Free Website Content - How do you get ideas for blog posts
and RSS feed posts?
The best blogs and feeds are those that contain
unique, fresh, compelling, content. So where do these prolific
posters get their ideas? I talked to a handful of bloggers
to determine where their inspiration originated for their
content.
Not surprisingly, ideas for blog posts or
RSS feed items originate or are influenced by other web
content. The following are venues for finding your online
muse:
1.Google News
Monitor Google News for keywords related to your industry.
If you find a story you disagree with or wholeheartedly
agree with write about it. Add your thoughts, and editorialize
the content. This does not mean you should just repost Google
news summaries. The value is not only in the news aggregation,
but in the commentary that you provide. Tie news items to
specific events, conditions, or the impact of specific news
on the industry. Adding a view point or reference to a news
article adds genuine value.
2. Web Logs
Look at your websites "long tail", and examine your web
logs. Find phrases that are relevant to your website and
write in-depth information about those subjects. This is
particularly helpful if the blog or RSS feed is used as
a marketing tool for the website. By focusing on obscure
or less popular search terms and phrases that are found
in your web logs, you will not only find that you provide
content of interest to your readers, but you will attract
additional web traffic.
3. Collate
Many bloggers have established themselves as "experts" by
simply amassing and organizing a large collection of information
that relates to a specific field. Use the blog or feed to
announce and organize information, new products or services
in an unbiased way within a specific industry.
4. Search
Most people assume that there is information on every subject
on the Internet, but that is not necessarily the case. If
you stumble on an area where there is minimal content, consider
it an opportunity. Continue developing content. Chances
are if you were searching for the content someone else is
as well, develop a blog post or RSS feed for information
that find inaccessible.
5. Untouchable Content
Consider tackling all of the content that many other publishers
find difficult or uncomfortable. Controversial or content
that is difficult to write about is often overlooked, look
at challenging content as an opportunity.
6. Monitor Authority Blogs
Watch authority blogs for developing industry news. Comment
on any breaking news or editorials that you either agree
or disagree with. This may attract the attention of an authority
blog and could result in a link to your commentary. Be sure
to credit the source of any blog posts that you comment
on or quote.
7. Advice
If you are an expert? Consider developing an advice column.
Let readers send you questions and post the questions and
answers in your blog or RSS feed. This allows your readers
to direct your content.
8. Conversations
Many bloggers and publishers discover topic ideas from conversations.
Create dialogue with both individuals familiar and unfamiliar
with your blog topic, the questions that come up could be
good fodder for posts.
9. Forums/ Newsgroups / Usenet
Forums are great places to find topic ideas. Read topic
specific forum posts then editorialize and summarize the
posts.
10. Look Outside the Box
Do not constrain your thinking to parameters found online.
The best RSS feeds and blogs are targeted, clear, consistent,
and unique. It is okay to occasionally step outside your
comfort zone to find appealing content.
While breaking news has obvious value, so
to does timeless content and "how to" posts. Don't be afraid
to mix it up and provide readers a combination of the two.
About the Author:
Sharon Housley manages marketing for FeedForAll http://www.feedforall.com
software for creating, editing, publishing RSS feeds and
podcasts. In addition Sharon manages marketing for NotePage
http://www.notepage.net
a wireless text messaging software company.
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is included and the links are active. A courtesy copy of
the issue or a link to any online posting would be greatly
appreciated send an email to sharon@notepage.net
.
Additional articles available for publication available
at http://www.small-business-software.net/free-website-content.htm
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