It’s more common than you think for a blogger to run out of ideas. You are not alone when you think the well of ideas has dried up, we all have days like that.
Instead of staring at your computer screen for hours, why not try writing using a blog post formula?
Blog post formulas or idea templates provide a structure for you to fill in, they are the framework for your words. The idea templates or formula can be used by bloggers from many different markets with multiple audiences. The secret to them is that they are an idea in your own words.
When written well and hacked up from the original blog post formula, your readers will love them. It can freshen up your blog if you think you are going a bit stale.
I am going to share my formulas below, you may have seen the structure and layout on other posts here and over at Birds on the Blog. This post is sharing the outline that needs a human being to fill in the blanks. Cutting and pasting the ideas I list below just won’t work, the secret weapon is you. The gold is in the ideas and how you polish it is up to you.
Formula One: An In-Depth Analysis of Technique X or Theory
Take a popular theory or technique and dissect it.
Yup, it’s as simple as that. Part opinion post part educational this post can be in a real scene stealer on your blog and have other bloggers link to you. Take apart the strengths and weaknesses of the theory, point out things others hadn’t noticed before. Make clear what is your observation and what is fact, reference your sources of information and link to them. Give extra tips for people who want to use the technique.
Example: The strengths and weaknesses of using Stumbleupon as a traffic-generation method, plus little-known tips on how to get the most out from your StumbleUpon account.
Formula Two: Make a Prediction About the Future
Make a strong case for what you believe is going to happen in the future. 2012 anyone? With conspiracy theorists touting the end of the world you can have a lot of fun with a prediction post.
The best time of year for these is the end of the year. Of course if you blog about social media you can write this post every time Facebook updates 
The emphasis is on how it’ll affect your reader, what they will feel / experience
Example: Facebook has changed again. The new format will change how you view your data. The post content will consist of “Here’s why and how to profit from it / enjoy it / use it to your advantage”.
Part educational and part topical make a prediction post a great formula to fall back on.
Formula Three: How to …..
A how-to post on something your audience really wants to know how to do. This blog post is part how-to and part swipe file. A how-to post is very useful to your audience. It helps establish your expertise on a topic and it gets shared for being useful, something we all want. I have coached clients in the past who have assumed by explaining how to do something they are giving away their business secrets. Let me reassure you – it doesn’t work like that.
Your reader that reads a how to post may not have the time to do what you have blogged about. Their time is precious and they can see that you know what you are doing. So they hire you to do the job, even though you have shown them how to do it. Not everyone buy on price, a lot of people buy on expertise.
Blog post example:
- How to Increase your Postrank Score.
- How to increase your Klout Score
- How to Tune Your Big Screen TV
- How to Hook up your Laptop to the TV
Formula Four: Frequently Questions and Answers
Spend a day on the phones in your business. Write down what you are asked. The most common questions and answers you get asked for are the title of your next few blog posts. This blog post formula is one that just keeps on giving! It can be repeated again and again with different questions and themes of questions.
Examples:
Q: (Headline) How much do I need to start a courier business? Answer in the form of a blog post…
Q: (Headline) Am I more likely to succeed in transport with experience? Answer in the form of a blog post…
The Question and Answer post is a terrific way to speak directly to your ideal customer. As people type questions into search engines it can also be a great way of getting organic search engine traffic. Give it a try. You might think it’s basic but if people are ringing up to ask the question then they want to know!
Formula Five: Why Popular Sentiment X Is Wrong
Take a popular sentiment in your industry and take the opposite viewpoint. Of course it helps if you have to actually believe the opposite viewpoint. This can be a great conversation starter and people do enjoy a controversial post every now and then. In fact sometimes bloggers can get addicted to blogging controversial points due to the attention it can bring. Be careful and don’t do it often is my mantra on this.
Example: Most people believe it’s very hard to gain funding for a great business idea. In fact, the opposite is true: Most banks / funding organisation have a hard time finding good businesses to invest in. Getting your business investmented isn’t difficult because it’s hard, but because most people don’t know how to raise money intelligently. Here’s how.
Formula Six: X Signs of Y Share Any Number of Signs That Y is True
I feel like I have returned to Algebra class writing that!
- Six Signs That Your Newsletter Needs an Revamp
- Five Signs That Your Team Members are Stealing from You
- Ten Signs That You’re Spending Too Much Money at the Supermarket
Formula Seven: Share a Personal Story with a Lesson
Tell your readers a personal story that ends in an educational lesson. Show how they can learn from your experience. This is a great formula for coaches to use. It allows you to share something with your reader and bond over a shared experience and allows other readers to use the lesson in their own life. Done well these are a powerful marketing post.
Example:
- How I burned breakfast on my honeymoon and now get breakfast in bed. Everyday.
- How I did My Own Service and Saved Hundreds of Pounds
- Physician heal thyself – How as a Doctor I Self Diagnose and What You Can Learn from It
The great thing about using a formula is everyone of these examples can be used and adapted to your business blog. You can hack and rewrite the formulas to suit whatever subject you are blogging about.
Give them a try and let me know how you get on!
About Sarah Arrow
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