Blogging has become a vital component of modern-day marketing, with 91% of marketers using content marketing to reach customers. Despite its popularity, the most significant challenge for B2B businesses is finding ways to brainstorm blog topics for fresh and relevant content.
This challenge is further compounded by the fact that 57% of marketers say they have trouble producing content consistently, according to a study by the Content Marketing Institute.
Despite these obstacles, consistent and quality content creation remains a critical aspect of any successful B2B marketing strategy, with companies that blog regularly generating significantly more leads and traffic than those that don’t.
In this article, we will explore some creative ways to overcome writer’s block and brainstorm blog topics that your audience will love.
Creative ways to brainstorm interesting blog topics
Irrelevant content and dull articles can cost you clients. As a solution, consider these six ideas to inspire you to write about blog topics that will captivate your clients.
1. Analyze your competitors’ blogs
Take a look at what topics they are covering, what types of content they are producing, and how they are presenting the information. This will give you a good idea of what’s already out there and what you can do differently.
Make a list of the topics your competitors are covering and brainstorm ways to approach those topics from a unique angle.
For example, if your competitor has written an article on “The Top 10 Ways to Boost Your Productivity,” you could write an article on “10 Unconventional Ways to Boost Your Productivity.”
2. Check popular online forums and social media platforms
These platforms are filled with questions and discussions that can give you an idea of what your audience is interested in learning more about.
Look for threads related to your industry or niche and see what questions people are asking. For example, if you run a cooking blog, you could check food-related subreddits or Facebook groups to see what types of dishes people are struggling to make.
3. Use keyword research tools
Keyword research tools can be a great resource to brainstorm blog topics that your audience is actively searching for. These tools provide you with data on search volume, competition, and related keywords, making it easier to identify popular topics and long-tail keywords to target.
Start by brainstorming a few broad topics related to your niche and plug them into a keyword research tool like Google Keyword Planner, SEMrush, or Ahrefs. These tools will provide you with a list of related keywords and their search volumes, giving you an idea of what topics are popular in your industry.
4. Ask your audience
One of the easiest ways to brainstorm blog topics is to ask your audience what they want to read about. Use your blog, social media, or email list to ask your readers what topics they would like to see covered.
Create a poll or survey asking your audience what topics they are most interested in learning about. You can also ask for feedback on your previous blog posts to see what topics resonated with your audience and what didn’t.
5. Revisit your previous blog posts
Repurposing old articles is a very common and advantageous tactic to remain relevant. Look for posts that performed well and see if there are any related topics that you could expand on.
Let’s say you wrote a post on “The Top 5 Ways to Improve Your Website’s SEO.” You could write a follow-up post on “Advanced SEO Strategies for Boosting Your Website’s Ranking.”
6. Try newsjacking or current events
Newsjacking involves taking a current news story or event and tying it into your blog content. This can help increase your blog’s visibility and relevance.
For example, if you run a marketing blog, you could write an article on “How the Pandemic Has Changed Marketing Strategies” or “The Importance of Digital Marketing During a Recession.”
3 Bonus Tips to Select the Right Blog Topics
You may have a handful of doubtlessly interesting topics but now, it’s time to sort by relevance. Here are some tips to help you choose the most relevant and valuable blog topics:
1. Consider your audience’s interests and needs
Remember, you are positioning your business in the best position to serve your clients. Think about what topics would be most helpful or interesting to your readers. Consider the questions your audience is asking. Also, consider the problems they are trying to solve, and the information they are searching for.
2. Avoid writing about overdone or irrelevant topics
Writing about topics that have been covered extensively or no longer hold relevance can lead to boredom and disinterest from your audience. Instead, take the time to research and identify fresh and compelling topics that are of interest to your target audience.
3. Make sure the topic aligns with your brand’s message
Consider how the topic relates to your brand’s overall message and mission. Avoid topics that could potentially damage your brand’s reputation or that are not aligned with your core values.
Conclusion
It’s important to keep your audience engaged with fresh, relevant content. As digital marketer Ann Handley once said, “Make the customer the hero of your story.”
Making efforts to publish highly engaging and valuable content not only shows dedication to your brand but also to your clients. Consequently, you stand a better chance of building a successful blog and establishing yourself as a thought leader in your industry.