Whether you’re a beginning blogger or an old pro, at some point you’re going to ask yourself, “What should I blog about?” This question can be very general – as in, what type of blog should I have – or very specific – wondering what to post about on Friday. I’ve been blogging since 2013, so I’ve asked myself this question many a time, and I hope that this post helps you answer it for yourself!
What Should I Blog About?
What do you know a lot about? When thinking about this question, you shouldn’t think about what are you an expert in. You don’t need to be an expert in something to write about it! Think about what topic (as general or specific as you want) that you know a lot about.
What are people not talking about? Think about what is something that you’re not seeing on the Internet. Do a few Google searches. Ask your followers on social media if they know of anyone who has written about a topic. I started keeping my POTS exercise protocol diary because, when I was looking to start the protocol, I couldn’t find many other examples of patients trying it; all I found were reports from doctors, which wasn’t helpful. Writing these kind of posts are great because there’s always a niche for them, but they’re also great because they can bring you a lot of blog traffic. After all, if you’re 1 of 5 people on the Internet talking about something, people looking for that thing will read your blog about it!
What is something you have a unique take on? This is similar to writing about what you know a lot about, but instead it looks at something that you have a unique perspective on. You don’t have to be an expert. In fact, your perspective might be one that is shared by many (which is why it would get website traffic), but it might not be one that has been published much online. For example, a few months ago, I read The Silent Patient. As a disabled person who does a fair amount of advocacy work, there were parts of this novel that made me very uncomfortable. When I posted about it on my bookstagram, I share this point of view, which I hadn’t seen (and still haven’t) from other readers. That’s the sort of thing I’m talking about in this bullet point.
What resource do you wish was out there? This can apply to a wide variety of topics. Do you wish that there was a comprehensive list of gluten-free restaurants in your city? Make it yourself! Do you wish that there was a helpful guide for packing lightly but comprehensively for a trip? Write it! Do you wish … you get it. Thinking from this point of view can help you figure out what you want to write about and help you get more blog traffic. If there isn’t a comprehensive list of gluten-free restaurants in your city, for example, I doubt you’re the only one who wants that list. I guarantee there are already people searching for it, and if you write about it, then you’ll get the traffic of all those people looking for it.
More Tips for Writing a Blog
Write about what you like and what you know – If you’re not genuine, it will be obvious in your posts. Your readers will be annoyed, see you as a sell-out, etc. if you’re clearly writing about something you don’t know and/or like. And besides, you’ll eventually run out of things that make you excited to keep blogging. What are you an expert in? You should share your knowledge. And you don’t have to have a PhD in a subject to be an expert. You can be an expert on what to do in your city, how to wear a trend, the best new makeup products, technology news, the best books to read in a certain genre, etc. Additionally, what do you have a unique perspective on? Essentially, you should think about why someone should read your posts.
Write about what you want to write about – Blogging is supposed to be fun! If you have to force yourself to do it on a regular basis, maybe you’re not writing about what grabs you. It’s your blog; you should be able to write about what you want to. It’s one thing if you hit a rut and getting blogger’s block, but it’s something else if you rarely enjoy your time blogging. So make sure you’re writing about what you enjoy.
Use search engine optimization (SEO) tools to help you decide on exact post topics – SEO stands for search engine optimization, and it means pretty much exactly what it sounds like. The goal is to optimize your site for search engines to find you. I use the Adwords Keyword Planner to help me solidify a keyword I’m going to use in a post. I add the keyword I’m thinking of using and select the option to get more keyword suggestions. That way, I can see what people are searching for and how many people search for it and, if I see a keyword that grabs me more than what I was thinking of using, I can change topics of my focus.
How to use SEO to stand out + free checklist
How do you decide what you should blog about?
Like this post? Check out:
Are you Plagiarizing on Your Blog? How You Might Be + Why It’s Wrong, My Proven Method for Blogging with Limited Time, Where To Find Blog Post Ideas, Why an Editorial Calendar Is Really Worth the Time
Kate Mitchell is a blogger, chronic illness patient, and advocate who helps people understand chronic illness and helps chronic illness patients live their best lives.
Love this!! Writing about what others aren’t is SUCH a great tip!
http://www.mollyonthemoveblog.com
Thank you! Like I said, some of my most popular posts are those that are about topics other people/not many people haven’t written.
Love these tips, Kate! I always try to find things to blog about that I would talk to a friend about whether it’s a new workout I tried or a bargain I got on an outfit as I feel like that helps me create genuine content!
xoxo,
Katie
chicincarolina.blogspot.com
That’s a great idea!