Good Day Class,
It’s great to be back to the blog and to see you all after my short break.
What a pleasant surprise we have today. Ms. Tess Marshall of The Bold Life, our substitute teacher (guest writer), will not only be sharing fabulous ideas for blog post material, but will be passing out some yummy treats at the end of the lesson.
Without further ado, I will turn the class over to Tess.
Please take your seats.
Ms. Marshall, the floor is yours.
Hello class.
Welcome to summer school!
There is a rumor going around that some of you are in a blogging slump and in need of fresh and dynamic content!
I’m here to remind you of the abundance of stories, news and amazing ideas not only in your life but in our world. And you have access to them all!
Get out your writing tablets and take notes. You won’t want to miss a thing.
This is your opportunity to set your blogs on fire, sizzling with the hottest ideas under the summer sun!
Let’s get started.
Today’s Lesson
21 Resources for Creating Content that’s Hot, Hot Hot!
Inspirational stories
Find little or unknown stories about other bloggers, athletes and everyday heroes. Write about ordinary people who push the limits and beat the odds.
Television or news
I heard about the country of Bhuton on “60 Minutes” a couple of months ago. This country with a population under 700,000, located between India and China measures Gross National Happiness vs. Gross National Product. Interesting, eh?
Use personal photographs.
My camera is always with me so I don’t miss anything interesting or unusual. Adding personal photos builds trust and connection.
Quotes can immediately spark ideas for new content.
Albert Einstein said, “The most appropriate response to life is “Sacred Awe.” What do those words mean to you?
Children view the world as if everything is brand new.
They give everything old new meaning. They aren’t afraid to express themselves. See the world through the eyes of a child.
Friends and family members are always up to something.
Ask your father or cousin to do an interview instead of the latest guru.
Magazines are great resources.
I fly South West and always read their “Spirit” magazine. You too can catch the “spirit” and like them become number one!
Social events, workshops and conferences
Take your camera and be photographed with speakers and other bloggers. Mingle and network. Meanwhile you may catch the next big idea.
Your dreams and hopes for the future
Share your dreams and hopes for your future and the future of your blog.
Music
Attend a concert or symphony. Listen to a choir or Jannie Funster’s new CD!
Be inspired by the words and images that come to mind?
Special events
Write about your favorite birthday, a commencement speaker, a new gadget you received. As you leave an event ask yourself, “What has happened that is blog worthy?”
Photography blogs
Lose yourself and be refreshed and inspired by them.
Read best sellers and note titles of books and chapters.
Ideas are endless at the bookstore. Read the top bloggers in your niche. Expand on their ideas.
Your senses
Experience and enrich your life and your blog by using and becoming aware of your six senses.
Survey your readers to see what they want to know more about.
Invite them to send in questions and answer them in a post.
Interview a blogging buddy.
Choose unique and unusual questions and your interviews will stand out from others.
Use videos of yourself to create deeper connections.
Don’t try to sell anything. Be sincere and share your wisdom.
Talk show hosts
Check out the week’s topics. Is there a way you can connect the hot topics with your niche and readers?
Statistics
Did you know 80% of the people who have lost jobs are men? What can you write, do or talk about to fill the needs of this niche?
Be adventurous.
Learn a new hobby or skill unrelated to your blog. When you keep life interesting you keep your blog interesting.
Oh one more thing, everyone is allowed to wear shorts and flip flops to class tomorrow. We’ll be spending our time outdoors.
Today’s Assignment
What do you do to come up with inspiring content?
What’s the biggest risk you’ve taken with a topic?
What is the topic of your most popular post?
P.S. I brought fresh squeezed lemonade and cookies to share during recess, so until then, raise your hand and share your thoughts.

Tess Marshall is a life coach and author who teaches others how to live a bold, fearless, and meaningful life in the real world as well as on her blog,
The Bold Life. When she’s not sharing knowledge with her clients and/or readers, she can be
found on Twitter and/or passing out copies of her
Flying by the Seat of My Soul ebook (available for free download or for purchase of the paperback)
Photo Credit:
aloshbennett
The reason most people like blogs is because they are interactive.
Comments on blogs is what keeps many bloggers motivated to continue their journey, and it’s often in the comment section where the post topic really “takes off”*.
Like minded people raise their hand, say “Me, too.”, and/or those who disagree have now found a place where they can voice their opinion.
Bloggers are feeling validated and their readers have a safe haven.
All is well in the world of blogging.
Or is it?
Today’s Lesson
Many bloggers are finding that which gave them the greatest joy (comments), now feels like a burden.
Comments and/or commenting has become so time consuming it begins to interfere with a bloggers real life.
Bloggers are spending so much time with comments, little time is left for writing.
With time being one of the greatest issues for bloggers, many start looking for an alternative.
To deal with his readers responses, Steve Pavlina moved the conversations to a forum.
Many bloggers are now closing comments on select posts, whereas others, uncertain what do do, hang a “Closed” sign, leaving their readers confused, disappointed or relieved.
But, what happens to those readers whose comments we once cherished?
How do they feel when the conversation stops?
Today’s Assignment
When you read a blog post and find the comment section closed, what’s your first response?
If you see the comments are closed, do you read the post, or just leave?
Do you ever close comments on your blog? If so, why?
Would you continue to read a blog if the comments were permanently closed?
*For great examples of how a comment section can “take off”, check out:
Blogger Dad’s post titled,To Spank Or Not To Spank.
Hunter Nuttall’s post, 10 Reasons Japan Is Better Than America which he followed up with 10 Reasons America Is Better Than Japan
Or, Ask Liz Strauss – How do You Inspire Your Readers To Join Your Community