Many people have realized the value and potential benefits of blogging, but they struggle when it’s time to actually write their posts and create their content. After all, it’s tough to maintain a blog and post interesting things day in and day out. However, the web is full of ideas and ways to set your creative capabilities on fire.

One way to generate new ideas and give life to old ones is use the social bookmarking and tagging sites to find new perspectives in your niche.  Digg, del.icio.us, stumble upon, flickr, youtube, and other sites all have tons of user-submitted content, organized by tags.  This system is referred to as a “folksonomy” – the practice and method of collective collaboration using freely chosen keywords known as “tags”.  Users tag content with descriptive phrases and terms in order to share it more effectively with people who are interested in the same topics.

It’s important to see what others in your niche are talking about, and one way to find this out is to see what’s been tagged with your keywords on the various social media sites.  You may be wondering, however, does this translate into posts on your blog? Here are five things you can do with knowledge gleaned from the social media.

1.  Write a response to another blogger. Did you disagree with what they said?  Want to add to their thoughts and bring a new point of view into the conversation?  Use your blog to share your insights, and be sure to link to the inspiring post so the original blogger is aware of you (one caveat – keep your criticism constructive and respective – flame wars have no place on a business blog).

2.  Create a round-up of interesting links.  Did you discover all sorts of all cool sites and articles?  Chances are your readers might be interested in them too, so why not post them on your blog? Don’t forget to write a sentence or two about each link so they know what they are clicking on.

3.Compliment another blogger.  Come across another blogger or website that is simply amazing?  Write a post about why they are so incredible and if it applies, use them as an example of a blogging success.   Maybe even interview them and tell your readers their story.

4.Share what you’ve learned.  Find an informative article or how-to that you really learned something from?  Elaborate on that for your audience.  Bonus points if you can post pictures or your own experience of following the original article’s advice.

5.  Post a funny, creative, or intriguing video.  When you’re simply at a loss for blogging words, youtube, vimeo, and other video sites can be your saviors.   After all, if a picture’s worth a thousand words, a video has got to be worth at least a million.

What do you do when you suffer from blogger’s block?

For many bloggers, one of the reasons they blog is because they’re passionate about something and they want to share it with the world. They want to make an impact on their readers’ lives

Passionate writing leaps off the screen and into the hearts of your readers. Writing without passion is like a plain hamburger – yes, it’ll silence those hunger pangs, but once you add your favorite toppings, your basic burger turns into much more satisfying meal. Think of passion as your writing’s secret sauce that turns a serviceable post into something memorable (and linkable).

I’ve found that many bloggers worry about disagreeing with established authorities, offending someone, or simply being incorrect. However, I’ve found that worrying about being wrong tends to paralyze people – and when it comes to blogging, nothing is worse than inaction. Don’t be afraid to generate some fireworks.

First of all, if you’re going to write something controversial, make sure that your post is very well-thought-out and that you’re prepared for a debate. Be able to back up your opinions with facts and solid reasoning, and be ready for potential fallout – use logic to deal with dissenters. Passion backed up by logic is one of the best ways to really make your blog stand out.

If you think that something should be changed, or you disagree with a popular viewpoint, explain your beliefs. Tell your readers why you feel the way you do. On the flip side, your ideas may not be as controversial as you thought, and your passion could garner you even more loyal readers.

There’s much more to gain from showing your passion and pushing boundaries than there is to lose. Questioning authority, challenging popular views, and asserting your opinions in a logical manner tends to be rewarded in the blogosphere. After all, passion is what stirs people’s emotions and generates discussion, and besides, fortune favors the bold.

Last but not least, writing with passion means showing your readers the real you, and isn’t that at least part of the reason why you’re blogging?

*It’s important to remember that you should never accuse anyone of anything in your blog with iron-clad proof – obviously, libel, slander, and defamation have no part in smart business blog. Depending on your niche and community, I’d also recommend avoiding any particularly polarizing political or religious views as well.

Are you worried about differentiating yourself from the millions of other blogs out there? After all, one could view the blogosphere as a massive haystack with a few valuable, glittering needles hidden inside it – the blogs with valuable content. The search engines help people discover the needles, but it’s up to the individual bloggers to get them to use the needles to sew and make something great (okay, I definitely stretched the limits of that metaphor).

One of the best ways to be sticky is to create a site that is a feast for the senses – an elegant design and bold images for the eyes, interesting videos and podcasts for the ears, and luscious language that paints a picture in your readers’ minds. Be creative with your word selection and try to choose the most precise, accurate terms to express your ideas.

First of all, a thesaurus is your friend, whether you rely on an printed and bound book or you use websites like Thesaurus.com. Thesauri are especially valuable when you notice that you’ve been using the same words too many times and as a result, your writing is flat, boring, and/or redundant. A quick trip to the thesaurus to find alternative options can liven things up in no time, and you might discover new terms that work even better than your go-to phrases.

You don’t have to neglect SEO and your keywords to writing appealing posts, either. First of all, it’s important to integrate a significant variety of keywords into your posts – using only two or three constantly is a dead giveaway that it’s SEO copy and many people will click away (and it doesn’t matter how much traffic SEO sends your way if they leave within a second or two). After all, don’t you want people to stick around, so you get multiple pageviews, interesting comments, and incoming links?

Another way to inspire your writing is to keep a folder or set of bookmarks filled with quality writing by people you admire. You can pull it out when you’re feeling unmotivated to get your creative juices flowing. Personally, I use del.icio.us for this – I have tags for “inspiration” and “writing” and “creativity” and more in my account. Social media is for more than just connecting people – you can use it to organize your ideas, sources, and inspirations.

Last but not least, it’s important to remember that the number one way to become a skilled writer is to practice, practice, practive, and then practice some more. If you’re serious about improving your work, it’s important to write something everyday, even if it’s just a short paragraph or two, and to read the work of other writers – you never know where you’ll pick up a new technique or interesting insight.  Remember no matter how much you SEO, search marketing is still about writing great content.

Taking the first step is hard, whether you’re launching a business or writing a post. You may have tons of good ideas that you’re eager to share, but it’s tough to decide where to begin. So what’s a blogger to do?

Here’s a hint: write your introduction last.

Think about it – by the time you’ve written everything down and organized your thoughts, you’ll have a very good idea of where your post is going – after all, it’s almost done!  You might also come up with an excellent idea for an opener while you’re writing, plus you’ll have a better understanding of your piece should be introduced – have you ever written something that’s gotten totally derailed, and the conclusion and introduction say completely different things?  It happens to the best of us.   However, by writing your first paragraph last, you’re preventing this problem and ensuring that you’ll end up with a more cohesive, coherent post.

We all know that the headline (your title) and the opening paragraph (in publishing it’s called the lede) are some of the most important things to consider when you’re composing your posts.  Of course, these things are also some of the most difficult things to write well (related: North x East has an excellent list of 10 Ways to Write a Great Lead for a Blog Post), so it does pay to devote extra time to your intros.

Just make that extra effort at the end of your post composition time, not the beginning.  You may be pleasantly surprised at how productive you become.

Yesterday I talked about the importance of using the correct spelling, grammar, and puncuation in your posts, because it seemed logical to start a series on writing with the basics, and because words are the backbone and the heart of your blog.   Now it’s time to discuss how you can use those words to make a powerful impression.

One of things that makes writing compelling is the active voice. Using the active voice is attention-grabbing and usually results in clearer, more direct prose than the passive voice. You should use the active voice when you’re telling a story and you want to draw the reader in.  Here’s an example of each voice:

In a sentence written in the active voice, the subject acts:

The smart business blogger wrote an excellent post.

In a sentence written in the passive voice, the subject is acted upon:

The excellent post was written by the smart business blogger.

Although writing in the passive voice is not necessarily wrong or always a bad idea, using it all the time can lead to flat, uninteresting writing or awkward sentence construction.  The passive voice is a good call, however, when you’re writing about observations or research and you want to maintain objectivity- academic and scientific writing is typically done in the passive voice.  Also, sometimes it’s just the best way to convey your intended meaning (check out this article from Essay, I Say for more advice on when to go with the passive voice).

That said, there’s no denying the fact that the active voice is more compelling.  It’s clearer, more comprehensible, and less wordy, and when it comes to blogging, simplicity and brevity are key.  Don’t believe me? Take a look at some of your favorite bloggers – I’ll bet they use the active voice more often than not.

The ability to write well and communicate in a clear, precise manner are necessary skills for anyone who wishes to create a compelling blog. After all, email, blog posts, or other forms of written communication are essential to doing business and interacting on the web, so you need to make sure that your words stand out from the rest (in a good way).

The purpose of this series is help bloggers of all kinds make an impact with their words.  Quality writing is particularly important when you’re blogging to promote yourself or your business, because your blog is your introduction, your opening statement, and your business card, resume, and other credentials all rolled into one.

I’ll start with spelling grammar, and punctuation, because those are the building blocks of language, and therefore your blog. Some people argue that these things don’t matter at all because the web is an informal medium, but these people are wrong. Proper grammar and spelling are like clothing – yes, you can wear a ratty t-shirt and sweats everywhere, but you won’t get the respect you would in a nicely tailored jacket.  It’s a fact that people judge others by their appearances, and on the net, your words form a major part of your appearance. You wouldn’t wear a wrinkled shirt to an important meeting, would you? Edit and spell-check your posts, and if you’re unsure of something, look it up.

Dictionary.com and Thesaurus.com are excellent starting points if you have spelling or usage questions (it’s also a good idea to look up your keywords in a thesaurus in order to find alternate terms and phrases searchers may use in their queries). Of course, if you are using more academic or technical terms, you’ll need to find a more niche-specific resource.  Also, don’t overlook the basics: try googling your grammar questions, or search the Grammar Rules: The Blue Book of Grammar and Punctuation (a very comprehensive site on English grammar, including an excellent blog).

Of course, blogging is more conversational than other forms of business communication, so you don’t necessarily need to obey the rules to the letter. Things like one sentence paragraphs, using “and” as the first word of a sentence or ending one with a preposition are all acceptable in the name of style.  However, it’s absolutely essential to know the rules before you can break them properly, and it’s just as necessary to be aware that there are few conventions that you just can’t disregard (correct usage of there, they’re, and their, for instance).  The Copyblogger has two excellent posts on grammar and spelling rules that you just can’t break without appearing stupid.

Yes, carefully proofreading your posts may take a little longer, but when you’re using your blog as a promotional tool, it’s worth it to make sure your message is being read clearly and correctly.  It’s also important to remember that we all make mistakes (hey, that’s what the “edit” button is for), but there is no excuse for sloppiness and lazy writing.  Your readers are your most valuable asset and they deserve the best blog you can possible create.

After all, only your reputation is at stake.

You don’t have to write a book every time you post.  Sometimes, a mere paragraph will do, provided it packs a real punch.  After all, your readers are busy people and if you constantly post long articles, they might not make the time to keep up with your blog.  Writing short, impactful posts is also a good attention-grabbing technique.  Remember, most slogans, sound bites, and other catchy messages are quick and to the point.  

Use the active voice and powerful, direct language.   Before you hit publish, scan your posts and remove anything that doesn’t move the post along or add to the message.  Yes, it is more difficult to compose tightly edited posts, but this sort of content is some of the most compelling.  Put in more work, and you’ll reap greater rewards.

When it comes to writing with brevity, Strunk & White’s Elements of Style says it best:

Omit needless words.

Ask yourself “is this necessary to get my point across?” while you are editing.  Are your words aiding the action or getting the reader stuck in the mud?  Need help discerning the wheat from the chaff?  Next week, I’ll be posting a series of articles on the basic writing skills and techniques that all bloggers need to know, so bookmark, subscribe, or come back on Monday for a discussion about the core of blogging: writing.

Inspiration and creativity are tricky. Sometimes the ideas are flowing and you’re on fire, sometimes it feels like your well has temporarily dried up. That’s when it’s time to look outside your niche or domain for fresh content.

It can be extremely beneficial to look outside of your general topic area for ideas – to concentrate on making associations, to figuring out how some seemingly disparate ideas are linked.  Figuring out how to link widely varied topics or thoughts together in a coherent way is also an excellent mental workout (and hey, so is blogging), and you might as well boost your critical thinking skills along with your blog.

Now, I know you have a wide variety of interests outside of your blogging niche, so take a look at your favorite subjects and see if you can make any connections between them.  For instance, I’m a major football fan, so I occasionally use football metaphors and stories in my writing, especially in the fall.  Can you relate your favorite sport to your business/blog topic area somehow?  Are there any lessons to be learned on the field/court/ice/etc. that translate to the rest of the world?

What about hobbies?  Are you particularly crafty, or do you love to bake?  How are these skills related to your blog?  If you’re an aspiring gourmet and passionate about quality food, share your passion with your readers.  Can you use a cooking metaphor (e.g. spending hours slow cooking barbeque or Bolognese sauce that has to simmer all day – someone who actually loves to cook can probably come up with a better one) to tell a story about how careful, meticulous work is worth it in the end?  Or you could talk about how experimenting with a recipe turned out incredibly well, and compare that to trying out new marketing concepts for your business?

This could even apply to other individuals – is there anyone you admire in a different field than your own?  A look at why they are worthy of admiration could still be valuable advice for your readers even if they’re in a different niche.  A smart, talented individual might have insights and knowledge that prove useful to people in a whole variety of fields.  For instance, if you own a small business, is there another business owner in your community that you could interview (whether you are in the same niche or not)?  Whether or not they have a blog or website of their own, it’s excellent way to participate in the community and add some inspiring content to your site.

You could also write about a favorite author, a family pet, or a beloved spot in your hometown.  Really, the possibilities are endless once you remove any self-imposed limits to going off-topic.   Just be sure to tie it in to your main topic(s) somehow, and be sure to get some of your keywords in there as well.   After all, going temporarily off-topic is one thing, but don’t derail your blog completely.

Are you holding off from starting a blog simply because there are so many other bloggers out there?  Worried about standing out from the pack and wondering how you’ll ever get traffic, lots of incoming links, and a high page rank?  A little bit intimidated with blogs with tons of content and several years worth of posts in the archives?

First of all, remember that no one makes the A-list overnight.  You may get spikes of traffic from a great post or by being popular on the social bookmarking sites, but building an amazing blog takes time.  After all, Rome wasn’t built in a day.

Focus on the little things, and think of each incoming link, unique impression, and new subscriber as a building block for your blog.  These all occur one at a time, but they definitely add up.  Building up content is the same way – make the effort to post several times a week (or even every day if you’re ambitious), and before you know it, you’ll have created quite an impressive archive of knowledgeable content.

Search engines love sites with tons of content on related topics, so the simple act of writing a post helps with SEO (of course, it’s even better if it is a keyword-rich post, but you knew that, right?).  Of course, search engines also love sites that are constantly updated, so posting as often as possible is another simple SEO boost.

It’s also important to remember that you don’t need to write a book every day.  Some of the best, most informative articles out there are only a few paragraphs long, and it’s difficult to read tons of text on a computer screen anyways (so be sure to break up blocks of text somehow, whether you use bold headings, bullet points, or similar techniques).

So get started on your blog, take it one day at a time, and you may end up being amazed at what you’ve built.

Next time you’re sitting in front of a blank screen, the cursor blinking like a cruel taunt saying “aren’t you supposed to be the brilliant creative one? Why can’t you think of something to write about?” (or maybe that’s just me), try writing about something you’ve bought recently.  It doesn’t matter if it was as small as a cup of coffee or as large as a new home, just as long as it was remarkable.

1.  Write about a delicious meal.  Writing about a fabulous restaurant or great little cafe can be an excellent move even if you’re not a foodie blogger.  For instance, if you own a store of any kind, tell your readers about the best “hidden gem” eateries in the area.   Hey, it’ll encourage them to check out the neighborhood and establish you as a local authority.  Besides, it’s a good way to help out another business owner.

2. Write about a book or magazine.  Have you picked up a new book or discovered a new magazine lately?  Why did you buy it?  Link to other articles about the book, explain why this particular book appealed to you, review it if you’re already read it, etc.  If you come across an excellent new resource in your topic area, tell other people about it.

3.  Write about a new gadget.  Did you get a new computer, phone, camera, or other fun shiny object recently?   Share your experience, talk about it’s functions, explain how the gadget is valuable to you.  Try to make it relevant to your niche by telling readers how this particular shiny object makes your life and business better.

4. Write about an experience.  Did you go to a cool concert or attend an interesting seminar?  Why not write it up for your readers?   Don’t forget to check out YouTube for clips of the event in question, especially if you know it was being recorded.  After all, if a picture is worth a thousand words, a video is worth at least a million.

5.  Write about excellent customer service.  Did a company impress you with their amazing customer service?  Talk about it!  Relate it to your business (almost everyone has customers/clients to deal with), use it as a stellar example how a company succeeded. Of course, the flip side to this is to blog about poor customer service, and if you do that, take the opportunity to deliver some constructive criticism instead of just complaining.

So if you’re ever at a loss for blogging words, think about the last few things you spent money on, or the last remarkable customer service you had.  Recommending quality products and experiences is just one more way to establish authority, after all, and if something improved your life and business, your readers want to know about it.