When it comes to my websites and getting backlinks to them, I write a lot of articles. Right now I am mostly using Post Runner at Keyword Academy, Build My Rank, and article directories to get most of my backlinks. All of those places require me to write articles and I know at least for me, there are only so many things I can write about “blue widgets.”
Over the past few months since I have gotten really serious about this whole online passive income thing, I have discovered several ways to come up with article ideas and beat that dreaded writer’s block. Here are 3 ways to beat writer’s block and keep knocking out that web content.
1. Check Out Content Websites and Article Directories
If you are having a hard time coming up with new articles for your site or for your backlinking efforts then you may want to check out all the different content websites and article directories for some inspiration. Now, I am not recommending that you take the articles right off the site and copy them, but instead use them for inspiration for your own articles.
Some of the sites that I use for inspiration are:
- EzineArticles.com
- AssociatedContent.com
- eHow.com
- Suite101.com
- GoArticles.com
- LovetoKnow.com
- InfoBarrell.com
There are plenty of other websites that you can check out as well, but the above ones should give you a pretty good selection of slants to take on your articles. For example, if your keyword was “wedding dresses” you would simply search for that keyword on the site and check out the different articles.
If you have a long tail keyword you are looking for or a more obscure keyword you may have to revise your search and get a little creative. For example if my keyword was “pink wedding dresses” I may have to simply search for “wedding dresses” and use a twist on the articles to fit in my keyword of pink wedding dresses. You need to use some creativity and be sure you are not plagiarizing the articles you are using for as inspiration.
2. Check Out Your Local Magazine Racks 
If you are in a niche that has a pretty big commercial market like wedding dresses, you can find plenty of article topics at the magazine racks. You may have to head to a bigger bookstore like Barnes and Nobles rather than your local grocery store if your niche is smaller or more limited when it comes to commercialism. You don’t even have to buy the magazine if you really don’t want to as you can simply flip through the magazine and find plenty of different topics you can start writing about. If you don’t want to get dirty looks from the bookstore workers, then simply pay the few dollars for the magazines and take them home and do your research.
3. Google News
Searching in Google News for your keyword or even just in your general niche can be a good way to beat writer’s block and come up with new articles. I often check out Google News to see what kinds of articles are being posted in the niches I am in. You can use this information for content on your site as well as for the backlink articles to your site.
When I search for “wedding dresses” in Google News I get a return of over 1,200 results. If I can’t find some new articles to write from 1,200 searches then maybe I shouldn’t be in this business!
If you are still having a hard time with writer’s block, check out my post on 25 Different Article Titles to Help You Get Past Writer’s Block. You may find some titles that you haven’t used for your keywords yet to give you a new perspective and get you to beat writer’s block.
Do you have any other resources or ways that you beat writer’s block when either writing content for your site or especially when writing backlink articles?
{ 8 comments… read them below or add one }
It might sound silly, but I like to play games while I’m writing the articles. This could be something like wordcount, especially with the winter challenge going on – I’ll try to get over the next 10,000 mark on wordtracker, or over the next thousand mark for my daily total.
Also, sometimes I like to take a random phrase or word from a book or magazine I’ve read and work it into the article somehow. So I would combine treadmills with clothing storage, or something like that. It works well when you need a different angle to take on the same subject.
I outsource! LOL…really though I actually do when I can’t think anymore or not motivated.
I usually get a lot of inspiration just from reading blogs on the topic that I’m writing on.
Getting away from the computer helps too. Like you said looking at magazines at the local bookstore – that really helps! There’s something about being in a bookstore!
Steph- I can see where playing games would work. Kinda like competing against yourself in your own little game and making money from it
LIsa – Outsourcing is definitely a way to get over writer’s block. Once I start making more money every month I plan on outsourcing a lot more so I don’t have to worry about writer’s block as much. I agree that reading other blogs on your topic can help as well especially if you come across an authority site or blog that can really inspire you.
Tiff! dope post!
You were definitely spot on about using article marketing to build backlinks. Definitely gotta use that Google Keyword Tool as well to check backlinks as well.
A tip that I picked up from pat of the smartpassiveincome blog is this.
Go to amazon and just search for your particular niche in the books section. Lets say it’s for dog training. So you search dog training pick an ebook and then what will happen is amazon will let you take a sneak peak inside the books first chapter as well as the table of contents.
Now you can snoop through all of the table of contents and go more in depth within that niche. So instead of just dog training now you know to target training your dog to sit, or training your dog to catch a frisbee on command.
You’ll find better long tailed keywords and can then search the competition to determine if the niche is worth getting into or if you should move on to the next idea!
Cheers!
I’m always in the kitchen
-Chris Alta
Chris – That’s a pretty good idea about using Amazon. Thanks for the suggestion!
Another simple way I like to write articles if I’m feeling ‘burnt out’ is to just write stories. So something like ‘I was at my cousins house the other day and they had just purchased the ‘extra mega stroller’ for their twin boys and I couldn’t believe the room it had, now I’m not one to gossip but I think that it ..’ I could keep going for ages. Especially easy for 150 word Build My Rank’ers. LOL
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Tracey – That’s a good idea. It makes writing a little more interesting. With something like that a BMR post would only take 3 minutes to write!
Hey Tiff,
just checking back to see how that Amazon tip worked out for you? Find any cool little niches? Let me know!
cheers!
I’m always in the kitchen
-Chris Alta