BloggingCoach.com

Keeping your blog fresh with new content is one of the most difficult tasks new bloggers face. Yet if you hope to keep readers interested and get search engines to rank your blog well, it’s imperative that you write great content regularly.

Choose a Niche You Are Passionate About

I recently wrote about being passionate about your blog topic – I really can’t stress this enough. If you start out blogging on a topic you have zero interest in, blogging will soon become a lackluster chore that you quickly tire of. You need that initial enthusiasm to get you through those first days, weeks, or months that your blog struggles to gain traction and readers.

How you feel about your topic will show through in how you write, so if you find your topic boring, chances are, your blog posts will sound boring to readers.

Write Regularly to Build Momentum

Once you’ve chosen a niche area, it’s time to get into the habit of posting regularly. These don’t have to be long posts – mix it up. You can write a tip one day, a how-to the next, an editorial or links post the following day, and so on. The quicker you fall into the habit of posting regularly, the faster your blog will take off.

It often takes tremendous energy to create something from nothing. When you first start your blog, it is a blank canvas – and as any writer can tell you, staring at a blank page can be daunting. It’s easy to become overwhelmed – you could write on so many topics. Which should you start with? Or discouraged – you thought you had so much to say, but nothing you write sounds as profound as those thoughts swirling through your head.

How to Brainstorm for Blog Content

If you need some brainstorming ideas for content, here are a few:

1. Read other blogs – Sometimes, the best inspiration for blog posts comes from what other people are saying. Look for bloggers who also write about your niche. Some great places to start your research are at Google Blog Search or Technorati.
2. Check out social networks - What are the most popular topics on Twitter? Check out TweetMeme.com to find out what is currently trending or do a Twitter search for topics related to your niche at Twazzup.com.
3. Set up Google alerts – Want to know whenever the media writes about your topic? Simply enter your keywords and Google Alerts will keep you updated daily via email or RSS feed about who else is talking about your niche.
4. Join an online forum – If you write in a popular niche area, chances are there are popular forums devoted to that topic. Do a search for your main keyword + “forum” or “message board” and you will probably find dozens. You can also search social websites like Yahoo Answers – what types of questions do people ask about your niche? Start collecting frequently asked questions that you can answer on your blog.

Coming up with new ideas for content is easy once you get the hang of it. There is always something going on that you can write about – whether that’s breaking news, responding to the blogosphere, or answering questions from readers. Just keep writing and building momentum – and soon, you will have plenty of content for your blog.