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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be greatly appreciated send an email to sharon@notepage.net
.
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