7 Steps of Blog Creation and Ideation

So much can be found online regarding the steps to creating a blog. 

“Step 1:  choose a platform.  Step 2:  select a domain…”.  These kinds of set-up steps can be a challenge for a beginner, but winning at online marketing requires a development of practice that goes far beyond these simple steps. 

In fact, the number one variable of a successful blog is consistent content. 

The number one barrier to consistent content is time!

The more content one writes, the more difficult it becomes to think of topics to write about. 

That’s where Content Savants focuses its services, in the development and ideation of new, unique, innovative and creative content development.

How do we do it? 

We’re happy to share our “secrets”.  The real secret isn’t in the process, but in the development of the skill in getting good at it. 

But don’t tell anyone!

In the expansive realm of the internet, blogging remains a powerful tool for individuals and businesses alike to share their thoughts, expertise, and insights with the world. However, with millions of blogs vying for attention, the challenge lies not just in creating content, but in crafting content that stands out amidst the noise. This is where effective blog ideation and creation come into play. By following a systematic approach, bloggers can ensure their content resonates with their audience and achieves their desired objectives. Here are seven essential steps to master the art of blog ideation and creation.

Understand Your Audience:

Before brainstorming blog ideas, it’s crucial to have a deep understanding of your target audience. Who are they? What are their interests, pain points, and preferences? Conducting audience research through surveys, social media analytics, or even direct engagement can provide valuable insights into what topics resonate with your audience. By understanding their needs, you can tailor your content to address their specific concerns, thereby increasing engagement and loyalty.

Conduct Keyword Research:

Keyword research is a fundamental aspect of blog ideation, particularly for improving search engine visibility. Tools like Google Keyword Planner, SEMrush, or Ahrefs can help identify relevant keywords and phrases that align with your blog’s niche. By incorporating these keywords naturally into your content, you can enhance its visibility and attract organic traffic from search engines. Additionally, keyword research can inspire new blog ideas by uncovering topics that are trending or have high search volume but low competition.

Brainstorm Engaging Topics:

With a solid understanding of your audience and relevant keywords, it’s time to brainstorm compelling blog topics. Consider the pain points, challenges, or questions your audience may have and brainstorm ideas that offer valuable insights or solutions. Additionally, look for emerging trends, industry news, or personal experiences that can serve as inspiration for your content. Aim for topics that are not only relevant to your audience but also have the potential to spark curiosity and generate discussion.

Create an Editorial Calendar:

An editorial calendar is a roadmap that guides your blog content creation process. By planning your content in advance, you can ensure a consistent publishing schedule and maintain momentum in your blogging efforts. Start by outlining your blog topics, assigning publication dates, and identifying any supporting resources or research needed for each post. An editorial calendar not only helps you stay organized but also allows for strategic planning around key events, holidays, or product launches relevant to your audience.

Craft Compelling Headlines:

The headline is often the first impression your blog post makes on potential readers, making it crucial for capturing attention and enticing clicks. A compelling headline should be concise, descriptive, and arouse curiosity while accurately reflecting the content of the post. Experiment with different headline formulas, such as lists, how-tos, questions, or intriguing statements, to see what resonates best with your audience. Tools like CoSchedule’s Headline Analyzer or BuzzSumo’s Headline Generator can provide valuable insights and suggestions for optimizing your headlines.

Write Engaging Content:

Once you have a captivating headline, it’s time to deliver on the promise with high-quality content. Start by structuring your blog post with a clear introduction, body, and conclusion. Use subheadings, bullet points, and visuals to break up large blocks of text and improve readability. Incorporate storytelling, anecdotes, or real-life examples to make your content relatable and engaging. Additionally, include relevant images, infographics, or multimedia elements to enhance the overall presentation of your post.

Optimize for SEO and Shareability:

Finally, ensure your blog post is optimized for both search engines and social sharing. Incorporate relevant keywords naturally throughout the content, including in the title, headings, meta description, and alt tags for images. Use internal and external links to provide additional context and credibility to your content. Additionally, make it easy for readers to share your post by including social media sharing buttons and encouraging them to engage with your content through comments, likes, or shares. By optimizing for SEO and shareability, you can extend the reach of your blog and attract a wider audience. In conclusion, mastering the art of blog ideation and creation requires a strategic approach that combines audience understanding, keyword research, creative brainstorming, and effective content execution. By following these seven steps, bloggers can not only generate compelling ideas but also craft content that resonates with their audience, drives engagement, and achieves their blogging goals. Remember, consistency and experimentation are key to refining your blogging skills and ultimately building a loyal readership.

Apply These Steps for Your HIGHEST CHANCES of Social Media Success

Building an online business is challenging, but it also can be very rewarding. To move from “challenging” to “rewarding” will require more than just creative energy and persistent development, but also overcoming problems.

Here are some tips on how to overcome problems in building an online business:

  • Identify your niche: It is important to choose a niche that you are passionate about and that has a viable market. Once you have chosen your niche, you can start to develop a deep understanding of your target audience and their needs.
  • Create a strong brand: Your brand is what will set you apart from your competitors. Develop a strong brand identity that reflects your unique values and offerings.
  • Build a website: Your website is your online storefront, so it is important to make a good first impression. Make sure your website is well-designed, easy to navigate, and mobile-friendly.
  • Drive traffic to your website: There are many ways to drive traffic to your website, such as search engine optimization (SEO), social media marketing, and paid advertising. Experiment with different marketing channels to see what works best for your business.
  • Provide excellent customer service: Customer service is essential for any business, but it is especially important for online businesses. Make sure you are responsive to customer inquiries and that you go the extra mile to make your customers happy.

What about when problems arise?  Here are three typical challenges that content owners meet when trying to expand their online audience and accompanying sales. 

  • Lack of traffic: If you are not getting enough traffic to your website, there are a few things you can do. First, make sure your SEO is up-to-date. You can also try running paid ads on search engines and social media. Additionally, make sure you are creating high-quality content that is relevant to your target audience and that you are promoting your content on social media and other online channels.
  • Low conversion rates: If your website visitors are not converting into customers, there are a few things you can do. First, make sure your website is easy to navigate and that it is clear what you are selling. You can also try offering discounts and promotions, and you can make it easier for customers to checkout by offering multiple payment options. Additionally, you can use A/B testing to experiment with different website elements to see what improves your conversion rates.
  • Negative customer reviews: If you receive negative customer reviews, it is important to respond to them promptly and professionally. Apologize for the customer’s experience and explain what you are doing to address the issue. You can also offer the customer a refund or compensation. Additionally, you can use customer reviews to improve your products and services.

Building an online business is not easy, but it is possible to overcome the challenges and achieve success.

  • Looking at the great wealth of knowledge and experience that has come before us, there are a few things work highlighting when it comes to successful online businesses.  Successful online businesses have a number of things in common, including the following:
  • A strong customer focus: Successful online businesses are obsessed with their customers. They understand their needs and wants, and they go the extra mile to provide them with a great experience.  A strong customer focus naturally lends itself to excellent customer service. Successful online businesses make it easy for customers to get help and support when they need it.
  • High-quality products and services: Successful online businesses offer high-quality products and services that meet or exceed customer expectations. They are also constantly innovating and improving their offerings.
  • A user-friendly website: A user-friendly website is essential.
  • Effective marketing: Successful online businesses use a variety of marketing channels to reach their target audience. They also track their results and make adjustments as needed.

In addition to these common traits, more advanced, high-volume online businesses have a few additional traits which helped them grow from a small business to a large one. 

  • A strong brand: A strong brand is what sets a business apart from its competitors. Successful online businesses have a clear and consistent brand identity that reflects their unique values and offerings.  A strong brand is developed over time through consistent practice to the principles described above.
  • A passionate team: A passionate team is essential for any business, but it is especially important for online businesses. Successful online businesses have teams of people who are passionate about the business and who are committed to providing customers with a great experience.
  • A willingness to adapt: The online business landscape is constantly changing, so successful online businesses are willing to adapt their strategies and offerings as needed. They are also not afraid to take risks and try new things.

If you are thinking about starting an online business, it is important to keep these things in mind. By focusing on your customers, offering high-quality products and services, and building a strong brand, you can increase your chances of success.

Apply These Steps for Your HIGHEST CHANCES of Social Media Success

Building an online business is a challenging, but with time, patience, persistence and a little bit of social media know-how, the the results can be very rewarding.

Here are some tips on how to overcome problems in building an online business:

  • Identify your niche: It is important to choose a niche that you are passionate about and that has a viable market. Once you have chosen your niche, you can start to develop a deep understanding of your target audience and their needs.
  • Create a strong brand: Your brand is what will set you apart from your competitors. Develop a strong brand identity that reflects your unique values and offerings.
  • Build a website: Your website is your online storefront, so it is important to make a good first impression. Make sure your website is well-designed, easy to navigate, and mobile-friendly.
  • Drive traffic to your website: There are many ways to drive traffic to your website, such as search engine optimization (SEO), social media marketing, and paid advertising. Experiment with different marketing channels to see what works best for your business.
  • Provide excellent customer service: Customer service is essential for any business, but it is especially important for online businesses. Make sure you are responsive to customer inquiries and that you go the extra mile to make your customers happy.

What about when problems arise?  Here are three typical challenges that content owners meet when trying to expand their online audience and accompanying sales. 

  • Lack of traffic: If you are not getting enough traffic to your website, there are a few things you can do. First, make sure your SEO is up-to-date. You can also try running paid ads on search engines and social media. Additionally, make sure you are creating high-quality content that is relevant to your target audience and that you are promoting your content on social media and other online channels.
  • Low conversion rates: If your website visitors are not converting into customers, there are a few things you can do. First, make sure your website is easy to navigate and that it is clear what you are selling. You can also try offering discounts and promotions, and you can make it easier for customers to checkout by offering multiple payment options. Additionally, you can use A/B testing to experiment with different website elements to see what improves your conversion rates.
  • Negative customer reviews: If you receive negative customer reviews, it is important to respond to them promptly and professionally. Apologize for the customer’s experience and explain what you are doing to address the issue. You can also offer the customer a refund or compensation. Additionally, you can use customer reviews to improve your products and services.

Building an online business is not easy, but it is possible to overcome the challenges and achieve success.

  • Looking at the great wealth of knowledge and experience that has come before us, there are a few things work highlighting when it comes to successful online businesses.  Successful online businesses have a number of things in common, including the following:
  • A strong customer focus: Successful online businesses are obsessed with their customers. They understand their needs and wants, and they go the extra mile to provide them with a great experience.  A strong customer focus naturally lends itself to excellent customer service. Successful online businesses make it easy for customers to get help and support when they need it.
  • High-quality products and services: Successful online businesses offer high-quality products and services that meet or exceed customer expectations. They are also constantly innovating and improving their offerings.
  • A user-friendly website: A user-friendly website is essential.
  • Effective marketing: Successful online businesses use a variety of marketing channels to reach their target audience. They also track their results and make adjustments as needed.

In addition to these common traits, more advanced, high-volume online businesses have a few additional traits which helped them grow from a small business to a large one. 

  • A strong brand: A strong brand is what sets a business apart from its competitors. Successful online businesses have a clear and consistent brand identity that reflects their unique values and offerings.  A strong brand is developed over time through consistent practice to the principles described above.
  • A passionate team: A passionate team is essential for any business, but it is especially important for online businesses. Successful online businesses have teams of people who are passionate about the business and who are committed to providing customers with a great experience.
  • A willingness to adapt: The online business landscape is constantly changing, so successful online businesses are willing to adapt their strategies and offerings as needed. They are also not afraid to take risks and try new things.

If you are thinking about starting an online business, it is important to keep these things in mind. By focusing on your customers, offering high-quality products and services, and building a strong brand, you can increase your chances of success.

POOR-ME:  Problems, Obstacles, Obstructions, Roadblocks – Mitigate Externalities

The number one challenge that social media marketers must overcome – and this is true for any business or pursuit – is getting over the hurdles.  Far too many business owners or entrepreneurs will continually remind themselves of the importance of online marketing, developing content and expanding their audience, but things come up along the way that distracts us from the goal. 

These distractions can be little things or big things, or things which seem ever-so-real at the time, but whatever their nature, there will always be something that disrupts the momentum and stops progress.  These game-stoppers can be summed up as problems, obstacles, obstructions and roadblocks. 

More than just the danger of these POOR circumstances arising is the greatest killer of all, the “poor me” mentality.  That’s the thought that gets into our heads which tells us that the reason we are not achieving our goals is due to other factors, factors which are beyond our control.  We love to remind ourselves that if it wasn’t for these POOR factors, we would be kickin’ along towards success, with nothing to stop us. 

This article is a reminder, to anyone who has ever accomplished anything (which is literally everybody), that there will always be some disruption in our pursuits of success.  We know this, and if we’re lucky, the disruptions will be minor.  Sometimes they are major.  The worst thing someone can do is sit back and say “poor me”. 

So we’re turning this mindset around, flipping it upside down, and putting the mnemonic to work – when the “poor me” thought pops up, then remember POOR-ME.  What’s the “ME”?  That is Mitigate Externalities.  In other words, these things that are outside our control must be mitigated.  We cannot control them, but we can make every effort to mitigate their impact on our success.

And when it comes to getting over the poblems, obstacles, obstructions and roadblocks, who is the best person to handle them?  Of course!  ME!

To summarize, these are three things we know in life which have 100% certainty:

  1. POOR situations will always arise.
  2. They are ever-present and will never disappear. 
  3. They can only be surpassed by ME.

The only way to get around the “poor me” mentality is to recognize those three truths about POOR situations, and for “me” to devise a plan to surmount the challenges.