Last fall I met a woman at a networking lunch who is a wedding planner. When I suggested she start a blog, she asked me, “But, what would I write about?” I almost spewed out my water all over the table! Here is someone working in a zillion-dollar industry that is filled with drama, out-of-whack budgets and emotions, food and wine and open bars, and a diverse range of vendors and venues, and she thinks she has nothing to write about. She could probably write a blog post every day, for pete’s sake!
While not all of us work in action-packed industries, thinking up ideas for blog posts is not that hard, especially when you consider that blog posts should not be that long. Here’s a list of topics that you can base your blog on, no matter what you do:
Industry best practices. You probably don’t think much about the products and knowledge you rely on to get the job done, so share it with the rest of us non-experts. For example, if you’re a landscaper, tell me how short I should cut my grass during a hot summer when it’s not raining much.
What not to do. This is the opposite of best practices. If you’re a dermatologist, write about how not to use sunscreen: put it on once, don’t reapply it after swimming, skimp on it, use a bottle from two years ago, use too low of an SPF, etc.
Helpful tips. Give people ideas on how to best use your product or service that they may have overlooked in the manual, on your website, or in your marketing materials. If it’s a nifty feature that no one else has, definitely write about that.
Success stories. Share how you’ve helped clients succeed. It’s a great way to highlight how great your product or service is without sounding like you’re selling. Include quotes if you can.
Lessons you’ve learned. By “lessons learned”, I do not mean broadcasting mistakes you’ve made but rather problems you’ve overcome for both clients and your own business.
Client interviews. Also known as a full-length testimonial!
Conferences and seminars. Write about the people you met, what you learned, new products you got to test out, etc. at conferences and seminars you attend.
Profiles of/interviews with industry leaders. You’ll look not only look plugged in and well-connected, but as a great source of information on where your industry has been, is right now, and headed in the future.
Vendors. I am hard-pressed to think of anyone who works in a bubble. Write about the people and companies you work with to create and deliver your product or service.
On the very day I started writing this blog post, good old Hubspot published their own list of topics for great blog posts. There is, surprisingly, very little overlap between our lists, so take a moment to read Hubspot’s tips for more ideas.
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Tags: blog writing, blogs, Hubspot, Marketing
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