I love making the one piece of work pay off multiple times. One of the ways I do this is by turning other activities that I do into blog posts. Here’s five ways I’ve done it recently.
1. Live streaming video sessions
If I find myself with a spare half hour to fill in, one of the activities that I’ll sometimes engage in is a live video streaming session on Ustream.
I log into my Ustream account, start a broadcast, and then announce it on Twitter that I’m on and happy to answer questions. The sessions are fun and also deepen reader engagement for those who join in. But I’m also constantly taking note of what I’m being asked and will often turn those questions and answers into posts.
Answering questions at the ProBlogger Training Day
2. Being interviewed
From time to time I’m asked by another blogger, journalist, or author to do some kind of interview with them. Some are live webinars or on radio, others are email-based interviews, others are on the phone.
Being interviewed in this way is great for bringing new readers into your blog, but I’m also usually asked at least one question during the interview which is the stimulus for a post.
3. Interviewing someone else
On the flip side of things, I also love to interview other people.
Many times as I’m preparing for an interview and researching the subject to work out what questions to ask I’m stimulated to write a post. Other times it is the answer that they give that gets me writing something new.
4. Public speaking
I’m fortunate enough to be asked to speak at conferences both here in Australia and around the world. While I love this type of presenting, I always get a little nervous in the lead up to doing it, and tend to put in quite a bit of time for preparation.
This often unearths post ideas. In fact, last time I spoke at a conference, I turned my slides into a series of blog posts. The Q&A times at the end of presentations and speaking one-on-one to attendees afterwards also gives me great ideas for posts.
5. Answering reader emails and comments
Not a day goes by when I don’t either get an email from a reader asking a question or see at least one question in blog comments.
While I try to respond to as many as I can, I also quite often turn those email or comment answers into blog posts in and of themselves. When one person has a question, it’s likely that others are thinking the same thing—so I turn that one on one answer into something others can benefit from, too.
How do you kill two birds with one stone and use other actives to generate blog post ideas?
Agreed with the 5th point the most.Sometime it happens reading any article,comment or email gives me a sentence or a question on which i can write a post,even i wrote some post.
Thanks for sharing such great tips.
Such great ideas, all of them. For me, the hardest part of blogging is feeling inspired to write WHEN I have the time to write. I often think of a good topic to blog on when I’m NOT in a position to stop and write. So what I do now is, when I get a good idea for a post, I go to my blog and create the post IN ALL CAPS since I don’t typically do that. Then I’ll save it as a draft and when I have time to write and don’t have a topic in mind, I’ll go to one of those ALL CAPS posts and start writing. Doesn’t qualify as killing two birds with one stone, but it works for me. Thanks for these great ideas!
Strategical and realistic ways to get blog posts that will appeal to humans.Good post.
Hey Darren,
Thanks for the post. I usually get blog post ideas while driving. Your mind wanders and you start to think of all sorts of stuff, stuff that you would not have thought of during your daily work routine. Unfortunately, most of the great ideas are forgotten once I step into the office.
Cheers mate!
Good one Darren.
I read blogs that are popular (which I love doing it) and check the comment section regularly. If I know the answer of the questions, then I will create a post.
Great post, Darren.
Not sure if this is an “idea” about how to generate blog post content, but after blogging for several years now and now being the sole blog writer and admin for my company’s blog, I’ve found that I’ve gotten myself into a content “mindset”
At every meeting I attend, every course I’m required to take, conference I go to, or email from my boss with an article he just read, I am constantly thinking “how could I use this?” I got into it by making the commitment to post 3x per week for my company’s blog, and 1x per week for my personal blog – and it’s gotten so much easier over time: especially when you are always open to ideas rather then sitting at a blank blog post waiting for inspiration.
Hey Darren – Good list. I’ve not actually done the blog post on the back of it yet but 1 method I recently tried to kill 2 birds with 1 stone was by posting a poll on my Facebook fan page. This allowed me to engage with my fan page readers and get a bit more reach on Facebook whilst also giving me some future content ideas for my blog. Like I said, I haven’t done the blog post yet but the votes and ideas are still there for whenever I get round to it :-).
Great post. It is interesting how often doing one thing helps to generate creativity elsewhere.
A more exciting – and natural – way to find the ideas for the posts than simply sitting down and more formally trying to think of good post topics!
Darren! You are killing more than two birds actually with one stone. That’s surprisingly pleasant to me that you sometimes get nervous speaking at conferences.
Your five ways are excellent, but unfortunately most bloggers don’t quite make up, up-to the levels to be approached for the interviews or dare to ask a celebrity like you for an interview. Well, good luck and keep writing great stuff like this.
when it comes to the Internet and blogging, the ideas alone can make a lot of money, even at times if you just jibber jabber about nothing… LOL
why i never thinking of all of u write above.
thanks for this great sharing :)
It’s great to see you post regularly again, Darren. It seems like it’s almost always guest posts in here. :)
Darren,
I have always enjoyed reading your tips on blogging and creating content. I remember when you first started out with your one-blog-a-day-for-a-year rule. You write like a friend giving advice. Thanks for all of your inspiration. Go Maggies! (I had to write that, sorry).
As a craft blogger I take advantage of craft/sewing projects I need to make for my personal use and often photograph the steps as I go along so I can write a tutorial at a later date.
It takes me a little longer to finish the project but creates a great blogpost in the process.
Love the ideas of turning videos into blog posts – sure is taking an opportunity and using it for the best advantage.
The idea of interviews is not something that I have thought to do for my blog! Maybe its time to think outside the square :)
Great tips on 5 ways to kill two birds with one stone and generate great ideas for your blog.
Cheers
Lisa
I always keep a mindmap of my blog open while writing. Whenever writing and a new idea for another post comes to mind, I head over and make a new connection.
For me, I get a lot of ideas while researching for a post online. There are different ways of approaching a topic and each resource online is a new idea. I always try to keep my mind on trending news as well and use these to craft a new blog post. Ideas are everywhere, by looking a little harder, you will discover topic gems all around you.
Very good ideas, I think interviewing others is one of the best and easiest way to generate content for your posts.
Very well written – I agree wholeheartedly with this post. It is not hard to blog, if you try and implement some of these tactics. Keep up the excellent job of maintaining this well written blog.
Thank you Darren, This is wonderful! As a new Blogger, I was in a quandary about what would happen if I struggled for posts. Here’s are a Great collection of workable solutions that any one can glean inspiration from. Dyane
As a problogger owner you do have many privileges than us and you do get invites to many interviews. For us people that are not pros like you have to work hard to climb the ladder but the point to make a post from comments is something we can all do. That’s one great point.
I use my blog to stimulate ideas for my daily podcast. I have gotten some great feedback from my efforts.