When I first started blogging, one of my main concerns was running out of things to say. I remember telling my mom about my brilliant idea of starting a blog and her first reaction was, “What if you run out of things to talk about.” My answer to her was a laugh….like, do you know me? I’m a talker! LOL.
But, in all seriousness, I WAS afraid of running out of things to say. I mean, there’s only SOOO much you can say about one topic before getting bored or just not feeling inspired…
…and once you HAVE talked about everything there is to talk about a particular topic, what do you do then?
With all this looming over my head, I started a blog anyways. I figured that if I ran out of things to say, I’d cross that bridge when I got there.
What To Do When You Run Out of Content Ideas for Your Blog
I’ve been blogging for a while now and I can say that I’ve never had so many ideas for posts right NOW.
Don’t pigeon-hole yourself
First, I would say that you want to have a lifestyle blog where you talk about more than one subject. On my blog, you’ll find me talking about parenting, doing inspirational and encouraging posts, recipes, home decor, household tips, saving money tips, how to make money from home, and organizing to name a few.
Many bloggers tell you to just do one or two subjects. If you’ve heard that, don’t do it! I HATE that “rule.” I feel that I’ve made my way to success faster by doing the OPPOSITE of what all the guru’s say to do.
My reasoning?
I’m not a two topic person. I’m not a one-dimensional character. I love organizing just as much as I love parenting. I love creating recipes as much as I love teaching people how to live on less money. Why do I have to fit in this little box?
The truth is that you don’t.
After being in the blogging industry for a little while and learning to stand on my own two feet, one of the things that I promised myself, swore to myself even, was that I would just be ME. If people didn’t like ME, that’s okay. There are other blogs out there that teach the things I teach. It’s okay. But for me, I have to be myself. If that means losing all my traffic because everyone hates me, then, that’s okay. If I scare people off because I have weird quirks, that’s okay.
The day that I promised myself that, to just be ME at all times, a huge weight had been lifted off my shoulders. Suddenly, I felt like I COULD talk about more topics and it wouldn’t matter. It’s okay that I talk about blogging even though many of my readers aren’t bloggers. I don’t need to create a separate URL for that. I can be me here on this blog. That is why I named my blog SarahTitus.com and not www.fillintheblank.com. My site is about me, my life, what I like, what I don’t, and most importantly teaching others how I’m able to do all that I do. I love teaching others all the things that they want to learn, but in the process, I can’t lose WHO I am either.
Questions come up all the time. I’m constantly asked questions by my readers, and that seriously, makes me the MOST happy in writing this blog for you. Knowing that you’re involved enough to HAVE questions and want to ask ME. I’m honored. It’s the best feeling in the world. But that doesn’t mean that while I’m answering questions and being a blog that you all will want to read, that I lose myself in the mix.
I think this is a main problem that many bloggers do and it’s so easy to get there. We start focusing on traffic, on money to support our families as blogging IS A JOB. Believe me, this blog takes 80 hours a week to have it this nice and there are many people working behind the scenes helping.
There are my fantastic contributors, who are absolutely amazing. There’s Katie, who is THE best assistant EVER and makes my job so much lighter. There’s Becky, who helps me with editing because even though I majored in English and love spelling and grammar, I’m still not perfect and it’s NOT my favorite thing to do. There’s Laura, my fantastic design technician who makes this blog look so pretty.
We are all a team. It takes all of us doing what we do and I love every minute of it, but I do have to pay them, and that means I need to monetize this blog to be able to continue providing awesome FREE TO YOU content. 🙂
So, as you can see, it’s so easy to start focusing on the wrong thing. There’s a lot riding on the line. But, we as bloggers, can’t lose sight of why we started blogging.
Remember why you started
That would be the second thing to remember when you feel like you’re running out of content. Remember why you started blogging. What did you want to teach? WHO did you want to teach? What are their needs, their desires, their problems? And teach them that. It’s really that simple.
All the questions that you get from your readers, turn them into posts. I got a fantastic question from reader, Gina, on prayer a few months ago and it has inspired me to write several articles on prayer, including creating an upcoming video on how to teach kids to pray. That one question inspired several posts!
What your audience is asking is a good gauge of what they want to learn from you. Take all their questions and create posts. For every one person asking you a question, there are a good 1,000 other people not asking you the same question, but dealing with the same issue!
Be inspired
Finally, be inspired. You can’t live your life behind a computer. Now, before I go on, those who know me in person will say this is the #1 area that I personally struggle with, so let me explain.
You see, all my friends see me not really out doing things. We’re not in sports or gymnastics. I’m not a taxi taking my kids everywhere to everything. They are 9 and 7 years old and at this stage in our lives, and as I am a single mom, I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE being home and just hanging out with my kids and with friends. I’m not horribly active, there’s nothing wrong with that, just that I’m not. I’ve always been a homebody. And when I go somewhere, I don’t want to go somewhere I’ve been a million times, I love to travel. I’ve lived in many different states and cities and had a lot of experiences. So, when I’m not traveling somewhere else, I love to be at home with my kids just playing a game, watching a movie, or a favorite TV show. Those are my favorite moments in life!
Some may say it’s boring, that’s okay. To me, it’s fun! And everyone has a different idea of fun.
With that said, I’m always doing something or having some experience that inspires me to have a great post. Just today, I got some scam in the mail as part of setting up my blog as a LLC company and so inspired by that happening, it will become a post about blogging scams. Inspiration is everywhere. If you have a site where you CAN BE free to talk about things, then you CAN talk about those things and it will fit in. For that reason, and many others, it is rare that I ever encourage anyone to sign up a new URL to be anything other than their name. If I would have set up my name as www.SavingMoneyNeverGoesOutofStyle.com I would forever have to be known for saving money. What if I don’t want to post every single day about saving money anymore. What if I want to post just once a week about it and I want to give you other topics. If my site URL were saving money, it would be hard to do that.
A lot of people ask me how I can possibly be so successful as such a young blogger (about 1 and a half years at the time I’m writing this post). The truth is that I don’t focus on a topic. I’m not the “girl who teaches about money,” I’m Sarah Titus. There are a gazillion other saving money blogs out there. Mine is different because of MY life experiences. It’s not the topic, it’s the person.
A reader can go to any saving money site they want. They come to mine because of ME. The sooner and faster a blogger realizes that it is ALL ABOUT their own uniqueness, their own voice, the faster and sooner they will grow. The faster a blogger stops trying to be like everyone else, and just puts themselves out there on the line being 100% themselves consistently, the faster more readers WILL come.
The truth is that if you are worried about running out of content ideas to come up with for your blog, don’t. You will never stop BEING YOU, you will never stop learning and growing yourself, and you won’t run out of questions from your audience of things to teach. You won’t stop living life and running out of inspiration, and if you’re a blog who talks about more than 1-2 things, you CAN talk about different subjects.
One of the best tips I can give you is to keep a 5 subject notebook. In the notebook, separate it into categories. For me, it’s Parenting, Organizing, Saving Money, Making Money, and Christian Inspiration.
Under each one of those categories, write down all your initial blog post ideas and as you live your life, as you go on day-to-day, keep filling out each section. Every time someone is mean to your child and you’re inspired to write a bullying post, write down the title in your book. When you get your mail and there’s a ton of it, write a post on how to organize your paperwork and write it in the section. When you fall down and make a mistake, take the opportunity to write an inspirational post in that section. Sometimes, I’ll even write out the post and save it as a draft when I’m inspired so I don’t forget the point of it. Then I write the title in my editorial calendar (you can print the ones I use myself here for free).
Anytime you have an idea that lines up in one of those subjects or a reader asks you a question that you feel can be expanded well, write it down. My notebook is so full, even if I wasn’t inspired again for a whole year, I’d still have enough content to write about just using that book!!!
Ask questions
Another thing you can do is to ask your friends what questions they have. What they’d like to see on your blog. What problem would they like answers to, even if it’s not from you. What challenges are they facing in their lives right now. Those challenges can become inspiration for a post to help many dealing with the same things.
Get this traffic cheat sheet by visiting the post, How to Get Holiday Traffic Throughout the Year here.
Write holiday content
The last idea I want to share with you today is about writing for the holidays. There are a lot of topics that you can write about each holiday that will fill up your editorial calendar as well. Here’s a post I wrote about holiday topic starters and when to post them to get the maximum amount of traffic you can during the season.
Thank you for the shout out! I love you and you are the best blogger to work with ever- seriously everyone this lady is awesome!!
Ah, thanks. <3 Your help has literally changed my life. It's helping me in so many ways. Even just the aspect of taking some of the pressure off. SO thankful God has put an amazing team together that I get to be a part of! 🙂 You are an inspiration!
This is my first time to read your blog. Love it. I’m 61 years old and wanting to reach out to ladies in my age group. Don’t have a clue where to begin…only desire. Can’t wait to read more of your writing. Question: do you personally spend 80 hours a week on the blog, or were you counting team hours?
Silma, welcome {{hugs}}. At the time, 80-120 hours a week was SOLELY counting MY hours. I did that for 5 years straight. Now, it’s more calm, and I have a team to help me. I’m setting up a lot of systems and a lot more productive with my time, and because I’m not in the building phase anymore, I no longer have to work those crazy hours. But, when you start up any business like I did, from scratch, with no one to guide you, you have to put in the hours to make it work. I wanted a better life, long-term, for my family. It was the best decision for me. It paid off and now I’m set up. 🙂
These are great – just “be you!” I agree, blogging is about a person. A lot of blogs have started to feel more like magazines (great content but no personality). I love that YOU still show up here!
Yes, I think a lot of bloggers don’t understand that and it hurts them. Our #1 asset is ourselves. Without the internet, I can STILL teach women. Would be harder, but can be done. The blog is not the #1 asset. It’s just a platform to get our words out there more.
I agree with this entire post! I too have a lifestyle blog. It truly is so enjoyable when you are being yourself. Great post!
What is your lifestyle blog URL Jessica?
I couldn’t agree more with your point about going with a lifestyle blog where you can write about anything. I used to get sooooo hung up on what I should write about, whether subscribers would like it, etc. I thought I had to be super specific. But you totally don’t! It’s actually great to be diverse if you want to make $$$ with sponsored posts. I love that I can write about coffee today and diapers tomorrow and credit repair the next day. Keeps it interesting! 🙂
Yes, exactly! I would get so bored just doing one subject. I’m not a one dimensional person…I don’t want my blog to be either. 🙂
The more I read your posts, the better I feel. I feel inspiration and encouragement. Maybe this is actually possible for me too.
Absolutely! You could make a photography site. 🙂
Oh my goodness, I am so glad I found this post. I have always wanted to be able to talk about many different things but ending up starting a frugal blog. Here recently I have wanted it to be a domain where I can talk about many different things and I have no clue where to start once I decide on the domain. Do you know the right and safe way to do this?
Yep, the first thing I’d do is rebrand your site to your name as the URL, unless your last name is horribly, horribly complicated to remember/spell, and have a lifestyle blog. In the long run, you’ll go further because you can attract a LOT more people. Just have 5-10 posts of each topic you want to branch out to before you start promoting it. Example, if you want to start blogging about recipes, have 5-10 recipes on your site before you promote ANY recipes, so that when they come, they can find more of what they like. 🙂
Thanks so much Sarah. I found and grabbed my domain, just to make sure I have it. I don’t want to loose my readers (hopefully) so I am hoping I do all the necessary steps and get it done right.
You won’t lose readers as long as you get everything set up before you go live. You can put a forward on your site, so all the traffic will just forward over. I’ve helped many other blogs go through this same process and it’s always helped them greatly. 🙂
Thank Sarah. I am working on the new site. My questions is, is that frugaltexasdiva is still live and will be importing all the posts, ect ect to the new one, is that ok because I am concerned about same content on both sites even though it’s temporary since both domains are live. Also, will a wild card redirect, direct all traffic to new site from social media?
Personally, I would set up the new one behind the scenes and not be live yet. Once everything is done that you can do, hire someone to transfer it all over for you. I know a couple people who can do that for you. If you’re interested, just email me and I’ll send you those names. 🙂
I got the new one hidden and my hosting co. is going to move it over, they did it for me when I moved over to them from the start. I am excited and nervous about this move and can’t wait until it’s all done 🙂
That’s great! 🙂
I have been reading your blog for about an hour now. I want to do this but it seems so overwhelming. I am a preschool special ed teacher and I am pretty darn good at it. I pretty much make my own curriculum and it really works for my students. I kind of started a blog but it got pushed by the wayside when I started working a second job. I want to blog but I don’t want to give up my teaching job because, well…I LOVE IT!! Do you think I can do it and work full time? And what do you think about Weebly?
It would depend on what your goals are. If you wanted to make full time income blogging, you really have to put in full time hours, especially at the beginning. Weebly is more for hobby and sales blogs, not money making blogs, so again, just really depends on your goals and what you want to do. 🙂
I agree so much with being yourself when writing a blog. I’m a freshman in college and am obsessed with writing. I decided to start a blog so I could write more for a purpose and publish it right away. [Writing books happens takes a long time 😉 ] I had to learn to just be myself and let my personality show in my writing in my own time. I only wish I would have read this blog post earlier.
Love this advice! I was wondering though, what do you suggest to bloggers who didn’t use their name when they created their blog? Sometimes I wish I could go back in time- originally I wanted to use my name but a family member told me it was boring and I folded. Arg! I LOVE my site name but I’m trying to find a way to weave my name into it- any suggestions?
For yours, I would change it and forward it to your name.
I love to read everything you have given us I am one of many that dream of having a blog I look to your post for direction
Thank you
Thanks Sarah for this amazing post. I loved your last point ie writing holiday content, I have been doing this lately and it certainly brings in lots of traffic. The other thing which I do is to look at what is ‘Popular’ on big sites of my niche.
Really enjoyed reading your blog. It’s down to earth and full of common sense. I have a very full-time job, kids are all grown and moved out, happily married, and am looking forward to retiring in five or six years. I have a very strong interest and desire to start a blog and am really concerned I’ll run out of stuff to write about and be too tired at the end of my day to write. Your blog posts are very encouraging and I plan to read more of them.
That’s great Susan. I’m so glad you like it. 🙂
I love your blog and am hooked. I have just decided to stay at home with my youngest Harry, after taking bad jobs with bad hours to fit around everyone else. I am lucky that I have Graham, my husband who pays most of the bills we share the house and the kids but no relationship. I love being online and I have published an ebook. lol. my first. I have decided to try blogging and will definitely give you praise on my blog as I like your honesty. Still on the setting up stage. But keep up the good work inspiring people. Bye for now.
Jane, so glad you like the blog! It’s great you get to stay home with your youngest. 🙂
I would not classify myself as a writer in any way. Really, English was my worse subject in school but I would love to start a blog. Do you feel this is possible for some one like me? I have many topics I would like to talk about; one being a foster parent and the struggles that comes along with it. I guess my biggest concern is not being able to write well enough to draw people in.
I would say that it’s a learnable skill…we all learn all aspects of blogging as we go. 🙂
Thank you for this post! I have read numerous times that in order to have a successful blog you must stick with mainly one topic. Attempting to follow this advice has really hindered me from developing my blog further. It is such an encouragement to know you have been successful by just “being you” and writing on a variety of topics you are passionate about.
Yeah, I totally hate it when others say that. It’s SOO not true! 🙂 I would get so BORED posting on one thing all the time! lol.
Hello Sarah,
Thank you, Thank you. I have been wanting to start a blog for quite sometime, and have several notebooks full of notes. Mostly they are notes about how to start a blog, what to do, how to pick your niche, etc. I have hesitated because I just couldn’t narrow it down to one topic, and every piece of advice that I have read seems to dwell on that fact. I am passionate about several things and after reading your post I am very excited. I now realize that you can write about more than one topic and still be successful. You have truly “made my day.” Thank you so much again.
God Bless You
Donna Webb
Oh…the dreaded, pick one topic advice. Seriously, bad advice! I’m ranked for authority in 4 different topics on this site by many different platforms. It’s YOUR blog, do what YOU want! lol. 🙂 So glad I could help!
Hi! What planner is that in your top picture?? It’s beautiful!
Bethany, it’s a Spanish planner my friend got me in Columbia. They don’t sell them online, unfortunately. 🙁 It’s really the cutest thing EVER. I wish they did!
Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Finally someone as open as me! I always thought that my blog needs to be focused on just one or two related topics, but guess what? I did it my way anyway and I’ve had no complaints so far! I’m glad I stumbled upon your blog, it really helps me, and motivates me to keep moving forward.
Especially when someone is just starting out, they should absolutely be 100% open on multiple topics, because over time, it’s your audience that decides what you are an expert in. You can always niche down years later once you have that solid foundation (if you want to teach on what they deem you an expert in), but the MOST important thing is to be YOURSELF, and for people like me and you, that’s OPEN! Free spirit, moved by passion, rockin’ it out! 🙂
This is the most real I’ve seen posted by someone who gets it! I’ve been struggling with trying to keep up with other blogs and how they blog and it just isn’t me! I want to share my life and struggles on my blog, and I do, but I feel like I get lost in the blog world with no one really reading my posts. This article made me feel better. Thank you
So glad it made you feel better LaToya. 🙂 Don’t feel pressure to be like others. You are completely unique. Just be YOU! <3
Thank you for this post! I’m finally taking it seriously and planning out launching my blog. I was worried about having too many categories because like you there’s multiple things I really enjoy! I went in search of your blog to find a post to help.
This post gave me the confidence to be myself and let God take care of anything else.
You put it so clearly. I love reading your emails and your posts! You’re so genuine and your blog radiates a peace & calmness to me. Just helps me slow down, relax and give it over to God (again!).
You’re a blessing!
Jessica, thank you for your kind and encouraging words. I’m glad I could be of help to you as well. Congratulations on taking the steps to launch your blog. I’m sure it will be great! <3
Sarah, Just simply want to say thank you! I have not started my blog yet, I am still in the investigation phase 🙂 But, you are such an inspiration.
Janet, thank you for your encouraging, kind words. I’m glad you enjoyed the post.
This is a great post Sarah. Especially the part about writing about different things, because you are so right, everyone tells you to “niche down”, and I agree that there are too many reasons not to! And, thank you for the Holiday Post Ideas Cheatsheet!
Absolutely Kelly. Glad you liked it. Just do your own thing and be you. That’s why people follow bloggers anyway. 🙂
This is really encouraging, Sarah! Thank you! I recently rebranded my site and took all my blog archives down & feel like I’m “starting over” in a way. It feels a bit daunting but also exhilarating. You are a true inspiration in so many ways and I love that you celebrate being multi-passionate. Never stop!! God bless you.
So glad you like it Hillary.
Hey Sarah! You are totally right, I’ve had my blog for about six months and have seriously done nothing major in it. I have been stuck thinking about what to “niche” down on. Thank you for this post 🙂 I’ve started that 5 subject notebook today and already have a few blog post ideas. God bless 🙂
Glad you like it, Virginia. Remember, you don’t have to niche down. I’m not niched 🙂 and I make $2.4 million dollars a year in revenue at this current date. <3 Make your OWN rules. Do your OWN thing. YOU'RE the boss!!!
Thank you for this encouraging and inspiring post.. you make so much sense! Can I ask, what do you recommend for someone who’s name is long or diffcult to spell, or in my case very common and already being used? Would you change surname, choose a different domain extension, or use something else entirely? Thank you for your great content xx
Could you do something like BySarahReed.com? One of my friends, ByDawnNicole.com does that and it works well for her. 🙂
Thank you SO much for this post! I’ve been wanting to start blogging for so long now but keep getting put off/freaked out by having to scale down all my topics in to one “niche.” Your blog has given me the courage and the motivation to “de-niche” and get cracking! Thank you.
Absolutely Vicky. Niching down has always hurt me when I’ve done it, so I don’t recommend it. So glad you have the courage and motivation to move forward. Praying it’s a huge success. <3