Choosing the right topic to write about on your blog is crucial if you want to write a post that will engage your readers.
A hasty choice of topic can lead you in the wrong direction and end up wasting both your time and that of your reader.
While sometimes the idea for a post comes right to mind and requires little adjustment, I find that often (if not most of the time) the first idea that comes to mind for a post requires a bit of shaping (or marinating). has to before it is exactly right. I often have an idea for a post and develop it into something that is completely different but much more interesting.
Here’s how choosing a blog post title often works for me:
- I write down an idea for a post topic in a text document on my desktop (this usually happens while I’m doing something else).
- Once a day I review my “ideas” text documents and look for a topic that resonates with me for that day (I like to work on things that give me energy).
- Once the document is open, I start brainstorming points I could write about, titling ideas, and especially thinking about the reader needs the post might meet. I often use a mind mapping technique for this brainstorming – this can actually produce hundreds of post ideas.
- As I brainstorm, a post takes shape and, more importantly, the topic emerges. Although I have noted points and title ideas, it is the “topic” that I particularly want to capture here. Anything else is a bonus and will help reduce work later – but that’s the theme I’m trying to identify.
- As I embark on this process, I often end up with more than one topic – many of which I’ll set aside for another day, but some of which will appear in a series of posts.
More tips on choosing topics for your next blog post
- Identify a need – As mentioned above – I am specifically trying to identify a need or problem of my reader. If I can keep that in mind when writing a post, I think it will not only end up being a well-focused post, but also end up being useful to readers. So when you choose a topic to write about, identify specific needs you want the post to meet and questions you want the post to answer.
- Imagine a reader – Chris Garrett He often talks about how he thinks about a range of readers when he blogs – he keeps their situations, needs, questions and challenges in mind as he writes, and even imagines them when he chooses topics and writes. In this way, he doesn’t just end up with theoretical or abstract topics, but is closer to writing concrete and applicable articles that appeal to the reader. I highly recommend creating a reader avatar for your blog.
- Break out of the echo chamber – A trap that many bloggers fall into is writing blog posts that simply repeat what others are writing on their blogs. If the topic I want to write about is also covered by others, one of the things I try to do in this topic selection phase is to find a new perspective. How can you put your own spin on the topic? How can you give your readers something unique to think about? Read more about breaking out of the echo chamber (and here too).
- Write something that is important to you – When I write a post that I care about (as opposed to a post that simply reports news or tackles a popular topic), I find that it tends to create a deeper connection with readers. I think that’s really logical – when something is important to you, it comes through in the way you communicate about it, and that has the opportunity to include others who also think it’s important. Another way to put this is to “let your topics choose,” rather than letting you decide which topics you want to write about.
- Write something current – Writing about a topic that is currently popular or that people are looking for information about is definitely something to keep in mind when choosing a topic to post. Use a tool like Google Trends To monitor trends in what people are searching for on Google, keep an eye on social media sites to see what people are voting for there – these topics can be well worth exploring – especially if you’re on a new path find to explore them (see above). when breaking out of the echo chamber).
- One topic per post – This can vary slightly from blog to blog depending on your niche and writing style, but I find that posts that really focus on a specific topic and convey one main idea tend to perform best. There’s nothing wrong with writing long, detailed posts that cover a lot of things, but remember that most people’s reading style on the Internet is to skim the content, flip between pages, and not spend too long on one thing to dwell on. So, refine the topic for your next blog post to a simple idea. If you have more than one, write a series of posts or put the ones you don’t focus on in your ideas journal for another day. After all, you’re writing a blog and you can expand on your other ideas every day for the rest of your blogging life!
- Plan ahead – One thing that has really helped me choose what topics to cover when blogging is to think about my blogging in advance and develop an editorial calendar. I do this in my computer’s calendar program (I use iCal), where I have a separate calendar for each of my blogs. I don’t use this all the time, but I find it particularly useful when I know I have a busy week or two ahead of me (or when I’m traveling) as it helps me think clearly and plan my blogging in advance . Chris G has a nice post on planning blog post topics using an editorial calendar.
- Looking for more ideas? – On the topic of “Choosing a topic for blogging” there is also my current post “24 things to do if you don’t know what topic you want to blog about” – you will find some other ideas for that in there Development of contribution ideas. And in the library for Drift Kings Media members (membership is FREE) you’ll find 6 months of blog post ideas.
Not every post you write can do all of the above.
There are times, in most niches, when you need to cover a story that isn’t really “important” to you – or when you’re writing about something that is important but not current – but somewhere in the mix Everything lies from these things the topic of an article arises.
Take your time when choosing a topic
The point of this current series is to challenge us as bloggers to take a little extra time at various points in the blog post creation process.
So today it’s just a matter of doing that when it comes to choosing a topic. Don’t give in to the temptation to always write about the first thing that comes to mind. Instead, take those ideas and shape them into something special—something that will delight both you and your reader.
Another tip for choosing topics for blog posts
Looking for a little more inspiration and guidance on choosing topics for your blog posts?
Here’s a podcast to listen to that explains how to find blog post topics by analyzing your blog stats: PB030: Look at your Google Analytics stats (Day 30 of 31 days to create a better blog )
Do you have your own tips for choosing topics to post? Add them in the comments below – I’m excited to hear how you do it.
Read the complete series
This post is part of a series on creating blog posts. It will be even more powerful when viewed in the context of the entire series, which addresses 10 points in the posting process to pause and make extra effort. Start reading this series here.