More on Bloggers' Block, 10 Ways To Create Content For Your Weblog

From Sheila Ann Manuel Coggins, http://weblogs.about.com/mbiopage.htm

Top Ten Tips On Beating Bloggers' Block

You know that feeling... the awful sensation that you just can't possibly blog about anything. Nothing inspires you enough. Everything seems too mundane. And, the more you think about blogging, the less you are inclined to blog. Indeed, if writers can get writers' block, then bloggers can get bloggers' block.

What do you do in moments like these?

Here are some ideas on how you can create weblog content during 'dry times' when you feel as though anything under the sun isn't worth blogging about.

1) Check your Inbox. It's a great place to find fodder for blogging. Answer an email or two in your blog. React to a piece that you read from an email newsletter. Review a link or product that was recommended to you.

2) Start Blog Hopping. We all do it on a regular basis - reading blogs from our blogroll. However, this time, read your favorite blogs with the purpose of finding ideas to write about. Also, try to follow links to weblogs you don't usually visit. Start asking questions like: "What are my fellow bloggers interested in at the moment?" or "What is the most popular topic that people blog about? Do I want to write about it too? Or perhaps, I can blog about something that is not too popular." Doing these things may spark something in your 'blocked' blogging brain.

3) Comment in Your Own Blog. Yes, this idea is related to item #2. When you visit other weblogs, use your own blog when commenting on another blogger's entry that catches your attention. Or, if you post a short comment on someone else's blog, think of ways on how you can expand the idea. Oh, and don't forget to use trackback, if your blogging system allows you to do so. (Although many blog software and/or hosts do not automatically support trackbacks, HaloScan.com offers a free tool.)

4) Read, Listen To, or Watch the News. Even if your weblog is not about news, politics or current events, you will still benefit from finding out what's going on in the world. To give you a refreshed view, why not check out news sources that you don't usually refer to? For example, if you're a CNN person, check out BBC this time around. You might even want to try watching news in a foreign language. www.bbc.co.ukwww.cnn.com

5) Give Memes or Collaborations a Go. Even if you're not too crazy about memes or collabs, you might still consider trying it out. Give it a different spin if you like. Say, instead of creating "100 Things About Me" - you can write "100 Things About My Neighbor's Cat."
http://weblogs.about.com/od/memescollabs/

6) Create Lists. This is an endless source of blogging ideas. Some possibilities: "Top 10" lists, "Favorites" lists, "Worst of the Bunch" lists, "Things To Do" lists, "Wish" lists, etc. These lists may be on any given topic such as movies, books, music, people, paintings, food, sports, and activities, among many other things. Ten Top 10s Creating lists is one good way to come up with blog entries, especially when you're feeling stuck. So, here are ten ideas that you can use for your Top 10 lists.

1. Top 10 Favorites. You know this kind of list. Your favorite lists can be just about anything - books, movies, videos, music, actors/actresses, artists, writers, hobbies... You get the picture.
   
   
2. Top 10 Dislikes / Peeves. Same thing as the 'favorites' list. Only on the nastier side.
   
   
3. Top 10 Destinations. Or Top 10 Places To Avoid. These destinations/places can be anywhere in the world - even in your own neighborhood. Even if you're not writing a travel blog, these lists are always interesting reads.
   
   
4. Top 10 Things About.... You, your pet, your crush, your interests... Whatever the topic, you can write Top 10 facts that you may wish to share with your readers.
   
   
5. Top 10 Tips. Whether you're an 'expert' on knitting, surfing, or chess, you're bound to have some words of wisdom to share with your readers about your field/s of expertise/interest.
   
   
6. Top 10 Ideas. This is another catch-all Top 10 idea with a twist. You can list anything here, but they should be categorized as "ideas." For example, you want to give ideas on how people can combat global warming. So, you can come up with Top 10 Ideas on How To Fix The Problem with Global Warming. Or, something to that effect anyway.
   
   
7. Top 10 Things That Excite / Sadden / Delight... You. Change the feelings, if you must. Other ideas that you may consider are: things that freighten you, things that anger you, things that make you fall in love, etc.
   
   
8. Top 10 Things To Do. Or even Top 10 Things That You're Avoiding to Do.
   
   
9. Top 10 Memories. Whether you're writing about the top 10 memories you have of your wedding day or that job interview you just had, listing things that you remember will help you preserve these moments.
   
   
10. Top 10 Random Things. So, you're not in to organizing ideas and themes in a neat little package? Why not list random things that you just happen to think about? Just go for it!

7) Play Games, Answer Surveys, or Take Quizzes. If you're not the sort of person who likes posting quiz or survey results as weblog entries, remember that you're not limited to the "usual route" of blog quiz-taking (i.e., find a quiz, respond to questions, and post the results as a blog entry). For example, if you take the quiz: What's Your Blogging Personality?, you can write about particular items asked in the quiz. Or, you can write about other ideas you may have for a game, survey, or quiz for bloggers.http://weblogs.about.com/od/surveyspollsandquizzes/

8) Blog at Random. There are different ways you can blog at random. One way to do this is to pick up a dictionary or encyclopedia, open to a random page, and then write about a word, phrase or sentence that you find on that particular page. Another way is to flip through one of your photo albums (or boxes, if they're not in albums yet), and pick a random photo to write about - be it a memory, a fictional idea, or a non-fiction piece. You can also turn on the TV or the radio, then write about the first thing you watch or hear about. Another thing you might like to try is to find a journal writing software and/or book with creative writing prompts and pick a topic at random to write about.

9) Be a Sleuth! Are there things that you've always wondered about but never found the opportunity to get the facts? You might have asked yourself one or more of the following questions at one time or another: "How do you build an igloo?" "What are the different species of spiders?" or "Who is the richest woman in the world?" Well, now might be a good time to get your detective or research skills in to action. Check search engines, almanacs, and other sources of information. Then, start blogging your findings!

10) Do Something New. If not something new, any activity other than blogging or computer-related stuff will do. Sometimes, all you need is a little break. Go to the mall, watch a movie, go for a walk, visit the beach, or call a friend. Just get out there and live your life.

There are other ways to come up with blogging content other than the ones mentioned here. Go ahead and experiment! Just remember that living a full life is a surefire way to kick bloggers' block out of the picture.

Writing the Perfect Press Release

Had a friend send me this article:

"The fact that you’ve just started a new business is probably desperately interesting to you. If you’re like most new business owners, you’ll be thinking about your business 24/7..."

For the rest of the story, click HERE.

Has some great advice and even better points to follow.

Blogging Projects

Ever run out of things to say (i.e. write about)?

Not me! And, now I've found some great lists of cool topics for even more blog-fodder. Here's my short list, and, of course, I'll always blog about Hampton Roads.



1. Photo Tour, take pics of off-the-beaten-path things to see in each of the 17 cities, towns and counties of Hampton Roads.

2. Video "How-To", gotta think on this one, but not sure what I do that would be video-interesting, hmmm. Suggestions?

3. Share Friends, share some friends’ blogs or websites and comment on them.

4. Tools I Use, share some of my favorite web tools.

5. Interviews, talk to anyone, family, friends, coworkers, and ask them the same questions to compare their perspectives.

6. Questions, pose interesting, creative questions on various social sites such as LinkedIn and Facebook and then add to blog with best responses.

7. My Media, show podcasting or video creation in action.

8. I have a Cause, share my favorite social cause with background, challenges, ways to connect and join the cause.

9. Something Silly, share my "guilty pleasures", such as LOLcats or fashion faux pas or funny videos.

10. Business, the list is limitless here of all things to do with my business, including trade and professional membership organizations.

11. Photo Blog, post stories told in pictures or video or perhaps just sounds.

12. History Tour, discover and share photos of historical persons or historical places, perhaps even contrasting current photos of geographical changes.

13. Talk with Journalist(s), "interview" a radio, TV or newspaper personality, especially with regard to social media.

14. Tomorrow’s Classroom, make suggestions on improving education in America today, such as using social media tools, video-immersion, etc.

15. Next Big Thing, make predictions, make suggestions for improvement for an existing brand.

16. I've got a Secret, share tips on something at which I'm an "expert", such as engaging in social networking or sales.

17. Fan-ship, show appreciation and passion for what makes me a fan, be it golf or sci fi, or Hampton Roads; use social media to change opinions and make others a fan, too.

18. Oops, share stories of mistakes and mis-steps, such as fumbles in social networking, and share the experience with others as a teaching tool.

19. Share Media, show mainstream media new ways to connect and be relevant.

20. Reviews, share thoughts by reporting on speeches, concerts and other events.

ok, I could go on, but you get the idea!

Photo Credit, MrLomo

In the questionnaire tradition of James Lipton, best response

Best response from my earlier post and the winner is Lorraine Baker, Owner-Creative Business Consultant-Writing & Editing Professional at LBEnterprises

Here are Lorraine's responses:

* In your lifetime, what was the first marketing campaign you can recall?
You’re not going to believe this, but it was actually Me.

At age 3, I was under serious consideration to be the “Yum, Yum Cereal Girl” for Post Sugar Crisp Cereal; even got to the point that the marketing agency did a mock up ad layout, and my hometown paper did a feature story with photo -- of me holding a teddy bear.

As it turned, out, I lost out to what became the “3 Sugar Crisp Bears” ; so maybe it wasn’t such a great idea to be photographed with a teddy bear after all – although I adored that bear – a birth gift from an uncle ( two tone made of mouton fur -- PETA wouldn’t be pleased if they knew I still have that bear). My payment/ consolation gift -- a whimsical salt and pepper set that resembled Post Cereal’s new “brand” representatives ( bears, what else!), and a copy of the ad layout.

After that, it has to be Ipana Toothpaste; I can still sing the jingle: Brusha, Brusha, Brusha, Brush with new Ipana…” and their brand representative: “Bucky Beaver.” Now that I think of it animal-character marketing seemed to be a trend back then; although Ipana later moved on to “The Invisible Shield of Protection” - a reference to fluoride, and perhaps influenced by the burgeoning of space exploration /popularity of science fiction – just a theory.

* What influence(s) made you decide to pursue marketing as a profession?
I don’t know that it was so much a specific influence, as an innate instinct, and a “gift of the glib “( not just gab).

In early 1970’s, I was working in education management, promoting the NYC’s Board of Ed’s Coop Work-Study program; my role was ‘selling the idea’ of student job sharing to everyone from HR reps to CEO’s, as well as participating in panel discussions on radio. I was good at it.

That experience lead to Retail Management… and a winding path to Special Events/PR creating celebrity-centric marketing at “the world’s largest store.” By then, I was even better at it .

* What qualities make for a great marketer?
Imagination; ability to see larger picture; understanding real meaning of target audience and ‘niche’ ; and knowing how to massage them both to maximize their impact. It doesn’t hurt if you can write a little ( especially “3 Line POS’s) , or at least communicate effectively with the
copywriters who do.

* Pick your preference: Hard and fast ROI or experiment and see what works?
Been there, done both. The caveat in department store marketing: You’re only as good as yesterday’s figures. I enjoyed the challenge of marrying the two, particularly on product launches. Also enjoyed institutional (profile enhancing) event marketing that either informed the public (ie. ‘Women Mean Business’ – panel discussions held on selling floor); or tied to non-profit organization ( ie. National Dance Institute’s annual performance/fundraiser post event in-store reception)

* You are your own brand: What is the tagline for your brand campaign?
Reinvention at it’s finest © ; alternate: Chairwoman of her own aura©

* When you arrive at the pearly gates, what do you hope is pointed out as your greatest single marketing accomplishment?
That I convinced “Powers that Be” I deserve to be there in the first place! Not necessarily for any marketing accomplishment, but a record of small acts of kindness along the way. Please, no applause, just give me a soft cloud to rest on -- have a feeling I’m gonna’ be really tired by then – I hear it’s a long journey.

* What is your favorite keyword?
“Kindness costs nothing”™ second favorite: “Creative flow …The ultimate high”©

* What profession, other than marketing, would you most like to pursue?
This is a tough one. As a child I always dreamed of traveling into deep space -- spurred on by visionaries Clarke & Asimov.

Now: several; re-inventor types rarely have just one.

What first that comes to mind: Voice Over Artist – who uses her vocal talents & words behind them to promote product, organization, or concept to make a difference in the world; write/produce script to ensure creative control and reach broadest market.

Maybe,combine them – perhaps as Official Public Service Announcer for our first Mars space station. But if they only have an opening for Receptionist, I’m willing to start at the bottom & work my way up.