by Skellie
Photo by Helico
I want to share a post idea anyone can use. It’s almost guaranteed to produce one of the best blog posts you’ve ever written.
It’s an idea with limited uses, so I’d suggest that you use it wisely. It will also take some time to do it justice.
The perfect scenario would be one where you have ample time to write but a lack of inspiration. We’ve all had those days, and I hope this will be your Get Out of Jail Free card in dealing with them.
Your final words
Imagine this post is the last blog post you’ll ever be able to write. What would you want to say to your audience? What advice would you be desperate to give? What story would you feel compelled to tell?
This is a good opportunity to take a holistic view of your primary blog topic. Instead of focusing on one of the components required for success, provide a roadmap to it, for example. Instead of writing about a specific part of your niche, take a birds-eye view. What would you say about it all, if you only had one post left to write?
I think web content writers often worry that if they say everything at once, they won’t have anything new left to say. This isn’t true. Unless you intend on writing thousands of words, you can’t explore all details fully without dealing with each in isolation. You might bring up an idea in your ‘final words’ post, but each idea you mention probably deserves a post (or many) of its own.
Some ideas:
- Outline all the steps required for ’success’ in your niche — whether it’s becoming an ultra-quick mountain-biker, launching a successful small business or traveling around the world. A good example of this strategy is Maki’s post on The Secret to Building a Popular Blog.
- If you had to shrink your blog down into one 500 to 1,000 word post, what would that post say?
- If you were only able to impart one last lesson or idea to your readers, what would it be?
- What are the five most important lessons you’ve learned, relating to your niche?
Crafting the headline
Take the opportunity to create a headline that expresses the comprehensiveness of your post. After all — you’re trying to create something really important, so you better let your readers know!
Headline formulas:
If you only ever read one post on ______, make it this one
The five most important things you need to know about ______
How to be a successful _______
The most important thing you need to learn about ________
The challenge
I’m really confident this idea will result in some stellar blog posts, so I’d like to showcase them here. If you write a post using the trump card formula after the publish date of this post, then email me a link to it before the 25th, I’ll write a post here dedicated to showcasing your links.
I’m looking forward to reading and sharing some stellar posts!
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31 Comments, Comment or Ping
squawkfox
Skellie: This is brilliant. I’m trumping away right now…
Mar 13th, 2008
Maneesh
I have to admit.. I had read Maki’s post before but it is your post now that puts his post into its proper perspective.. at least the headline.. it just fits so well into what this post is about.. and suddenly all the skepticism goes.. you are right.. there is no way this idea can fall flat.. unless someone has no idea how his blog adds value to someone..
Mar 13th, 2008
ChrisJB
This might also be a good way of approaching writing the ‘about page’. What do you think?
Mar 13th, 2008
Bente Lilja Bye
Smart idea!
Mar 13th, 2008
OldSailor
Well. Let me try your formula.
Mar 13th, 2008
Shaun
Bingo. It reminds me of something I once read somewhere: if you really care about your writing, you’ll make very story [or post] vitally important. You’ll spill everything you have into it. Dead on.
Great post.
Mar 13th, 2008
mark
Hey - It’s like Skellie homework!
Mar 13th, 2008
erin
This reminded me of a video I watched last week about a dying professor who gave his “last lecture” on Oprah. If you would like to watch it, go here: http://www.oprah.com/health/oz/oz_20071022_350_106.jhtml and then click on the link to watch the video.
Warning: Don’t watch this video in a place where you can’t comfortably cry. Like work.
Mar 13th, 2008
Ali from The Office Diet
What a simple, but perfect, idea! I’ve been having a bit of a lacklustre week for thinking up posts, too. I’ll definitely have a go … Thanks, Skellie!
Ali
Mar 13th, 2008
raj
I think my problem is that I subconsciously write all of my more serious posts like this. Or at least I try to, then end up obsessing and taking hours on end. In fact, I have way too many of these I haven’t finished.
Mar 13th, 2008
Mrs. Micah
Ooh, is this like one of those “If you died, what would you want the people around you to know? Now go tell them” exercises? I’ll have to think about it.
Mar 13th, 2008
Max Miroff
Excellent idea! I’m going to have to use this next time I get writers block.
Mar 13th, 2008
Quiet Rebel Writer
One of the things you said in this post really stuck with me: the notion that we often hold back, thinking that we’ll use up all our ideas. I have this feeling often, worried that if I spill it all now, the reserves will never fill up again. But that’s silly. So nice reality check!
Mar 13th, 2008
Koka
Great post. I think these are great tips to live by for any blogger.
Mar 13th, 2008
Mandy
That’s a great idea and could give me a nice list of other posts to write solving my lack of inspiration!
Mar 13th, 2008
Scott Hepburn
Love it! Think of it as your E-pitaph. Your “Blog Bucket List,” perhaps?
Here’s another take on Skellie’s post: Pick out 4 or 5 of your readers that you know well. If you could say 3 things to each of them before your Final Day, what would you say to each? Could you translate those Words of Wisdom into something universal?
Or yet another twist: What 3 things would you want somebody to say to you on THEIR day of days?
Mar 14th, 2008
Kathryn
Terrific idea here! It kind of goes along with the whole mentality of living today as if it’s your last. If you act as though you don’t have any more time, you produce at top notch quality. Wish I’d thought of it myself!
Mar 14th, 2008
Patrick
Thank you so much for the inspiration, Skellie! I just wrote my trump post (click on my name to read it) and it is definitely my best ever.
By far, it’s my best ever. I think I could launch that blog post into a book that redefines the entire industry.
In fact, I might do just that. Thanks again for your dynamite post that kick started it all!
Mar 17th, 2008
Tiffany Monhollon
I think another reason people don’t tend to write posts like these is that you don’t want to get so comprehensive you don’t leave room for yourself to expand more later on or limit yourself within your niche- almost as though, if I say there are 25 ultimate steps to success in whatever, then if I decide later on that there are 27, I can’t go to those two other points, so I won’t box myself in now with a trump card post.
But you’re so right on with this idea - it applies in so many ways. I love the idea of using this for an about page or eBook. I think another benefit of writing this sort of post every once in a while is that it helps you renew your focus and sense of “aboutness” for all your content.
Looking forward to this challenge!
Mar 18th, 2008
Bruce from Brucisms.com
Hey Skellie,
I just wanted to thank you for this great post - and to share some real results with everyone.
I used your advice from this article to write the “Playing a Round” article (trackback #4).
I launched my blog at the end of January, in February I had 152 unique visitors. From March 1 to March 19 I had 914 unique visitors and 3071 pageviews. I mention this to provide context for the following stats:
Playing a Round was published on Thursday, March 20. As of this morning (Easter Sunday) it has received 5887 pageviews. In the same time period (March 20 to March 23) I have had 2451 unique visitors and 6492 pageviews overall!
This technique is truly powerful - and I can’t thank you enough!
Bruce
Mar 24th, 2008
Ralph
Thank you for this link and for your question in your article to think about more if somebody will be successful with a blog.
Some points are the reason to think deeper about the content and the goal to get attention of new and old reader.
Ralph
Apr 20th, 2008
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