I’m going to share with you a bit of secret for coming up with great ideas for posts - whats more its so very quick and easy.

Journalists have long used ‘the follow-up’ in order to create story ideas, now its time bloggers knew about it as well.

The follow-up is great for when your having trouble coming up with fresh ideas. To begin just take a look at some other blogs, the newspaper or anywhere for a story that is relevant to your blog.

Read through the story then ask yourself the following questions:

1. Are there any interesting facts or ideas in the story that would interest my blog readers? Take those facts or ideas and turn them into a story relevant to your readers.

2. Is there anything more that you want to know about the story? If you want to know more, chances are your readers would like to as well. Help them out by writing about what you discover, give them the extra details.

3. Is there a spin-off angle or something missing? The writer may have been lazy and missed an opportunity to write more. There mistake is your opportunity.

For instance if you are a travel blogger you should by now have read about the decline of the US economy. Think about how this will affect people. Most people will tighten the budget and perhaps skip an overseas trip or look for a more affordable destination than the traditional holiday spots. So perhaps write a story about budget road trips across America, or not so popular overseas destinations with a good exchange rate.

If you write about wealth creation then you could look at the same article as the travel blogger and be inspired to write posts about ways to earn a little money on the side or pay off rising credit card debt.

Now that you know this simple technique you will be coming up with post ideas while your reading the morning newspaper, flicking through a magazine while waiting inline at the supermarket or even taking a look at what your competitors are up to.

You are not copying the original story but using it for inspiration.

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