50 Thoughts On Creating The Best Blog Content…Ever!

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You hear it all the time…’content is king’.

That statement is very true especially with the recent updates to the Google Algorithm.

But ‘content is king’ is just a statement. What it means is ‘publish your best unique content’.

Oh right! What does that mean?

It’s just another statement, isn’t it?

Many blog posts say ‘content is king’, ‘publish awesome content’, ‘make your content the best it can be’…and other such statements BUT THOSE STATEMENTS ARE WORTHLESS.

What you THINK is your best unique content may not be to your readers and visitors. They may think  it is garbage.

So let me tell you want I think is great content…

Well it starts with the content covering a topic which your visitors want to know about. The content should help them overcome a problem or remove their pain or provide a solution.

BUT THERE IS ONE MORE IMPORTANT POINT:

The greatest, most awesome content makes the visitor / reader take action.

That action could be as simple as Tweeting the post or sharing it on Facebook.

Or it could be a comment or even better…they go on and buy your services or products.

One of my blog posts, “Get Backlinks – Here are the 11 methods and backlink tools I use” has been my most popular post for the past 18 months or so.

With over 200 comments and over 100 Facebook shares…I think it is an awesome post (even if I say so myself!).

Why?

Because one of the business bloggers pains is backlinks. Why do I need them? How do I get them? And that post tells my visitors exactly how to build backlinks fast.

This site now has over 100,000 backlinks due to using the methods in that post.

Anyway, I digress slightly.

Back to awesome content…

If you’ve ever wanted a short but effective guide to producing outstanding content for your blog, here’s the real deal – the top fifty ideas for generating the best material you’ve ever written…

  1. Read other people’s work to gain inspiration
  2. Draw ideas from your own life and use it as analogy and storytelling
  3. Check your proofing carefully – mistakes undermine your material
  4. Write about what you know
  5. Write about what you love
  6. Write about what you would LIKE to know
  7. Listen to your customers and let them tell you what you ought to be publishing
  8. Branch out in to new fields of interest from time to time
  9. Watch your spelling
  10. Don’t write on an empty stomach
  11. Find out when your best time is for coming up with new copy each day, and set yourself a goal to write at that point
  12. Don’t write when you are tired
  13. Don’t copy other peoples work
  14. Get someone else to do it for you, if you hate writing
  15. Make writing a part of your routine each week
  16. Move away from writing sometimes and try out video blogs or podcasts instead
  17. Ask your best mate or partner to give you honest feedback
  18. Make a point to learn something new each day – and then tell your customers all about it
  19. Generate enthusiasm from the latest film or book you were inspired by
  20. Keep things short rather than boring your readers
  21. Write with passion
  22. Listen to your favourite music to heighten your senses before producing your blog content
  23. Learn meditation to clear your head before writing
  24. If you can’t think of anything to write, leave it and come back when you have ideas
  25. Ask your customers to let you know what your best content could be
  26. Read people you admire to gain inspiration
  27. Follow your competitors closely at all times to know what they are doing to lead your industry
  28. Try bringing two different subjects together, such as blogging and parenting, to see where they take you
  29. Invite guest bloggers in when you are running stale with content
  30. Use comments and feedback to generate new content
  31. Post up a number of articles in a series on your favourite topic
  32. Invite criticism, and take it on board when it comes to evaluating your blog
  33. Don’t write after too many glasses of wine
  34. Don’t try and write if you have a deadline or need to be somewhere else
  35. Know your audience inside out and write for them
  36. Keep a notepad with you at all times for when inspiration strikes
  37. Write from the heart
  38. Research your subject properly if you are on unfamiliar ground
  39. Write the thing you would like to read the most
  40. Open the windows and let the air and light stream in before producing blog material
  41. Put content creation in to your routine each day to keep on top of it
  42. Use the art of storytelling to get your point across well
  43. Keep your writing focused
  44. If you can’t think of anything to put, don’t put anything at all
  45. Don’t knock your competitors
  46. Keep your content global – avoid national styles of humour that may be lost abroad
  47. Never use your blog for personal reasons or soap boxing
  48. Approach your blog with excitement each day to keep your content alive and fresh
  49. Love your blog with all the affection it deserves as the mouthpiece for your business
  50. Be specific – don’t leave yourself open to misinterpretation.

Perhaps this should be fifty-one tips, as the most important aspect of creating great content for your blog is that you have fun!

What’s your view of great content?

Please share your views in the comments below.

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40 Responses to 50 Thoughts On Creating The Best Blog Content…Ever!

  1. Chris July 20, 2011 at 4:02 pm #

    pretty good tips… I really didn’t think of so many ways to improve your content till now… my major tips are: write about what you like; if you don’t like it, it won’t be a great article. write for the user. don’t write something general or don’t exagerate with advetorials. this is annoying. then, get involved in the community, reply to users comments and when you notice that a lot of guys ask the same thing, write an article about this next time…

    • Andrew July 20, 2011 at 7:11 pm #

      Chris,

      Good share of tips/knowledge – thanks.

      What’s the best article you have ever written?

      Andrew

  2. Kathy Ver Eecke July 20, 2011 at 7:16 pm #

    Andrew: Great post as usual, but I couldn’t read it fast enough! I was so intrigued by the Backlinks post reference, which somehow I haven’t read. Off to check that gold mine out next.
    Kathy

    • Andrew July 20, 2011 at 7:22 pm #

      Kathy

      I hope you like it…let me know!

      Andrew

      P.S. We never did talk!

      • Kathy Ver Eecke July 21, 2011 at 1:03 am #

        I have Skype now…yes, I know. Your grandmother probably had it before me. But I was afraid I’d dragged my feet too long to reach back out to you. I’d love to talk, whenever, if you want.

        Backlink post is great. Do the changes with Google change your feelings on sending the post out to article directories? Don’t we get penalized now if the content shows up multiple places? Or am I behind on that too?

        • Andrew July 22, 2011 at 10:20 am #

          Kathy

          In my opinion, article directories have lost their appeal. As posts now need to be totally unique, I would go for guest posting instead.

          I must admit the post does need updating and it is on my list of things to do.

          Yes, would love to talk!

          Andrew

        • Benjamin Hübner July 22, 2011 at 12:12 pm #

          In my experience it isn´t a problem at all, as long as you ensure that the content is noticed and indexed by Google on your site first.

          I normally wait about one week ubntil I submit my blog´´s content to article directories too.

          I normally do a few small changes to match the “blog post” and article writing style. But thats taking just a fe wminutes at all!

          • Andrew July 23, 2011 at 7:58 am #

            Benjamin

            Even with the recent Google algorithm changes?

            Thanks.

            Andrew

  3. Debbie July 20, 2011 at 7:17 pm #

    Ok, number 10 I have to watch. I just get busy most days and have to remember to go eat something. what can I say, when I am having fun I forget to eat!
    45 “45.Don’t knock your competitors” is one that I really believe in. If you don’t have something nice to say, don’t say anything at all.
    Great job Andrew we all need these little reminders, because it is easy to get off track.
    Thanks,
    Debbie

    • Andrew July 20, 2011 at 7:23 pm #

      Hey Debbie,

      I get my snacks prepared (for the day) before I start my working day.

      That way…I’m never hungry!

      Andrew

  4. Malik July 20, 2011 at 10:34 pm #

    “Don’t write on an empty stomach”…interesting! 🙂
    “Write from the heart”…exactly.
    And thanks for the awesome post. You made me spell bound to share it.

    • Andrew July 22, 2011 at 10:21 am #

      Malik,

      Re: Empty Stomach. If mine is empty I can only think about food and not what I should be adding in my blog post!

      Thanks for sharing.

      Andrew

  5. Minh Nhut July 21, 2011 at 6:23 am #

    “Listen to your favourite music to heighten your senses before producing your blog content” i always do it.

    Your writing skill is good and i have so many things to learn. 🙂

    • Andrew July 22, 2011 at 10:21 am #

      Minh

      Thanks…such kind words.

      Andrew

  6. Nancy Shields July 21, 2011 at 9:23 pm #

    Way to go Andrew – You ROCK and so does Corinne Edwards in allowing me the privilege to work with you….love what you wrote so I posted on my facebook…

    In gratitude,
    nancy

    • Andrew July 22, 2011 at 10:23 am #

      Thanks, Nancy.

      It’s great to work with you, as well!

      Thanks for sharing.

      Andrew

  7. SEO Company Los Angeles July 21, 2011 at 11:31 pm #

    Andrew –

    I so appreciate this list on how to provide better content! Sometimes I have writer’s block (and other times I’m just plain lazy) but I think these pointers are really going to help me get into gear.

    Thanks again!
    -Natasha

    • Andrew July 22, 2011 at 10:24 am #

      Natasha

      I’m glad the post helps and I hope it removes your writers block.

      Andrew

  8. Joel July 22, 2011 at 1:37 am #

    Excellent list, some are very relevant to me. I doubt many people/sites use all 50 though, but it’s something to aim for!

    • Andrew July 22, 2011 at 10:25 am #

      Joel,

      What I tried to do was cater for all the different people in the world!

      I agree individually we would only use some of them.

      Andrew

  9. Andrew July 22, 2011 at 10:23 am #

    Corinne,

    Thanks!

    I was going to add another one:

    “Write after a few glasses of wine”. You open up…and perhaps really speak out and be controversial!

    Andrew

    • Benjamin Hübner July 22, 2011 at 12:14 pm #

      A few glasses my course an positive effect for sure….a few bottles don´t.

  10. Karen Comer July 22, 2011 at 11:02 am #

    One thing I love about WordPress is you can schedule articles, that way if you have some time and you’re in the mood to write more than one article, you can simply schedule WP to submit each article on a daily basis.

    • Andrew July 23, 2011 at 8:00 am #

      Karen

      True – when you are in a writing mood…don;t stop. I often write a few articles in one go.

      Andrew

  11. Tyrone July 22, 2011 at 11:48 am #

    Huge informative list Andrew!

    You’ve hit the nail in the head a couple of times with majority of this. 🙂

    Cheers.

    Tyrone

  12. David Rogers July 23, 2011 at 6:57 am #

    Andrew
    I cannot agree more about how frustrating those “publish awesome content” comments can be. I’m not sure about those “don’t write” suggestions. Certainly don’t publish when drunk, tired, rushed, but starting a post often works for me in less than perfect conditions.
    David

    • Andrew July 23, 2011 at 8:01 am #

      David,

      I think your point highlights…we are all different!

      Andrew

  13. @Kamil Ali July 24, 2011 at 8:26 am #

    Thanks for the great list!

    Do you think +1 will really change in Content. Does it do the same job as Facebook Like/Share?

    • Andrew July 25, 2011 at 3:51 pm #

      Kamil,

      I think there is a lot more to come from Google+1.

      Andrew

  14. Benjamin Hübner August 7, 2011 at 5:37 pm #

    “Write about what you would LIKE to know” does take a bit longer, but it really pais! (mostly, depends on the thinks you want to know 🙂 ). Creat collection of ideas! Will surely use them for inspiration!

    • Andrew August 8, 2011 at 1:24 pm #

      Benjamin

      I hope they help.

      Andrew

  15. Michelle Vandepas August 9, 2011 at 3:09 pm #

    I started blogging 10+ years ago when I was passionate about a subject. then I quit writing and moved to other forms of online marketing. Sometimes I miss the simplicity of sitting down to write everyday. This post makes me think about getting back to writing! Thanks

    • Andrew August 10, 2011 at 2:22 pm #

      Michelle

      I suppose a ‘break’ is a good thing?

      Andrew

  16. Cheryl from thatgirlisfunny August 13, 2011 at 10:12 pm #

    Hi Andrew,
    I’d add be patient with yourself to this list as a bonus entry. I love your list and will keep it handy.

    I get impatient with myself when blog posts take too long to write or when I have trouble loading them up so they look “just right”. Patience is a virtue 🙂

    • Andrew August 18, 2011 at 10:07 am #

      Cheryl,

      Same here – I get impatient and frustrated!

      I need to calm down / slow down!

      Andrew

  17. Paul November 5, 2011 at 11:06 pm #

    I love this post! Great tips on what a blogger should do when trying to create content. Way too much garbage going on. I know for a fact if you basically follow those 25 tips you will become successful.
    Paul

  18. Beth Hewitt December 15, 2011 at 1:24 am #

    Hey Andrew,

    Great post, you have really delivered and I think that is another reasons why people will engage and comment and share.

    I have been surprised by some of the blogs that have really performed well for me. Sometimes you just don’t expect the topics you write about to take off.

    But I guess that just shows that we have more in common with people than we think.

    Thanks for the post,
    Beth 🙂

    • Andrew December 17, 2011 at 8:37 am #

      Beth

      Thanks for commenting and I’m pleased you like the post.

      Andrew

  19. Andrew December 27, 2012 at 11:44 am #

    Great post, I especially like the call to action at the end engaging the readers to interact and not just read and click on to the next page.

    • Andrew Rondeau January 15, 2013 at 2:46 am #

      Andrew

      Adding a call to action can make a difference to the number of comments you get. Have you tried it? Does it work?

      Andrew

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