We can go for ages blogging monthly, weekly or, for the daring, even daily. But then something eventually happens. We run out of ideas.
Call it writer’s block or blogging burnout, but eventually, it’s hard to think of new topics to write about. If this has happened to you, or you’re worried it might, here are a few tricks I use to keep the content flowing.
Create an editorial calendar. One the best things you can do when starting to blog is create an editorial calendar of what you’ll post and when you’ll post it. This forces you to stay organized and on a schedule, but it also helps you plan for the future (which will be helpful when you’re suffering from writer’s block). Factor in holidays, seasons, sporting events and political dates to help inspire content. Give yourself deadlines and write down ideas ahead of time so you already know what needs to be written ahead of time. Remember, if you ever have an idea, write it down. Don’t assume your idea will come back to you months later. It won’t.
Read other blogs. Pay attention to what others in the industry are saying. Along with giving you an influx of new and current information, their thoughts and ideas might trigger new material for your own blog. Or, if you disagree with what you’re reading, you might consider writing a response blog.
Create listicles. Whether or not you’ve heard the term “listicle,” you’ve definitely read blogs utilizing this form. Listicles are a common blogging structure where you literally just format your information into a list. This is the easiest way to present old information (such as existing blogs) into a new blog. If you sit down for just five minutes, I bet you could come up with a hundred different blog topics using this structure. Feel free to use one of the examples below.
If your blog is for consumers:
- 5 reasons to shop around for insurance
- 3 tips for reducing your insurance costs
- 4 provisions you need to look for on your policy
- 3 reasons why you should never buy (blank) from (blank)
If you’re blogging for other agents
- 5 mistakes you’re making when selling disability insurance
- 4 reasons to sell more to doctors
- 10 things I wish I knew before I became and insurance agent
- The number one reason why I’ll never take advice about (blank) from (blank)
Think about current events. If you look hard enough, you can almost always find a way to connect a current event to an insurance-related topic. From upcoming holidays (St. Patty’s Day, Easter, Memorial Day) and sports seasons (March Madness, Baseball) to Movies (Oscars, celebrities, 50 Shades of Insurance?) and pop culture (iPhones, Frozen, smart cars), you will find loads of content just waiting to be written. Don’t believe me? See how I connected insurance to 80s Dancing, the Seahawks and Christmas. Anything is possible!
Remember, it’s okay to feel overwhelmed when blogging, especially if you’re trying to blog several times a month. But with the tips listed above, you should be back on track in no time!
