Hi Guys, I have just added a blog to my website and now I am having trouble thinking of topics that others haven't already covered. Has anyone got any suggestions on where I can find new ideas from. Im not the best blog poster in the world so I don't really want to get to technical.

Any help is greatly apreciated.

Many Thanks

Karen

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Karen, you should check out Skribit. It is a fantastic site that enables you to find topics that people are seeking to read. I did a blog post on this in case you are seeking to know more information about how to use this site. Hope this information helps!

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LaTosha Johnson
http://www.targetstars.com

Thanks thats great, I will check that out today.

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This is the exact reason I removed the blog page from my site. Internet Informatino Overload already out there.

Fiona

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Samurai Office Services - Cutting your office time in half.
www.samuraiofficeservices.com. au

Karen,

Here are a couple of ways to find blog topics:

Check your send box. Have you answered any questions with some expert advice? Use this as the foundation for a good blog.

Log onto LinkedIn and check out some of the groups geared toward your readership. What kind of questions are they asking?

As basic as this sounds...the public library is the most useful tool I have found to find many good topics...enough to keep me in topics for weeks. Go to the periodic section and pull out a few publications related to your target readership. Read an article and then summarize the article with your own thoughts. Find the article online and then use that link in the post.

Ask someone to guest blog for you. Offer to return the favor.

Go online to some of the associations which offer e-newsletters relative to the industry(s) you want to reach. I find most of my real estate articles that way but there are organizations which have free e-newsletters. TIP: create a separate email address to use for sign-ups such as yahoo or gmail because it can be overwhelming to get these newsletters in your business or personal email. Then you can read them at your leisure.

Create a videoblog or vlog using slides. It doesn't have to be a text blog post.

Some topics are just 'hot' such as social networking. Ask a question and then answer that question yourself.

Begin to look at life in general as the opportunity to write a blog post. If something intrigues you that can be used as a topic, jot it down. It may not be a post for tomorrow but it can be used next week. Some ideas lead to others and with a little research it can turn into a blog post.

Finally, if you have clients who belong to associations or memberships, ask them to send you articles and magazines.

I wrote a tip sheet, 20 Goof Proof Ways to Find Material for Your Blog or Article, which you are welcome to download.

Janine

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Thanks Janine, That is really helpfully.
I was unsure whether to have a blog at all, but from all I have read and heard its one of the best ways to keep updating your website with fresh content to which the search engines like and I read somewhere that it can be preferable to some potential clients not to be faced with a static website but to find information and advice to, it also gives your business a bit of a friendly human touch.
Thanks for the advice so far

Karen

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I told myself if I could come up with 24 topics to blog about, I would start. My list has 8. I like Janine's advice to "Begin to look at life in general as the opportunity to write a blog post."

Good luck!

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Lezly Harrison
Laserdog Productions - Code that Doesn't Bite

Hi Karen,

You are absolutely correct on all reasons to have a blog. Have all points on the blog lead back to your website.

If you wish to join the Blog Challenge group here on VAF, we run a challenge question each month with a prize for the winner. It's a great way to practice and get the word out about your business.

Janine

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New VAs: I personally recommend Become A Virtual Assistant to Get Started!

Thank you Janine I would really like to join that.
I am not a natural writer but it does seem to be getting easy as time goes on, hopefully your Blog Challenge Group will inspire me even more

Karen

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Janine, those tips are great! Off to get some blog inspiration - Thank You!

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www.kdvirtualassistant.co.uk

Looking at life in general has really helped me. I think of it like this - if it is something that I find useful, then I am sure someone else will find it useful as well.

What great discussion about blogs. I am attending a workshop this week on social media and blogs, but feel you all have a lot to offer in that area. I will share what I learn at the end of the week.

When I stated here that Looking at life in general as the basis for good blog posts seems to resonate with a few here.

I came across a blog post by ProBlogger entitled, How Personal Experience Helps Me Blog Better which enhances the point I was trying to make.

I wanted to share that blog post here.

The author, Keisha of Weblogbetter writes, "Everything you’ve already learned and experienced can be used to create infinite and original ideas for your blog. If you can turn on the analytical and creative juices in your brain, you’ll never run out of ideas."

Janine

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New VAs: I personally recommend Become A Virtual Assistant to Get Started!

This might be of some assistance http://marketinghqblog.wordpress.com...eting-content/

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