How to Come Up with Blog Post Ideas (That Aren't Boring)

You know you need to publish regularly. You sit down to write. And you realize: you have no idea what to write about.

Learning how to come up with blog post ideas reliably solves one of the biggest blockers to consistent content. The goal isn't just ideas - it's ideas worth writing, ideas your audience wants to read.

Why idea generation feels hard

Before fixing the problem, understand why it exists.

You're thinking too abstractly

"I need a blog post idea" is vague. Your brain doesn't know where to start.

Specific prompts generate specific ideas. "What question do my customers ask repeatedly?" produces usable answers.

You're filtering too early

Many people reject ideas before developing them. "That's been done before." "That's too simple." "I don't have enough to say."

This premature filtering kills ideas before you can evaluate them properly. Generate first, filter later.

You're not capturing ideas when they come

Ideas appear at random moments - in the shower, during meetings, while reading. If you don't capture them, they disappear.

How to come up with blog post ideas systematically

These methods reliably produce usable ideas.

Start with questions you get asked

What do customers, clients, or readers ask you? Each question is a potential blog post.

If someone asks, others wonder the same thing. Your answers already exist in your head - you just need to write them down.

Make a list of every question you remember receiving. That's your first batch of ideas.

Mine your own experience

What have you learned from your work? What mistakes taught you something? What surprised you?

Experience-based content is inherently unique. Nobody else has your specific experiences.

Ideas from experience:

• Lessons from a project that went wrong
• Counterintuitive discoveries from your field
• Processes you've developed and refined
• Problems you solved in interesting ways

Check what's being searched

Use keyword tools to see what people search for in your topic area. Each search query represents genuine interest.

Look for questions (how to, what is, why does) and problems (fix, solve, overcome). These signal content people want.

Study competitors

What are others in your space writing about? You don't want to copy, but you can:

• Cover the same topics better
• Address angles they missed
• Update outdated information
• Disagree with their conclusions

Competitor analysis reveals proven topics with established demand. Study what's working in search results.

Follow industry conversations

Where does your audience discuss your topic? Forums, social media, communities, comments sections.

Watch for recurring themes, frustrations, debates, and questions. These conversations reveal what people care about.

Use topic frameworks

When stuck, apply these frameworks to your core topic:

• How to [achieve something]: Process posts
• Why [something happens]: Explanation posts
• [Number] ways to [do something]: List posts
• The mistake that [causes problem]: Warning posts
• What I learned from [experience]: Story posts
• [Thing] vs. [Other thing]: Comparison posts

Apply each framework to generate variations quickly.

Capturing and organizing ideas

Ideas are useless if you can't find them later.

Keep an idea backlog

Maintain a simple document or database of every idea. Don't judge them when adding - just capture.

When you need to write, browse the backlog instead of generating from scratch.

Add context when capturing

A title alone often isn't enough. When you capture an idea, add:

• Why this seems interesting
• Key points you'd cover
• The audience or angle

Future-you will thank present-you for the context.

Review and prune regularly

Periodically review your backlog. Some ideas become irrelevant. Others become more urgent. Prune dead ideas and prioritize promising ones.

Filtering to find winners

Not every idea is worth writing. Apply these filters:

Does it serve your audience?

Would your target readers find this useful, interesting, or valuable? Ideas that serve you but not them aren't worth pursuing.

Can you add something unique?

Is there a perspective, experience, or angle only you can bring? If you're just summarizing what's already written, reconsider.

Does it support your goals?

Does this idea help build topical authority, target a valuable keyword, or serve your business objectives?

Can you actually write it?

Do you have enough knowledge or research access to do this topic justice? Ideas beyond your capability become frustrating projects.

Preventing idea drought

Build habits that keep ideas flowing.

Consume widely

Read, listen to podcasts, attend events. Consumption sparks ideas. Inspiration comes from exposure to other thinking.

Take notes constantly

Capture thoughts as they occur. Phone notes, voice memos, paper - whatever works. The capture habit prevents losing good ideas.

Schedule ideation time

Don't wait until you need ideas to generate them. Schedule regular time specifically for brainstorming. Fill your backlog before it empties.

For more on content planning, see our guides on building a content calendar, choosing the right keywords, and publishing consistently.

Idea generation isn't mysterious talent. It's systematic practice using content briefs and organized backlogs. Build the habits, and you'll never run out of things to write about.