Blog Post
Idea Sources
  Recycle past content
    Gather 4-5 posts w/ common theme, new intro.
    Update an old post for new ideas/findings
    Create a huge list of your best posts
    Combine some of your best posts from your archives into a new series
    Make a best of post with several articles from your blog on a given subject
    If you write a blog post which does very well, write a sequel
  NEW
    Create an infographic
    Crowdsource an article
    Let customers tell their stories
    Imagine the future
    Imagine how a product/service could be improved
  Build community
    Ask your readers to ask you questions
    Answer a question from your readers
      Do you have a feedback form on your blog
      Consider creating a Facebook page where they can ask questions
    Review the sites of other bloggers in your niche who are doing notable work
    Ask 10 of the top experts in your niche to give their opinions on an issue
    Ask a question of your readers and have them answer it in the comments
    Ask your loyal readers to email you links to their best resources
    Ask your network to participate in creating an e-book - ask them to contribute articles
    Ask your network of bloggers for a tip to include in a post
  Be useful
    The basics
      Write posts that cover the basics
      Create a series of posts around a broad topic
      Create a comprehensive guide for your niche
    Create lists (very popular!)
      Create a list of the best people in your niche to follow on Twitter
      Write a helpful checklist focused on a common need
      Collect tips on Twitter related to your niche and publish a list of bite-sized tips
      Compile a comprehensive list of resources your audience will find valuable
      Do a "speedlinking" post (links to recent news about your topic, for example)
      Post about frequently asked questions in your niche
      Collect interesting links, roll them up into a post
      Create a list of great quotes related to your niche
    Reveal something to your readers
      Write about how to do something more efficiently in your niche
      Debunk a myth in your post
      Post an “advantages/disadvantages” post
      Write about generally unknown secrets in your niche
      Write about how to use a product in an unconventional way
      Make a post about pitfalls in your niche
      Write a post that pinpoints similarities and differences
      Write a post by examining the pros and cons of an issue
      Write a tutorial
      Write a post about a hack for your niche
      Create a chart that breaks down a complicated issue in your niche
      Publish a list of money-saving tips for your niche
      Write a Do’s and Don’ts post
      Write a post on the top mistakes people make in your niche & how to avoid them
    Help your readers
      Ask readers what problems they face, info they need
      Think of a specific type of person in your blog audience and a problem they have - write a post focusing on it
      Write something that makes those who read it smarter
      Write something that taps into a fear people have
      Write something that helps people achieve
      Write something that interprets or translates news for your readers
      Write something inspirational
      Write something that tells a story
      Write something that solves a problem
      Write something that saves people time or money
      Make a post simplifying a complex problem for your readers
    Write reviews
      Write a review of a book in your niche that would be helpful to your readers
      Write a review on a product in your niche that you've used, tried, etc.
  Other viewpoints
    Accept guest posts from others in your niche
    Contrast two or more positions in a post
    Add to a list started by another blogger
    Make a post that expands on someone else’s post
    Post a link to a helpful article, interview, etc... and give your thoughts on it
  Extend the conversation
started by other bloggers
    Explain how an issue affects you/your readers
    Research, aggregate what others have said
    Summarize, then cover points they missed
    Explore future implications of new tech./development
    Add to a list of ideas
    Take the opposite viewpoint
    Play devil's advocate
    Ask "what if?" questions about a new development
    Don't contribute to the "echo chamber" in the blogosphere!
  Find inspiration
    Amazon.com
    Review your statistics to see what keywords referred visitors to you
    Ezinearticles.com
    Subscribe to other blogs in your niche
    WordTracker free keyword suggestion tool
    Delicious - popular posts
    Set up Google Alerts - on keywords/concepts
    Google’s Wonder Wheel tool - related keywords/concepts
    StumbleUpon - what's popular?
    Technorati - what's popular?
    Squidoo lenses on your niche
    Ask.com - topics related to your niche
    Answers on Linkedin - topics related to your niche
    Search Alltop.com for pages related to your topic; monitor them
    Forums on your topic
  Attention getters
    Create a top ten list
      Books
      Blogs
      Tips
    Make a “101 ideas" post
    Make a post alleging a conspiracy
    Create a post that has a cliff hanger to be answered in a later post
    Hold a contest
    Write a manifesto
    Get personal - Write about something that’s going on in your life - instructive for your readers
  Research
    Post your research findings
    Run a poll and post the results of that poll
    Create a survey asking readers what they would like to know more about
    Create a survey focused on important topics/trends in your niche; report the findings
    Conduct an experiment and report on it
    Trends
      Create a prediction of where your niche is going to be in the next 5/10/15 years
      Make a post about how things have changed from the past
      Post about what’s popular and why it’s beneficial
  Multimedia
    Record a video at YouTube on a very focused topic
    Post a helpful YouTube video directly on your blog (not necessarily one you created - but useful to your audience)
    Create a video tutorial
    Create a video product review
  Chuck Frey
Mind Mapping Software Blog
http://mindmappingsoftwareblog.com
http://twitter.com/chuckfrey