DISQUS

Scott Williams · 9 months ago

This was so freakin' helpful this morning... Just when I thought I had a little writers block!

Susie Blackmon · 9 months ago

Another juicy morsel. Thank you (redundant I know...). Hope to have some fresh fodder for my blog after attending RETech South in ATL this Thursday and Friday. Wish it was a 'Brogan' event, but I intend to get lucky and meet you in person somewhere. In the meantime, many thanks for this post.

Brent Stangel · 9 months ago

I agree that writing all the time is the key. If you produce copious amounts of content some of it's bound to be good. Also read as much as you write.

Melvin · 9 months ago

LOL, I had to reread the fill in the blanks just to get what it really means. I could say its helpful to most bloggers, but not for people who do niche blogging...

Samuel · 9 months ago

Thanks, great post. Needed this. Another tip: make time to write posts! Even if you have no problem coming up with topics for posts, time is usually the issue.

John McTigue · 9 months ago

Very timely. I'm trying to get other folks in my company interested in blogging. Most ask the question, "what should I blog about?". This is a very helpful list.

Andrew Lightheart @alightheart · 9 months ago

Nice post, Chris. Again.

Replace 'blog' with 'presentation' and there you have some pretty good topics for talks too...

Jodi Kaplan · 9 months ago

Thanks Chris! I was feeling a bit stuck this morning, until I read your post.

Ching Ya · 9 months ago

I like to do some brainstorming before start writing a post, and so far it helps. Still learning though. Just like Samuel said, otherwise, time is an issue. Therefore another big Q in my mind is, WHEN can I have time to sit down and write.

Cyndee Woolley · 9 months ago

Great creative tips! I will pass on to my office.

Thanks ~ C

studio 623 · 9 months ago

my experience has been that writing is not the hardest part, but coming up with the great topics that practically write themselves. I put a mindmapping app on my iphone on which i jot down ideas as they come up, and then add notes later as my brain percolates on them. by the time it comes to writing, i usually have a handful of topics with notes and all. couldn't live without it.

JonnyT · 9 months ago

Just what I've been looking for! Thanks Chris!

Ted · 9 months ago

Chris,

Great post, I would add that if you want to write a lot is to track how much you are writing. Paul Silvia writes in his book "How to Write a Lot" to keep a log and have daily goals in writing. 2000 words is not much if you break up the amount in 200 or 300 word chunks.

Ted

Marjorie Janczak · 9 months ago

Great post! Thank you so much Chris.
Just when I was pondering what to write about today...
I also find it a difficulty with the time constraints not to mention the "block".
but of course getting into the habit, I know can help reduce these, I guess that is what I need more of.
Thank you for sharing!

Nathan Martin · 9 months ago

Thank you Chris! This is very helpful. I get writer's block all the time.

Darren Brazier · 9 months ago

I was thinking of starting a blog for work, and this has helped me come up with a few more ideas before I get started.
Thanks Chris.

greg cryns · 9 months ago

Nice job, Chris.

I printed this post out and will keep it handy on my desk for inspiration. :)

Marco Carbajo · 9 months ago

Excellent post Chris! A great tool that every blogger should use and I'll be sure to pass it along. Thank you :)

coachpalmer · 9 months ago

Thanks Chris, Very helpful....

Mike Meikle · 9 months ago

Great post sir! Words of wisdom for us newbie bloggers out there.

One Trouser · 9 months ago

Thanks for sharing. I guess today we’ll see a bunch of quite similar looking posts titles. ;)

Juanez · 9 months ago

Great Post... I´ll keep it to help me in the future. Well Done

Mark Bradford · 9 months ago

how timely. I was just helping a client this morning with writer's block.

Mark Bradford · 9 months ago

One technique i used today with a client to stimulate ideas was to ask him to think about conversations he had with his customers just yesterday about their challenges and objectives. It worked well because these topics were fresh on his mind.

@The_Crazy_Lady · 9 months ago

Thank you. I frequently have this problem. I also have the problem that I have so many ideas, I don't know where to start.

Stay True and Real.

Thanks again.

Neil Costa · 9 months ago

Thanks for the thoughts.

Karen LWB · 9 months ago

Perfect timing! We have been trying to come up with new and interesting topics to talk about with our work in China. We always have great stories, but we want to be more informational. Thank you for some great topics that we can try to use.

frank · 9 months ago

Nice Chris ...

I've been using this one for a bit: 100 blog topics i hope you write

Thought i'd help keep it alive! it's great.

http://twitter.com/franswaa

Heidi Miller · 9 months ago

Oh, so THAT'S how you do it! Thanks for the outline; forwarding to some of my new blogging clients. And if I haven't said it lately, thanks for sharing your brain and inspiration with the rest of us.

Jocelyn · 9 months ago

i found this off of a twitter comment. great stuff. thank you so much. and i agree about substituting the word 'presentation' for the word 'blog'.....lots of ways this could be very useful.

Trish · 9 months ago

Excellent starter kit for bloggers today. I just preached this myself on my own blog!

Great job, Chris.

Trish

http://www.trishlawrence.com/blog
@trishlawrence

AAfter Search · 9 months ago

Your blog post is way more useful than your "cake" session at #SXSW
May be my concentration was all on the cake, and thanks for feeding the hungry.

Regards,
Subhankar Ray

Tumblemoose · 9 months ago

Mr. Chris,

Thanks, and how did you know I was stucK?

Filing this for reference now and in the future.

George

Twolia · 9 months ago

Gotta love that when there is a will to write, there will be a way to do it. Just takes some critical thinking and a bit of imagination and someone to kick start you on your way! Thanks for the tips...
Debralee

Lisa · 9 months ago

you always create value, I am going to listen.

Deanna · 9 months ago

Perry,

Love your stuff! You are always so helpful. These prompts are also good for article writing ideas (framed around keywords, of course). Great info...

Deanna · 9 months ago

Sorry Chris ...

Perry Belcher sent me the link ... I assumed it was his blog. Oops. It's still great info though ... just wanted to post my correction and give credit where credit is due! I'm bookmarking this blog for sure!

Kathleen · 9 months ago

Sometimes I look at subject titles from emails on a completely different topic (like religion) and discover the concept can be re-applied to my topic- (Fitness).

Jesue Walker · 9 months ago

This hit the spot. I have a tendency to think only say something when you have something to say. This format gives space for something to be said. So with that let me get to it :) thanks chris!

Stephanie Valentine · 9 months ago

When I tell other people about you and your blog I always tell them that you are the "popcorn popper" of ideas. Your prolific productivity reminds me of a popcorn popper. The "fill in the blank" idea is especially ingenious and I can't wait to use that same idea on my blog. Ever since I read your post about having a "core" or "kernel" for my blog, I've been pondering the question of "What questions am I trying to answer for MLMers who want to market online?" This fill in the blank idea gives me one more avenue with which to explore this question. As always, blessings and thanks.

Wendy Nelson Kenney · 9 months ago

Chris, what a great way to build buzz for your biz! I love blogging and I love your ideas! Check out my latest post: "Favorite Celebrities on Twitter!

@23Kazoos

Jenny · 9 months ago

Great post. A nice reminder that there are so many ways to approach post for a company blog.

Jay Berkowitz · 9 months ago

Awesome list Chris I will include this in our blog training module.

How important is having a schedule, e.g.: Always Blogging Monday, Wednesday and Friday?

Scott Bourne · 9 months ago

Great post. I like number 11 best. That's a useful exercise for lots of things. I also find great ideas on Twitter. I simply post a Tweet asking my followers what sort of photography questions they have and then I am usually flooded with ideas. Thanks Chris.

Are Morch · 9 months ago

Short & Sweet.

Really one of the best blog advices I have seen in a long time. And all the tips you put here is things all of us easy can adapt.

This article rocks Chris :)

Cheers...

Ricardojc · 9 months ago

Timely ideas! I haven't posted anything in my blog site for almost 3 weeks now. Yes, I know I procrastinated. What do you know, I should have used that as my topic. Now the choice is whether I should microblog through Twitter, which I'm currently hooked or do my usual 500 words at wordpress blog. Ooops! There you go that's another topic to consider. I guess it's having an inquisitive or curious mindset.

Candice · 9 months ago

With a new blog on the cards for me in the next couple of weeks, this post has been hugely helpful in getting me focused on the job in hand!!

Thanks a mil Chris

Chris · 9 months ago

These are excellent tips! I've bookmarked (Delicious) the article for future reference.

Mandy Loftis · 9 months ago

Very helpful not only to Bloggers but to writers of all varieties. Love to hear more about what inspires you.

Linda Feinholz · 9 months ago

You are an angel for posting these tips. I'm ramping up to write new articles and this list is boosting me beautifully into a whole new momentum!
Thanks!
Linda -

Bape Nerd · 9 months ago

Thankyou for the post, very helpful insights.

Bape Nerd | Official A Bathing Ape Nerd

Anouschka Scholten · 9 months ago

Thanks for this great post! How simple can it be when you put it this way even when my mind plays trick on me:/
These helpful insights make me start believing I can and so I'm writing a post right now... tnx for unblocking me!

Jill Freeman · 9 months ago

This is great info for anyone who writes on a regular basis. If we're honest about it, we ALL get writers block every now and then. I'm saving this post!

Kevin Boon · 9 months ago

Hello Chris,
Great Post! That begs my question since I read this a couple of days after you posted it. How do you schedule writing, reading and networking with others all into the same day?
Kevin

Gloson · 9 months ago

I love these short and 'to the point' posts :) You've definitely helped us battle the blogger's worst enemy - blogger's block.

Pauline Lewinson · 9 months ago

Fantatsic post. I am going to utilize these helpful tips.

Peter Davison · 9 months ago

I definitely think that this type of an exercise is good to get the brain back in gear. Got away from writing every day and now I am working on a few projects that need comments/consultation with readers.

Excellent post!

Thank you Chris,

Peter

Jordan Willms · 9 months ago

Great tips as always Chris. We could all use a little blog inspiration since twitter arrived. @jordanwillms

consaas · 9 months ago

i love it

Paul Stamatiou · 9 months ago

Great post Chris! Blogger's block is something I'm trying to help solve with my startup and I don't think there can be enough resources for it. Coming up with original, authentic post ideas will always be a challenge. Too bad I didn't run into you at SXSW, although I'm pretty sure I saw you from across the convention center a few times. ;)

Marcelle Turner · 9 months ago

Thanks, Chris! I was just at the bookstore yesterday and found a series of mini-books on this premise related to journalism, writing a diary, etc. It would be an interesting community exercise to develop a blogger-focused anti-writers block series. I'll be keeping these topics handy!

Rockett · 9 months ago

Another trick is to try writing your blog posts well ahead of time. It may seem hard to come up with topics for TODAY ... but if you are coming up with a topic for two weeks from now, the pressure is off and the ideas come flooding in!

Giusi Mastro · 9 months ago

THANK YOU Crhris
I’m trying to get my assistent and associates in my company interested in blogging. the first thing they says is “what should I blog about?” and why?
This is a very good list.

Simonn · 9 months ago

I truly appreciate you taking the time to share this . Look forward to more posts from you

Melody Campbell, The Small Bus · 9 months ago

Very creative list. I also find that writing with templates really make a difference for me. Take one of the items in the list above and create a template like

"Three Common Challenges of Parenting Teens (topic for example)

Challenge 1 -
Solution -
Challenge 2 -
Solution -
Challenge 3 -
Solution -

Depending on your topic you could potentially run out of challenges and hopefully solutions.

Just like this post - Chris just came up with 20 questions that he asks himself and that we could ask ourselves - and viola! one amazing post.

And, with a template for how good ideas are generated, we can too. :)

Melody Campbell, The Small Bus · 9 months ago

oops ! that should've been

Depending on your topic you could potentially NEVER run out of challenges and hopefully solutions.

Melody Campbell
Virtual Buzz Coach

Tom Lindstrom · 9 months ago

When the "writers block" strikes next time, this information will help me get new and fresh ideas for new posts.Thanks!

Chris Foley · 9 months ago

Thanks Chris,
I find your blog to be of infinite inspiration when I sit down to write my tech articles.

I appreciate you insight, which is always timely. Be well!

TonyB · 9 months ago

Hi Everyone,
I have a carpet cleaning business in Houston,TX that was doing pretty good until the economy went bad, and with it my clientele. I have a website for the business but I dont
know what I have to do the get it to show up in a search. Right now it's somewhere in the yahoo/google netherworld (LOL).

Is there someone on here that can give me some insight or know of anyone that coud give me insight on how I can get my local website on the front
page of a Yahoo or Google search to increase my business without it costing me 5 or 10k $$$? If so please share with me.

I thank you and my hungry over-eating children thank you.

thanks,

greg cryns · 9 months ago

Tony,

Email me at wahmwed@yahoo.com with the Subject "need SEO help".

I have a tip that may be what you need.

Kevin · 8 months ago

Hello fellow members, my name is Kevin and I am a search engine optimization consultant. If you have a website but aren't getting enough traffic or you're not getting any business from it, I can help.

For the members here, I am willing to analyze your website to diagnose any problems with your site for free. I have 4 years SEO experience and I can get most websites to rank on the 1st page of Google with in 30-60 days for your keywords. If I can't then I'll just tell you I can't.

By now I'm sure how you realize how important it is to be on the 1st page of Google is, so if you want more traffic to your website, getting on the 1st page should help you achieve your goal.

To get started just drop me an email with your site information and I'll do the rest.

The average cost for my SEO services are usually between $200-$400

Please contact Kevin at: seoexpert9639@gmail.com

carpet cleaning miami · 6 months ago

I have to agree with all your opinion.. Great job!

Erika Martins · 4 months ago

Thanks for all your ideas...even if I don't use any but I will...at least it opens up my mind to think of more on my own.

sajwest · 2 months ago

I just started started blogging again and this is SO helpful! I might have just developed a crush on Chris! :D

THanKs!

cymberly · 2 months ago

Thanks, Chris! I used #4 to help me get started today.

Elie · 2 months ago

Thanks Chris! I was starting to get writer's block, and then I found this article. While not "giving" me a topic (or 20) to write about, it gave me 20 ways to think of a new idea for an article.

Teen Blogger · 2 months ago

Great Post.

Really helpful to use this when writing.

Idelissa · 4 weeks ago

very helpful thank you! Information anyone can use