Brainstorming blog post ideas may seem like a daunting task, but it doesn’t have to be! Read on to find tips and prompts for collecting blog post ideas.
Lately, I’ve been a writing machine. I’m starting to stockpile blog posts for late March and April because I want to be prepared for when this baby comes. I love this blog and this space, and I don’t want to leave it unattended while trying to adjust nor do I want to rush posts and give you guys bad content. So I’ve been writing away, pumping out quality posts in any down time I can find. Thankfully, I have pages of potential blog post ideas to choose from.
Maybe you want to get ahead on (or start!) your editorial calendar. Or maybe you too are about to have a baby or go on vacation or have surgery and would like to have some posts ready. Maybe you’re like me and tend to write your posts the night before when the inspiration hits you. The problem is, that’s obviously not the most efficient way to run a blog. But how does one accumulate the necessary ideas to create content ahead of time? By brainstorming. In just 1 hour, I’ve been able to map out three months worth of content for the blog. Here are my tips, tricks, and prompts to get your creative juices flowing and the blog post ideas coming! (And if you’re looking for other blogging tips, be sure to check out the blogging tips page!)
Tips for Brainstorming Blog Post Ideas
–First and foremost, have a place to put it all. I have a section in the notes on my phone where I can throw any ideas that come my way when I’m not near a pen and paper, but I also have a section in my blogging binder where all of my ideas go. Some of them are just the title or a headline, and other are the title and bullet points. Sometimes I’ll write the entire opening (though if I’m home and able, I’ll open up a draft on WordPress and put the idea there.) Other times I’ll plug in my blog post template and fill in the essentials. Either way, make sure you have a place where all of your ideas will live, and also have one, neat, master list that you can see all of your ideas in one place. You may way to make an Excel or Google Sheets chart for this.
–Always be open to ideas. I’m one of those people whose brain just never shuts off. Sometimes it’s bad, but sometimes it’s great. Because of this, I think I am open to seeing blog post ideas in everyday things. Allow yourself to be open to inspiration at all times of the day.
–Set a time once a week for brainstorming. This might seem like overkill, but especially when you’re just starting to build an arsenal, it’s super effective. once a week sit in a quiet room for 30 minutes with a pen and paper and write down any and all ideas that come to you. It may be hard at first, but it will then suddenly feel like a tap but turned on and ideas will flow. I promise. If you need them, use the prompts below to get you started.
Prompts for Brainstorming Blog Post Ideas
–Go through your day step by step. This can result in such amazing posts – some of my most popular posts like my 15-minute rule have come from simply taking note of things I do every day that may seem like second nature to me, but would be helpful or interesting to readers. Think of your day from an outsiders point of view – what stands out? What do you do to make your day easier?
-Look at a calendar to see upcoming holidays. This is very important and useful if you’re starting an editorial calendar. (which you should be) Most blogging experts agree that, just like retail stores, holiday themed blog posts can start being published 6 weeks out from the event. So if you have a great idea for the 4th of July, you may want to start thinking of publishing those posts around mid-May. Just seeing the holidays can inspire you. Think recipes, crafts, tips, gift guides, outfits, ways to celebrate.
–Expand on a popular post. Check out your most popular posts and keywords (I use my Google Analytics for this.) You may be surprised by what posts readers love and which posts bring the most traffic. Take that post and think of as many topics related to it as you can. Maybe even create a series! I’ve done this with my popular baby led weaning posts and my hand lettering tutorial.
-Go on social media. Sometimes just browsing social media is a great way to get inspired and think of posts. Obviously, I am not advocating stealing post ideas from other bloggers. Giving a different perspective on a topic, though, totally okay. I love to peruse Facebook, Pinterest, Stumble Upon, Twitter.. whatever. Especially if I’m looking to waste some time 😉 Note: this will exponentially increase your one hour.
–Watch TV or read. Get your mind off of writing posts. I know, it doesn’t make any sense. But if you’re like me, watching TV can spark an opinion piece, an idea for a new DIY, or inspire a delicious recipe.
–Let your mind go!! Keep a notebook open while you do other things. This is my number one tip and the number one way I get the bulk of my post ideas. I get my best ideas when I’m cleaning. (This post came while cleaning my floors!) Sometimes I find myself having to just hope I remember posts because I’m using so much of my cleaning time stopping to write down an idea. Find YOUR jackpot time. Maybe it’s while you’re cooking or working out. Whatever it is, be mindful of that time and make sure you have access to somewhere you can document these ideas quickly.
However you find your posts, I definitely recommend giving brainstorming blog post ideas a try. Sit in a quiet room and let your mind go. Even if you don’t plan on creating an editorial calendar, having a list of potential posts will help you SO much when you have a post you need to write the next day and no ideas – never again!
So do you have a list of potential blog post ideas? How to you come up with them? Any other ideas for brainstorming? Let me know in the comments!
If you enjoyed this post, you may also like these!
Blog Post Template: Why and How to Make One
The Importance of Blogging Authentically
Kate says
I go through stages where I feel totally uninspired, but then other days I have SO many ideas and wonder how I am going to be able to wait to share them all.
These are excellent tips, Morgan. I haven’t thought of most of these. Thanks for sharing!
Morgan says
Girl, I FEEL you! I’ve gone through WEEKS of being totally “out” of ideas. That’s why I’ve finally started trying to create a stockpile of posts I can fall back on for when it happens!
Ellie says
I sort of write about my life, so when else fails, I just write what I did that day. I find that my interests are so vast that my experience is different than everyone else’s. That’s great because I can never unintentionally steal someone else’s ideas. You also have found your niche with being a mom. I have looked at blogging prompts, but just writing about my life is easier and more authentic for what my blog is.
Morgan says
I think it’s os important to just write about what’s right for YOU and not worry about what others are doing – if you’re not 100% invested in whatever it is you’re writing about, it will be VERY clear to your readers and no one wants to read that.
Kate @ DCL says
Awesome tips! I tend to fall back on things that are quick and easy like recipes or family pictures, but I’m trying to push myself to start to write more “useful/helpful” posts as well. I think I need to get a better system for organizing and planning ahead of time 🙂
Morgan says
To be honest, once I started writing posts of topics I felt I could inform on, such as tutorials or tip posts, my page views almost doubled. For me, at least, it’s really hard to think of them last minute, so brainstorming and mapping them out is VITAL for me.
alexandra @ my urban family says
These are great tips! I used to be so good at being ahead on posts but not lately. I need to take more of this advice!
Morgan says
I go through phases, but I think I knew deep down that it would be of the utmost importance to get ahead before this dude comes or else my blog will just fall flat hahah
Heather @ Polyglot Jot says
ah, dont you just love when the ideas are flowing!? 🙂 Great post!
Morgan says
It’s seriously the greatest feeling. And then overwhelming when I want to start them and publish ALL of the right that very minute ahahha
Tania // Run to Radiance says
Great tips! And also…YAY for the Happy Planner! So obsessed with mine!
Morgan says
Thanks Tania, glad you like it! Thanks for stopping by!
heidi says
some great ideas! I also read looking at magazines to see what people are interested in. I flip flop on organization in blogging but i like to write topics down in a list
Morgan says
For me a list is the bare minimum I need, so I can see everything in one place. It really helps me get an idea of what ideas I have.
Carrie @ Curly Crafty Mom says
I have my blog posts planned out for about a month… sometimes a month and a half. I agree, you should def. have a place to jot down ideas before you lose them. I have a ton of ideas in my Notepad. Now, if I could just get my blog posts written/published ahead of time!
Carrie
curlycraftymom.com
Morgan says
This is the first time I’ve planned them out so far and I’m LOVING it. As for pre-writing them, I have a post scheduled for how I stockpile completely finished posts, so keep an eye out for that 😉
Amy @ Elephant Eats says
Oooh, I love this post! When I find time to start blogging regularly again, I will definitely be using these tips. Which reminds me, how on earth do you find the time to blog daily?!?!
Morgan says
Yaaasss! I can’t wait until you get back in to in:) And I have no idea. I’m lucky to SAH, os nap time is a big one, but I’m ALSO really lucky that Alex works weird hours, so he’s not home until 12 ish. So once Ryan goes to bed, I clean, eat, and then blog hustle aahha
Mary H says
These are great tips! Sometimes I have a bunch of ideas and other times I am stuck, but if I find I jot down things when I am thinking about them, it makes it easier for me to get started.
Morgan says
Yes! Writing things down the SECOND inspiration strikes me is so imporant for me – I have sucha flighty brain that if I don’t it may be gone forever!
Miranda says
Thanks so much for sharing your thoughts!! I am favoriting this page and referring back to it. We have the same planner!!!
Morgan says
So glad you enjoyed it and found it useful! Thanks for stopping by Miranda!
Tori Cole says
Thank you so much for this! This is what I needed! Visiting you through coffee and conversation link up!
Morgan says
So glad I could be of help! Thanks for stopping by, Tori!
Julie @ Logger's Wife says
I’m a big fan of having a notebook open. I have a few pages in my blog planner for future blog post ideas. Unless I am using one of the other pages, it is always open to one of those brainstorming pages. Sitting down to brainstorm rarely works for me. I generally have ideas at random moments. (visiting from the While I’m Waiting link party)
Morgan says
I definitely agree that having a notebook open is so great. I get my best ideas doing random things, and if I don’t write them down asap, they’ll probably be gone for good!
Amberjane says
I really need to do this – thank you for stopping by Pin worthy Wednesday Morgan
Morgan says
So glad you enjoyed it – thanks for stopping by Amberjane!
[email protected] says
These are great tips! Either my head is full of ideas for days or a total blank for days.
Morgan says
Yes! It’s so frustrating some times when you’re just like, but yesterday I was FULL of ideas!!
DazzleWhileFrazzled says
Thanks for the tips! As a newbie blogger, I need all the help I can get. I just started an editorial calendar and it is useful to have a place to put your ideas. Visiting from Live Laugh Rowe.com
Morgan says
I’ve been loving my editorial calendar! I like to segment my brainstormed ideas on to seperate lists – one for each day of the week that I could potentially post them (since I write slightly different things each day) and then I use THAT to organize an editorial calendar.
Celeste says
These are great ideas for coming up with blog post ideas! I like to use Evernote so that no matter where I am, when a blog post idea comes to me I can put it in my list and save it for future use. I’m with you though, some of my best, most popular blog posts have just been spur of the moment inspiration!
Tiffany @ A Touch of Grace says
These are awesome tips! I have my calendar scheduled out until mid-April, but I’m hoping to have more in the next few weeks. I use Evernote when I’m out and about and something comes to mind.
Karren Haller ♥ Friday Features says
This is my first time to your blog I found your post xoxo Rebecca’s party.
I sometimes have so many ideas that I want to share and when its time to sit down to write, I never know what would be of interest, would it be inspiring, would it be fun, so theres always a little battle going on. But one thing I have been doing is going back to older posts and refreshing them, the only question I have is should it be updated to publish or have a new publish date?
Your article is motivating with lots of new inspiration! And I would love to have you share on my #OMHGFF, hope you can stop by!
Julie says
I really need to get more organised, I have tiny pockets of organisation and the rest is pretty hap hazard!
I don’t have time to even try to blog daily so that’s not an issue for me – I know it can never happen, so I have about 22 half written posts, and another 20 or so projects finished and photographs as I went along but no post written, no edited photos – nothing, then I have another 5 or 6 things on the go that I’m making./experimenting with right now. I NEED to get organised, more than just a note book stuffed with thoughts.
I think I might need to shop for beautiful stationery – that will motivate me to use it! Your blogging binder looks kind of lovely!
Lissette says
This is a great post, that I’ll be pinning as well. I too am pregnant and I’m trying to come up with ideas months ahead of time so I don’t have to worry when the baby comes. Thank you for sharing all these great ideas! #FuntasticFriday
Catherine says
I love your idea of setting aside time each week to brainstorm. That is just what I need to be doing. I did a ton of brainstorming but then just wrote off that list for so long that my list is almost blank now. Brainstorming regularly will keep that list topped off and I won’t ever, hopefully, be in a place with wondering what to write. Thanks! 🙂
Alicia says
Great ideas for how to organize your thoughts. I’ve read another one of your posts that talked about your blog binder. I have a binder, its just not being used to its potential. Now I really have to get it organized! No more sticky notes all around the house!! Thanks for sharing.
Angela @ Setting My Intention says
I just recently started doing this and it’s helpful to have a lot of ideas on hand broken down by the topics I normally write about. I’m working now on actually fleshing them out a week ahead of time which is another story!
Jen says
Love the tip to go through my day and see what I do second nature that others might find helpful! This never crossed my mind at all! Pinned-thanks for sharing!
Kelsie says
These are some really fabulous tips!! Thanks so much for linking up with us at The Alder Collective! This is my feature for the week, so I’ll be sharing on Tuesday 🙂
Natalie @ our parallel connection says
Great tips . Wow can’t believe you are that far ahead. I think if I am a couple of posts ahead I’m
Doing great
Mumma McD says
I’m very much an inspiration writer and can’t write until the inspo fairy comes to visit!
#TeamMM
Bre Rock says
As a new blogger my biggest fear is running out of ideas. For years I’ve looked at myself as a non-creative person, but I’m finding I don’t give myself enough credit! Thanks for the many great ideas, I’m really appreciative of the advice as I embark on this adventure!
Denise says
Thanks! I write devotionals and sometimes I get stuck on the application part. This post helped! Thanks!
Christine says
I love these tips! Thanks for sharing on Meetup Monday!
Jerusha (ThePositiveYear.com) says
I spend my life with my head on my desk going “whaaaaat do I write about??!?!” This is the best post to help get those juices flowing! Thanks for sharing! – Jerusha, ThePositiveYear.com
Cristi says
Awesome post! Had to click-through and read this! Thanks so much for linking up with The Alder Collective. Hope to see you again this week! P.S. – I love the Create 365 planner!
Holly @ While I'm Waiting... says
Great, great ideas! Thanks so much for sharing at Waiting on…Wednesday! Hope you’ll join us again tomorrow!
Echo says
These are awesome tips! It is so important to brainstorm and come up with new content ideas! Thank you for sharing these tips at the #SmallVictoriesSundayLinkup!
Anne @ Domesblissity says
A great post Morgan. I like to use Evernote on both my phone and computer and when I have an idea, I quickly enter it there. Trouble is, sometimes my notes are so vague, when I’m looking for blog post inspiration, I can’t remember what it was I was going to blog about! Thanks so much for linking up to Thriving on Thursdays. It was lovely of you to join us. I’m featuring this post at tomorrow’s party.
Anne @ Domesblissity
Sam @ Living The Dutch Dream says
This is what I want to do, I always have good intentions but in our house things don’t always go as planned with the kids. Doing this would give me a lot more flexibility.
Tanya @ Mom's Small Victories says
These are great ideas. I actually have a repository of ideas and my mind is always adding to it throughout the day. I have a free blog planner that will help get your master list of ideas into Excel or Google Drive if you want to take a peek (there are 33 sheets of info to track too).
Thanks for sharing with Small Victories Sunday Linkup. Pinned to our linkup board.
Kim~madeinaday says
Great ideas here for posts, I like the expanding on popular posts idea. Thanks for linking up to Merry Monday! Pinned Sharing on Twitter! Have a great week!
Kim
Deanna Piercy says
I especially love the idea of having a dedicated weekly brainstorming session!
I followed you here from Turn it Up Tuesday. I hope you’ll visit me at LifeWithDee.com.
Have a great day!
Theresa @DearCreatives says
Great ideas. I also use an online and offline content calendar for post ideas and development. Thanks for sharing at the Inspiration Spotlight party pinned & shared. See you again soon.
Ginger Wroot says
Love your suggestions here! I have an old beat-up spiral notebook where I pen all kinds of random ideas for posts. It sounds ironically old-fashioned, considering that those ideas are for an internet blog post, but it’s my tried and true best way of vetting ideas. Thanks!
Ellie Crossley says
This is actually a really helpful post. There are times when I sit down to write a blog post and realise…errr…actually I don’t know what to write about. Thanks!
Suzy Godfrey says
these are great ideas…why didn’t I think of those? lol
Natalie Gallagher says
One way to ensure that you’ll never run out of blog content is to run a year-long challenge series on your blog (I’m raising my hand sheepishly admitting to this craziness). I do love your list of ways to spark inspiration. For me, coming up with ideas isn’t the problem, it’s finding time to actually write he posts. Ugh…#bloggerproblems, right? Thanks for sharing on Project Inspire(d)!
Chloe Crabtree says
I know I always find myself so much more relaxed about my blog when I have several posts completed and scheduled at least a week in advance. I know I get inspiration from a lot of the places you have suggested. It is always great to read what others are doing! Thanks for sharing at the Celebrate Your Story Link Party! I am pinning this to my blog ideas board!
Micha says
Great tips. I keep a running list of post ideas in a Google Doc. I had used a notebook but it accidentally ended up in the trash.
Alice Megan says
I’ve got such a long list of blog post ideas but you’re right inspiration can come from anywhere there’s absolutely no need for bloggers block
Erica Nicholas says
These are some great ideas! I have some days too where I just have nothing to say, then other days where I have like 20 different ideas for blog posts. I should start a journal and write the ideas down.
Gwen says
This is just the inspiration I needed today. Fantastic ideas! I clearly need to be more organized and record my ideas. When I finally find time to write, I’m lost. I’m going to seriously take these suggestions and use them! Thanks again!
Sandra Garth says
I am always more relaxed when I have several posts ready to go. Ideally I would love to have a month’s worth stockpiled. Love your tips and thank you.
Breeze says
I love these ideas. Sometimes it feels like my fingers can’t possibly keep up with all my blog post ideas and then other times my mind is a blank canvas! I love the idea to stockpile posts for when things come up in our day-to-day life! Thanks for the great tips!
Jelica says
Great tips Morgan! Like most people, I sometimes feel uninspired and fear that I will never be inspired again! Silly, I know, but then things come bubbling up again 🙂 I particularly love the idea of sitting down once a week to brainstorm (as opposed to doing it ‘on the fly’ as I normally do 🙂 ) Thanks for sharing!
Donna @ Soul Survival says
So much great information. I’ll be pinning this to checkout more thoroughly as I have time!
Corina says
Love these tips, thank you Morgan!