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Writing and blogging online was challenging for me. I could write about anything and everything, but nothing would appear on my computer screen for quite some time. Hours and days would pass, but not a single word would emerge. At times, it was writer’s block, but the main issue was that I didn’t know how to blog about something that I felt was meaningful and relevant to my readers, let alone anyone.

I’m not the only one that feels this way. It can be a challenge for bloggers to come up with new blog posts and story ideas. For entrepreneurs, it can also be quite the struggle to write about and promote their business, products, or services.

Not anymore….

I will share with you the methods I use to never worry about what I should blog about ever again. This can be used for any activity related to writing or making a pitch.

1. Use an Editorial Calendar

This is by far the simplest tool I use to determine what type of content to create and when. Editorial calendars are used to define and control the process of content creation, from idea through writing and publication. It helps you focus on what you will be writing, enabling you to produce high-quality, purposeful content. Here’s a free media calendar that I’m using which offers 179 Story Ideas, Dates and Hooks that helps people come up with interesting and timely story ideas, enabling them to become a go-to expert for the media. You'll also discover 100+ notable dates for 2017, as well as story idea prompts for each month, so that you can start planning your content creation and media outreach for the year.

2. Ask Your Audience, Even Strangers

We all have problems, struggles, and frustrations. Being human is hard. Rest assured, there are many people in the world who have similar difficulties. The best part is that there are also people who have overcome them and can provide a solution to fulfill our needs.

Ask your audience, even strangers, “What is the single biggest challenge that you’re struggling with regarding <insert problem>? This could be weight loss, an addiction, productivity, blogging, etc. By understanding their struggles and frustrations, you’ll be able to write more valuable and meaning content.

Ask them where they are getting stuck in the process of achieving their desired goal or result. Get insight into what may be holding them back. For example, I want to cook my meals every day at home instead of eating out, BUT…I don’t have enough time to make the meals because I’m too tired, the meals take too long to cook, or I don’t want to wake up early to make them in advance.

Now that you know what your readers’ problems are and what is getting in their way, you can then brainstorm solutions that you can provide to help them. Perhaps you have knowledge, a skill, a process that you can offer. From the above food example, I could write about quick and easy recipes or how to cook a weekly meal plan in bulk on Sundays. Think about things that come easy to you that other people tend to struggle with. Your experiences in life, your personality, and your perspective are unique to you; therefore, leverage them to create content that helps solve your audiences’ problems.

Lastly, ask them why they want overcome their problem. What benefits will they receive as a result of changing their situation? For example, losing weight or getting into shape is a common challenge. We all have different reasons for WHY we want to do so. Some do it to look more attractive, feel more confident, live a longer and healthier life, etc. Get insight into their motivations and true desires to create content and solutions that are specific and personalized. Your readers will feel like you understand them.

3. Write About a Topic From a Different Perspective

Often times, a topic has been written to death by many people. It may seem discouraging at first because you may feel you have nothing more to add or you’ll sound like another broken record recycling the same old information. However, there many different perspectives you can take on a single topic, which can result in several different pieces of content.

For example, let’s take weight loss. You could provide a case study on someone who lost weight successfully. You could write about the emotional struggles behind losing weight. You could create a plan, procedure, or workout detailing how to work out 3 times a week to lose weight in 30 days. You could describe the psychology and the needed mindset behind shedding the pounds.

Controversial posts are also effective simply because they’re controversial. You could challenge or debate a particular diet or method for losing weight, especially one that everyone is talking about or trying to implement. You could craft a post based on discussions with your readers or even leverage their questions as a follow-up post. You could discuss a particular process to losing weight or simply focus on one step of the process. Lastly, you could do a round up post of other colleagues in your niche, highlighting their opinions and approaches to a particular problem.

These three techniques will enable you to generate more content, enhance the value of your writing, and allow your audience to connect with you on a more personal level. As a result, we'll never have to worry about what to blog about ever again.