Generating great blog content on a regular basis is no easy task. That’s why a lot of agencies hire freelancers or marketing agencies to handle the job for them. But you can do it yourself — all it takes is some time and planning.
The key is to have an editorial calendar — a monthly “map” with a list of topics that can be written ahead of time, so you can stay on top of your publishing schedule.
In part two of this three-part series, we gave you four tips for a successful insurance blog. Here are five simple ways to make sure you don’t run out of ideas.
1. READ OTHER INSURANCE BLOGS
There’s nothing wrong with doing a little reconnaissance work to see how your competitors are doing — and while you’re there, check out what they’re blogging about. You don’t want to steal ideas word-for-word, but it’s perfectly fine to take an idea and make it your own, tailoring it to your own customers’ needs.
2. LOOK TO THE CALENDAR
Is it spring? Flooding and flood insurance tends to be on people’s minds a little more this time of year. There is also the excitement of taking out your spring toys (think: RV, ATV, and more) and making sure those are properly insured. And that’s just one season. Tailoring content to seasonal needs and special dates is a great way to show your clients you’re tuned into their lives — and it can also help you capture better search results.
3. THINK LOCAL
Posting about local events positions your agency as one that cares about your neighborhood and the surrounding area. Plus, it can help you capture more local searches when customers (and potential customers) search for that upcoming fair, race, grand opening or another community event.
4. USE TOOLS
You don’t have to rely on your own creativity to come up with blog post ideas. News aggregator sites like Feedly or Google Alerts let you quickly scan the internet for trending topics that might be of interest to your customers. Make it a daily habit to check in with one of these sites to find topics that are fresh and relevant.
5. ASK YOUR CUSTOMERS
Use your social media accounts or email questionnaires to ask customers about topics they’d like to see covered in your blog. Take a poll focusing on a few key topics or simply ask for feedback.
This wraps up our three-part series on agency blogging. The next step is up to you: Get started blogging!
