Stuck for your next blog topic? Here are a few ideas to get you started
Are you struggling with finding ways to really connect with your audience and engage them in what's going on in your organization? Why not give blogging a shot! Blogging can be a great way to share information on your organization, show your impact, keep your audience in the loop and build a stronger connection with your audience.
We will be the first to preach the benefits of keeping your blog regularly updated. Not only does it show your audience that you are active and effective in your community, but it also keeps your organization at the front of your audience’s mind while positioning yourself as a reliable source. (And as an added bonus, it gives you regular content to also post on your social media channels.)
But, whether you’ve been writing blogs for years or just got into the game, we also recognize that coming up with blog topics can be quite tricky because you’re trying to find the perfect mix between what your readers want to read and what will increase your engagement. So, whether you’re super busy and looking to come up with topics quickly or hit a wall and are struggling to come up with new topics, these are the perfect suggestions for you.
Stick to what you know. While you may feel like you need to continually come up with unique topics, there’s actually no need to constantly reinvent the wheel. Sometimes you can resort to sharing the information you already know (but your readers may not). This is the easiest place to start, whether that’s an in-depth explanation of one of your programs or answering frequently asked questions about your organization. This is often what we do on our blog; what might come naturally to us (like how to shake writer's block or blog topics to fall back on) may be new information for our readers.
Create a days of significance document. One of the twenty-first century’s most notable acts has been the number of days we recognize, celebrate or fight against. However, what also comes with such significant days is having to narrow down and specify what days are especially relevant to your organization. So, why not take a day or two to research the significant days you want to honour and create a calendar? That way, you have a readily accessible document with all your significant days to pull from and blog ideas ready. (For example, the International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia could be an opportunity to write about the history of the day, what your organization does to advocate for this cause and/or what readers can do to further educate themselves.)
Write about significant contributors. Whether someone makes a sizable monetary contribution or has been a consistent volunteer for the past 10 years, it is important to recognize those who benefit the lives of others. So, consider writing about how their contribution has impacted your non-profit; perhaps it’ll inspire others to do the same.
Write about something significant happening within the organization. Whether big or small, writing about internal news can be a great way to promote your organization. From the announcement of a new team member to renovation details, any news is important news and a great way to keep in touch with your audience. People read and follow your blogs because they care, so never underestimate the power of writing a story; you never know whose hands it can end up in.
Invite guest bloggers. Switching writers from time to time can be a great way to attract new eyes. Whether the blog is from your founder, executive director, or even a volunteer, their writing style, topic, or even word choice can be a great way to bring in a different perspective to the same topic and increase your engagement.
Here's one final thought: Regularly writing and publishing blogs is easiest when you plan ahead. So, consider creating a calendar while using some of these ideas for inspiration so that you always know ahead of time what you're going to write about.