Need to write a blog, but don’t know where to start? The Blog IT! method is a simple five-step process for writing a blog. If you follow this method you’ll soon be churning out great blogs like there’s no tomorrow.
The Blog IT! method is a five step process:
Think IT!
This is the free-thinking part. It involves brainstorming ideas, concepts and information. Brainstorming is a method for developing creative solutions to problems. Your goal is to think freely and get down as many ideas as possible without worrying about whether they are practical or appropriate. Brainstorming is best done in groups so grab your co-workers, friends or family and get to it. If you have no choice then you’ll have to go it alone. Post-it notes are great for creativity. Don’t type them out on the computer, write them in a numbered list or use a form. This will kill your creativity. Use coloured pens and even draw pictures. This will stimulate the right side of your brain and fuel your creativity. From a young age we’re told to Think, Judge, Speak (TJS). We think about an answer to a problem (think) then weigh up in our heads whether it is workable, appropriate and acceptable to others (judge). Only when we have filtered and sifted it in our heads and judged it an appropriate response do we then offer it to others (speak).
- Ideas
- Facts
- Related stories
- Case studies
- Examples
- Anything else that comes to mind
Group IT!
Now, mentally step back from your wall of post-its and do what you would do naturally – put the notes in groups! Group your notes according to any associations you see. Some will not fit nicely into any of the categories so feel free to leave them by themselves. If you find others fit into several categories then copy them out onto new sticky notes and stick one each group. Tip: If you find a group has ten or more sticky notes then consider if it should be more than one category. After you have finished grouping give each group a name or title. Next ask “Which group would my audience be most interested to hear about first, second, third,” and so on. As a rule of thumb, consider limiting it to three points. This will keep your blog article simple and concise. Save all your other groups and ideas. Either jot them down on paper or take photographs of each group of sticky notes. You can use them in future blog posts.Trim IT!

Spice IT!
With your main content at the ready it’s now time to spice it up! The purpose of spicing it is to make it memorable and aid retention (and therefore encourage) readers to finish reading it and then return for your next blog post. The contents of your spice rack include:- Stories
- Quotes
- Facts
- Anecdotes
- Handy hints
- News
- Graphics
- Hyperlinks
- Metadata