Traditional media does have a place in the blogosphere - it gives bloggers something to talk about. This week’s installment of how to beat blogger’s block involves reviewing, criticizing, and discussing items from old school formats.
1. Review a book. Has anything interesting been published in your niche lately? Is there a book that everyone’s talking about it? Read it and share your opinions. Go into detail - if you loved it, explain why you think it’s great. Ditto if you hated it. Quote the parts you like and give your readers an idea of what they find in the book. If you’re in PR, for example, cover a recently published book like The New PR: An Insider’s Guide to Changing the Face of Public Relations by Phil Hall.
2. Critique a newspaper article. Whether it is your local paper or the NY Times, chances are someone has written something about your blog’s topic. Link to the article if you can (or provide a summary if you can’t find it online), and tell your readers how you felt about it. Did the reporters get it right? Write an op-ed style response or just point your readers in the direction of an awesome piece. One possibility is for a sports blogger to link to their local paper and provide more detailed coverage of their favorite team (hey, on the web, you’re not limited by column inches).
3. Comment on a TV Show. Television counts when it comes to media (in fact, it’s the most popular form in the U.S.), so if there is a show that’s related to your blog’s topic, talk about it. For instance, if you’re a real estate agent, comment on Flip That House or one of the many home improvement shows. Did you see anything really innovative or completely unrealistic? Be the expert opinion, and don’t forget to search for clips on You Tube to add dimension to your blog.
4. Provide an overview of a magazine. Look at any newstand and you’ll see tons of different publications, and chances are there are there are related to your niche. Pick out the best for your readers and let them know what’s in that month’s issue (chances are you read magazines that cover your field anyways, so why not use that as blog fodder?), or write an in-depth review of a particular article. Do you own a trendy boutique? Check out the editorials in the latest glossies, and compare them to your shop’s current offerings, or if you’re a stylist, offer less expensive alternatives to the high end pieces that are often featured.
5. Respond to a radio show. If you hear something interesting on the radio, make note of it and talk about it later on your blog. Don’t be afraid to respond in kind by creating a podcast as well (but be sure to write too, because you can’t use your keywords in a way that matters to search engines in podcasts). Be sure to check out the radio station’s website to see if they have more information on the program.
When you’re working on your blog, don’t be afraid to look outside the blogosphere for potential blog fodder. After all, there’s a whole world of media out there that’s just full of ideas.
