Are you interested in blogging for your service-based business but stuck on what to blog about? I’ve been blogging for nearly 2 years now and blogging has grown my business exponentially (with the power of SEO and Pinterest). But, how do you discover what to blog about? In this blog post, I’m sharing how to create content ideas so you never run out of blog post ideas.

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How to create an editorial calendar full of blog post ideas

Blogging is not dead! In fact, I’d argue that blogging is more alive than ever. When is the last time you used Google to search for an idea or to make a purchase? Maybe you found this post through a Google search. The truth is, blogging allows you to develop a powerful marketing plan that drives traffic to your website via SEO and Pinterest.

But, blogging is like exercise. It takes time to cultivate your writing habit AND to get traffic back to your website. I like to have a list full of ideas so that I never have to say, “what do I blog about?”

6 Content Baskets

Maybe you’ve heard of the expression of ‘content buckets’ (since I work in the design industry, I’m picturing those beautiful woven french baskets!) A few of my copywriting and business friends recommend having 6 different content baskets to create content from. These content ideas can be used on social media (think Instagram stories and posts), videos (YouTube and IGTV), and simple blog posts, too.

My content baskets aren’t always related to Pinterest. I primarily teach on Pinterest marketing, but in a noisy world full of marketers, it’s important to connect with your audience beyond what you do. You need to share WHY you do what you do.

“People don’t buy what you do; they buy why you do it.” – Start With Why, Simon Sinek

Here’s an example of my content baskets:

1. Pinterest Marketing Tips (this is a gimme)
2. Productivity Tips
3. Mamapreneur Tips (I’m a homeschooling mama to 3 small children so this is a huge part of my life)
4. Traveling
5. Minimalism and Simple Living

What has surprised me the most about my content baskets (especially on Instagram), is my audience LOVES to hear me share about mamapreneur tips and traveling with kids. We used to live internationally and this last year, we lived nomadically so I’ve learned a few tricks. 😉

Sharing these tips allows me to connect with my audience. They know that I love Pinterest not just because it’s a unique and powerful app for traffic-generation, but they know that I love that Pinterest is efficient, automated, and allows me to get back to the things I love in my life (my family and hobbies). I’ve shared my WHY and I teach others to use Pinterest to market their business in that way, too.

I can use this list when I’m stuck for content ideas. For example, I can share how I use my daily planner to prepare for the week. I can obviously share video tutorials using Pinterest. My audience likes to hear how I work from home with the kids.

What are your 6 content baskets?

Grab a pen and paper and write down your main niche. For you, that might be what you are (or want to be) known for. You will definitely need content to establish yourself as an expert so I do recommend writing a lot of your blog posts about this.

Next, try to list out as many things that you are most interested in (and your audience may be too!). For example, do you enjoy cooking? How do you like to relax? Are you a military wife? Do you love backpacking and camping? Try to list out what makes you, you! List things that you are uniquely skilled in too that others might want to learn from you.

Never run out of blog post ideas

Now take that list and try to condense it into 6 categories, especially where those topics overlap. Keep your content baskets in a column on a Google spreadsheet and try to list 5 blog post ideas (remember to focus on your ‘expertise’) for each category. When an idea pops into your head during an inopportune time, you always have a parking lot to drop the blog post idea so you idea doesn’t get lost.

Connecting with your audience, especially with informal apps like Instagram and Snapchat, and sharing these ideas will give you confidence because you will attract people who are uniquely interested in you! Just today I was walking through the airport and saw a huge pack of gummy bears— which instantly reminded me of an entrepreneur who is always sharing her gummy bear snacks while working. It oddly works!

Once you write those blog posts, you can repurpose those ideas across other platforms. Make a mini IG story about your blog post. Share the blog post points in a YouTube video, and so on! Repurpose those posts and share them on Pinterest.

There are so many ways to use who you are and inject your personality into your brand! If, like me, you are feeling insecure about sharing more about yourself, picture your audience as one sweet friend who always has an ear to listen to your ideas and do.it.scared.

Do you have a good idea of what your content baskets are? Share with me in the comments!

Did you come for the Pinterest tips?

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