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There are a few "training wheels" bloggers use to help them generate quick and easy ideas, but be sure to avoid them - or don't use them too often.
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So just like when we were kids and we got
0:00
on a bike for the first time, we had
training wheels.
0:02
So there's some training wheels I want
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to give you for content creation and
blogging.
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My hope, is that you will outgrow these as
quickly
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as possible, but I want to get you started
with them.
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So, as you're looking for things to
create, things
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that you can keep in mind for your blog
post.
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First and foremost are lists.
Everybody loves lists.
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The top
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ten ways to whatever.
The five best ways to do this.
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People love that sort of content.
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So you can always start there if you're
stuck with something to do.
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Another great tactic is something David
Meerman Scott calls news jacking.
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When you get up in the morning, is there
any
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topic that you saw that you could write a
post about.
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Something that's current events, something
that's pop culture,
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something that's going on that people are
gonna
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be talking about online today.
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Is there a way that you can news jack that
and write a post about it?
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Just keep in mind, be good.
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I've seen people news jack topics that
were, should never have been touched
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before, so just think of things that are
relevant to you and your audience.
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A final bit of training wheels that always
works
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is to link to other people who have
audiences.
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They call this link-baiting when it's done
inappropriately,
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but it can be used in a very effective
manner.
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Did you read something from somebody that
you didn't agree with, or maybe you were
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so touched by a piece of content by
somebody else that you wanna share it?
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Just make sure when you do this that you
link back to
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the person, use the person's name, link to
the original post, always.
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Do not copy the post.
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But sharing your opinion about that person
and linking to them,
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more often than not, especially if they
have a large audience,
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is gonna get their attention.
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Why this works is, perhaps they then tweet
it out.
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Perhaps they share it on Facebook and say,
hey, look at
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this person over here, what they had to
say about me.
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It only works a couple of times.
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If that's all you're doing is using these
training wheels for
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your content, people are gonna get sick of
it very, very quickly.
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But they're great ways to get you going
when you're starting out or
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on those days when you are just not
inspired enough to create something new.
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All
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I ask is please, use them only as long as
you need and then get off them.
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