A Guest Post by Christie Burnett. Image Source.
Feeling sluggish about blogging in the new year? Being innovative on your blog can be a great way to re-energise yourself. The process of being creative and trying something different can definitely up your blogging fun quota when you are feeling stale and uninspired. Trying something new also has the advantage of showing readers a new side to your blogging persona and this could have the added benefit of engaging a whole new set of followers. And you never know, you might just start a new blogging craze. Let me give you an example.
In November 2009, I published my first “From My Notebook” post. I basically replicated what I had written that day in my own personal journal, presenting it on a graphic notepaper page, and the response from my readers to the format was extremely positive. I had lots of Twitter questions about how I had created it and positive comments left in response to the post. And I enjoyed the process of doing something different. It was fun, challenged my creative processes a little and was a much quicker post to put together than many of my others – no photos to edit, no laboring over what I was writing, no research to include. It was simple, yet effective.
Every now and then throwing in a new style of post keeps every one on their toes. So, here are 20 words to get you thinking about fun ways to step away from your usual style and give readers something fresh.
1. Draw
Put pencil to paper or pen to tablet and say something with illustrations, instead of words.
Check out Miao & Wafupafu for inspiration.
2. Photograph
Set yourself the challenge of telling a story without words, just photographs.
Telling Your Story with Words and Images offers great tips for choosing the right photographs.
3. Share
If your blog is usually full of product reviews or technical information, turn things upside down by sharing a personal story instead. Or tell readers something about you that they never would have guessed.
In Why Stories are an Effective Communication Tool for Your Blog, Darren shares his reasons for why stories engage readers on an emotional level.
4. Measure
Insert a graph, pie chart, table or diagram to make your point.
5. Debate
Invite another blogger, preferably one who usually takes an alternative stance to you, to enter into a debate with you via online chat or Skype and then publish it on your blog.
6. Laugh
Make your readers chuckle – self deprecation, jokes, comic strips – whatever works with your target audience.
7. Watch
Give vlogging a twirl or insert a relevant video from YouTube to get readers talking.
8. Give
Give something back to readers by hosting a giveaway. Or donate $$ to your favourite charity for every comment left on a post.
9. Teach
Make something from scratch, and then create a tutorial to teach others how to do it too.
10. Introduce
Invite a guest blogger to be featured on your blog and introduce readers to someone new.
Try You’ll Never Know Unless You Ask for more information about inviting others to guest post on your blog.
11. List
When was the last time you write a list post? If it has been a while, compile a list which will be useful to readers today.
Check out Ali Hale’s guest post at Problogger, 10 Steps to the Perfect List Post.
12. Resource
Develop a free downloadable resource for your readers.
13. Colour
In colour psychology, blue equates to serenity and calmness whilst red is strong and gutsy, dramatic even. Think about creatively using colour to add intensity to your post or to set the mood for readers.
14. Solve
Do readers email you with questions, problems or dilemmas? Take the opportunity to channel ‘Dear Abbey’ and help them out with some useful advice. I did this recently with, “The Case For Not Packing Away.”
15. Inspire
Source relevant inspirational quotes to share with readers. Or include statistics or new research findings.
16. Ask
Find out more about your readership by asking them to participate in a survey or poll.
Read more about surveys – Survey Your Readers and Discover Who They Are and How You Can Be More Useful to Them.
17. Headline
Use the powers of the internet to source news stories relevant to your niche and readership. Include your personal reaction and thoughts.
18. Re-package
Re-package your post differently – standard content wrapped up in a new look. Present it as a postcard, a journal page, a post-it note, a shopping list, a recipe, or a collage.
Try Super Stickies for a bit of fun.
19. Link
Create a list of great posts, linking to other blogs in your niche. Keep them relevant and your links will be popular with readers. You might even find that you get linked back to in return.
20. Challenge
Develop a challenge for your readers and offer to publish the best submissions you receive. It could be a group writing challenge, an online photography exhibition or any challenge that best suits your niche and target audience.
Keep this list handy and come back to it for inspiration whenever you are feeling stale or depressed about blogging. You are limited only by your imagination and willingness to try something new.
Christie Burnett is a trained early childhood teacher, presenter, writer and, most importantly, Mum. She blogs at Childhood 101 about all the things that contribute to growing a memorable, healthy childhood, with lots of ideas, tips and information for families.
Interesting! I like drawing although i am not good on it. Thanks for sharing!
That was very helpful, thanks!
Spot on Christie. Some great reminders here and unique ideas as well.
haha, my drawings was bad enough to make my Arts teachers hated me forever. I think it will make the readers roar with laughter, and break their back!
Besides, I think video is also an important way to get visitors in.
Thank you very much Christie for a very useful and funny post!
Thank you very much Darren for alway making the difference.
Best Regards,
Daniel Cajiga
Such an ideas-packed post Christie! Thanks… definitely one to come back to when I get bogged down in my blogging. And thanks Darren for continuing to feature guest posts from a wide range of fantastic bloggers.
In the future, I think I’ll try employing the Ask and Photograph ideas. I think they’ll go well with my niche.
I can easily see how I can use many of your options to keep my medical blog from becoming too uniform. I have skin care advice PDFs I use for educational office paper products that people can download, I can give away my UV sensing bead key ring for a limited time, I can photograph an interesting skin condition or procedure.
Once again, you provide great advice for me as a novice blogger. I see this list as a nice template to create variety in my posts. I can easily see how I can use many of your options to keep my medical blog from becoming too uniform. I have skin care advice PDFs I use for educational office paper products that people can download, I can give away my UV sensing bead key ring for a limited time, I can photograph an interesting skin condition or procedure, I can video how to properly apply a micro zinc oxide sunscreen for transparent application etc.
Great collection of ideas! Also, inviting readers for polls or surveys can be interesting. Also, one can drive campaign for social cause which is not directly related with main blog topic, let’s say about saving trees. This could give you a break from your usual blogging and provide readers with something new as well.
Unlike ice-cream, I need to be in the mood to produce a quality post. So it was with interest that I cast an eye over your article. Let me say you knock the ball out of the park with regards to breaking down how to spice up your blog life.
The fear of writing, writers’ block, boredom or pure laziness are conditions we all face from time to time.
Writing in whatever guide is of course a particular beast and the manner in which one person records, will differ to another.
But your post offers up a list of general pointers that are bound to help the majority of people knock down the wall.
Regards
Too many aggregator blogs. Dlogs – duplicate blogs, scogs – scam blogs, flogs – pretending you’re an expert on a subject – when you paid someone from India to write articles for you.
Good to see this site seems to just barely stay above the line most times.
Nice list of tips.. it’s important to be different from common bloggers. And these great tips will surely help!
The only thing that interferes with my learning is my education.
Ya i see your point. I like how you outlined how to do it in a fun way so that it isnt boring to day. Very easy thank you darren.
Excellent post going over all the ways which blogging can either help make you money by itself or support a business. I am a blogger and love the ability to express myself. Anyway good post.
Interesting post. I have been wondering about this issue,so thanks for posting. I’ll likely be coming back to your blog. Keep up great writing. Have a great day!
Most did get on the blogging train, but there were very few who tasted the kind of financial success that they dreamed of. Others fell by the wayside while the determined still plough on, making what little money they can and yet sticking to the path because they are passionate about what they do.
Most did get on the blogging train, but there were very few who tasted the kind of financial success that they dreamed of. Others fell by the wayside while the determined still plough on, making what little money they can and yet sticking to the path because they are passionate about what they do.