Post ideas often present a major challenge to many new and experienced bloggers. It always seems like the number of ideas for postings is limited and new topics are often elusive at best.
I discussed the need for inspiration in yesterday's posting. Many bloggers wrote very favourable comments, on the theme of posting ideas, and what gets you inspired to write on a regular basis. It appears that almost every blogger experiences that feeling of scraping the bottom of the topic barrel from time to time.
Even me. I just turn the lack of things to write about into a posting idea. Talk about scavenging or what!
One area of very fertile blog posting ideas is within your own blog archives. As you know, once a post scrolls off the home page, it enters into the dark and rarely explored realm of posts past. Like decorations still up from the holiday just past, previous posts often look forlorn and irrelevant to your thoughts of today.
Keep in mind that not all posting ideas are topical to any one particular time and place. Many previous posts have thoughts and concepts that can be reworked into brand new posts. I'm not talking about outright reposting a previous column as if it were a fresh one. What I am suggesting is taking an older idea and updating it, or giving it a follow up treatment. After all, your reading audience often wants to know how an intriguing older situation turned out for everyone involved.
By taking a tour of your own blog archives, you will discover a wealth of posting ideas that had simply slipped your mind. Just because you wrote about a topic in the past doesn't preclude it from being discussed again. In fact, if it's a follow up column, to a previously written item, link back to that post. The link to the past posting enables your readers to discover the background to the current post.
Not only does following up on previous writing provide blog continuity, but you gain an important internal link to aid your blog's SEO efforts. The inter-linked posts might rank higher in the search engines as a result. Most new readers arrive from searches or links from other blogs or websites. This is a golden opportunity to gain some search engine traffic with little effort. I know you like that thought.
Being a newer blog is not a problem either. Older posts can be turned into a series on a similar topic and theme. After all, not everyone has read your brand new blog. You may as well give the new visitors the appearance of long term stability with your continuing and indepth discussion of a particular issue. It will keep them coming back for more.
Look to past posts for great posts for the present.
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