The “Blogging When” is nearly a mute point without the “Blogging What.”

I took many creative writing classes in college. At least one class per semester would be devoted strictly to the “writer’s block” phenomenon that is all too common. We have all been there before, are here too often now and will likely be there at some point in the future. It’s a frustrating place to find yourself when all you want to do is get your post in and create value for someone else. What it comes down to is, if you were reading your Blog, what would you want to read? What would you find useful? How could someone spin current content to make it relevant? Or what content could you create to make relevant?

Before you scream and shout (or worse yet) throw away your “Blogging Days,” here are 51 Things to Blog About. Just try it, you might be pleasantly surprised! (Keep in mind that even though I have broken these up into the “Professional” and “Personal” Blogs, many of them could toggle and be used for both. Really – the sky is the limit!)

The “Professional Blog”

• Top new trends in your industry.
• Take an industry article and respond to/comment on it.
• Tools, tips and tricks for your industry.
• Insider vocabulary, terms and meanings.
• “How To….”
• The best marketing tips for your industry.
• Interview an Industry Expert. Blog about him/her.
• A Blog Post completely unrelated to your industry (but don’t do too often).
• How your industry is similar to your favorite TV show.
• Make a Top “X” List (or any relevant list).
• Review an industry-related product.
• Attend an industry event. Blog about it.
• Make a list of your favorite industry resources.
• Create an industry-related infograph. People love visuals!
• Do a business-article review.
• Tell about what is happening in your company.
• How your company has adjusted to the current economic conditions.
• How your company is “digitally” current.
• Ways to increase earnings in your industry.
• Choose a “theme” and write about a topic within that “theme” each (Ex. Wednesday) of the week.
• Discuss current business and/or industry events.
• Show some personality through pictures or video from a team/company event.
• Analyze an industry case study.
• Talk about what not to do in your industry.
• Comment on “industry controversy.”
• Conduct a Poll. Blog on results.
• Find humor in your industry via photo/video/article and share it.
• Host an industry-specific meetup and blog about it.

The “Personal Blog”

• Show your expertise on a topic you love – perhaps through a “product/service” review.
• Showcase events through picture or video.
• Discuss daily routines and shortcuts someone else may benefit from.
• Showcase locals.
• Showcase local business. Put a “fresh and new” spin on their products/services.
• Take an everyday occurrence and write about it.
• “How to….”
• Make list(s). “Top 4 things that get me out of bed everyday.”
• Your view on a music genre of choice.
• Commentary on current events.
• Find great local deals and local shopping and share the knowledge.
• Read a book. Review it. Explain how the book is like a Blog Post.
• Do an activity you’ve never done and blog about it.
• Find a series of quotes or inspiration and post them.
• Give a “social” Happy Birthday to someone far away.
• Rewrite an old post. Update it. Comment on it. Take a fresh perspective on it.
• Use StumbleUpon, Digg or delicious to find any topic you/your audience will find interesting and write about it/comment on it.
• Give 37 reasons why someone should follow your blog.
• Ask a question. Blog post followup on the answers/comments.
• Rant. Or Rave Post.
• Blog about your favorite Follow Friday person (on Fridays).
• Create a Blog devoted to one subject and one subject only. Write posts only about that subject. Be a “true” personal “expert.”
• Discuss different food and restaurants.