For a lot of you new to blogging, perhaps you’ve heard of tracking statistics, perhaps you’re teaching yourself how to monitor your site, but suffice to say, it’s a clear cut benefit if you plan to make money on your site. This is the first of a series of posts that will look into ways bloggers can track visitors, clicks, and other vital information on their own sites in order to best plan their money making methods. There’s nothing wrong with financially gaining for your efforts, but never forget content is king, and for content to be king, you must first develop trust with your readers. But that is another post…

Tracking Stats is Fundamental

Inspired by a post I read on Mashable, I wanted to really share some key points of info with regards to planning how you will make money, and increasing your profits, all by keeping track of the vital statistics of your site. There are numerous ways, software packages, freeware, and site specific methods, and my hope is that after this series is done, you’ve got all the tools at your disposal and can make a more apt decision balancing your needs and your site’s target market.

What I’d like to target first are the analytical software packages that exist to assist those that are really looking at going in-depth with their analytics monitoring. I will delve into a few of my favorites, and then list other options that are available for you. Providing you this information will be key when making any decision, and empowering is what I want to make sure I do for each and every reader, especially on a topic as fundamental as this.

I. Google Analytics
By now everyone on the planet has heard of Google. With as many online tools as they offer, it’s no surprise that they also offer site tracking utilities that work very well with their other offerings such as AdWords. The utility allows for tracking of extensive information that would be vital to establishing which pages to market on, how, why, and where your traffic is coming in from. I personally use this tool for all of my sites, and more importantly have the stats printed out weekly in order to review how traffic is using my site, and viewing my content. The real big downside to this option is that it’s not live data. The data you review can be as old as several hours, so this would not be sufficient if you are seeking live, updated information. The process to sign up is fairly easy and provides simple navigation to get to where you want.

II. Clicky
I love Clicky, and I love what it offers and the ease of use it has established. Clicky is great if you are constantly on the go as well because it offers a mobile interface, via iPhone, that keeps you up to date with all the stats in real time, live, and up to date. Unliked Google Analytics, what you see is what is happening. The utility shows you what every person that has come to your site has done, and how they’ve interacted on your page. This might be a little more information than perhaps you are looking for, but for those that stake their livelihood on their site might be persuaded to take an active part in all it has to offer.

Clicky does offer a tiered service that starts off with a free account. The free account has its limitations, but starting out, you get a free 21-day trail of the Pro Account, to show you what you can get if you pay into the tierd services. Prices range from $9.99 to $49.99 a month, but undoubtedly one of the leaders in their field for what they do. They even go with a comparison chart of their services versus their competition. Sites such as Wine Library TV, Mashable, and Smashing Magazine all use their service, why not you?

III. Yahoo Web Analytics
Here’s another familiar face in the bunch, Yahoo. It’s almost as if the world is divided into two users, those that love Google, and those that are die-hard fans of Yahoo. No doubt Yahoo has expanded its list of services to remain competitive in the market, and despite struggles at the management level, the software it’s offering has been solid. With its version of web analytics, the dashboard is customizable and very easy to manage, along with live and up to date information. It proposes that the use of their software makes it easy for marketers to align their campaigns with the user’s search and reading habits. The strong points seem to be the demographic and behavioral reports that can be monitored with Yahoo. Definitely worth a look!

IV. Woopra
Woopra is a real winner with a lot of people, and honestly it slowly starting to become my favorite of the packages offered in this list. For starters the interface is, simply put, just beautiful. It’s comforting to browse the interface and the many segments of information it can track for you. Like other packages it offers real time tracking, and it also offers you the ability to see visitor information, track their clicks, and monitor their movements across your site. What l love most about Woopra is the extras it has added into the package to truly make your tracking interactive. For starters it offers click to chat sessions so that you can chat with visitors on your site as they arrive. It’s a two way communication and the webmaster can decide how they want to set it up. It can either be click-able by the visitor to initiate chat, or initiated by the webmaster to connect with the visitor. Secondly it also allows you to track loyal visitors to your site by specifically targeting them for tracking, monitoring how often and what they comment on, what they click, and all of this offers a better view of your most loyal fans and what works and what does not.

These are just four of top analytical tools in my book. There are many other analytical software packages you can use for your site, and here is the list of 20 for you to review. Pick the ones that work best for you.

1. VisiStat
2. mviSPY
3. LoadStats
4. Opentracker.net
5. MetaTraffic
6. ShinyStat
7. Lyris HQ
8. W3Counter
9. Blizzard Tracker
10. StatsAdvisor
11. Logdy.com
12. Pagealizer
13. Sometrics
14. Piwik
15. FireStats
16. Snoop
17. MochiBot.com
18. Grape Web Statistics
19. Stuffed Tracker
20. GoingUp

Photo Credit Don Solo

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Post Written by Luis Sandoval. He is a media strategist for Advantj Media, and writer on social media and technology on his blog The Daily Slackr.

If you would like to receive free updates on future posts about blogging, please subscribe to Bloggin-Ads’s blog feed.

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As I wrap up this list of 100 blogging topics, I’d love to hear how you are using this topics to your benefit. Have you seen a boost in readership for your site? Are you developing a knack for generating your own blog topics? Have you thought of your own topics that I did not mention? There are limitless possibilities, but the idea is to share what we know because all of us can see the same story differently. By offering our perspectives we are adding to the knowledge base of any given topic, and by ensuring the relevancy of our own thoughts, we build on our expertise and popularity, and so we grow our community.

Be sure to leave your comments and I’ll be sure to respond to all of our Bloggin-Ads readers!

91. How has social media helped with the promotion of your blog? – Share with your readers how to leverage the popularity of a blog with the usefulness of a social network and the millions of people it can expose your brand to. There is no doubt that social technologies have allowed us to share what we do with a lot of people all at once. At the same time it’s taken a bite out of the online advertising market. What are the hints, tips, and tricks you use in order to create buzz about your latest post?

92. Discuss how bloggers can use their skills to land jobs in a new career – As traditional print outlets begin to crumble, there is a void where online writers will come into play. Whether you’re an online journalist, a blogger, or any other online content creator, how do you make your skills fit your current job? A lot of digital writers have found their mark so share your experiences and words of wisdom for someone looking at breaking into the field.

93. Share your thoughts on some of the media’s most uninformed stories – Too often we hear traditional media attempting to report on news in the world of online media. For those not accustomed to speaking the lingo, it’s almost funny to hear them stumble over the words and attempt to sound serious when reporting news of this type. Share your take on how traditional media just does not get it sometimes. Alternately, there are those that have been able to make the crossover and have done amazing work with grasping the concepts and doing the research to report accurately. Does this further distinguish the old vs the new argument?

94. What’s your take on social medias failures? Bussinesses that just couldn’t make it? – On a podcast that I host we discussed failures in the world of social media. Some of the world’s largest brands have attempted to step into this medium and have ruined their chances. With multiple failures under their belt, should they simply walk away or attempt to bridge into the community? At what level does the community hold them accountable for their lies and their attempts to mislead?

95. Share a selfless moment in your life that has changed who you are – Too often we get so caught up in our own lives that we forget we are apart of a larger community. In times when we least expect we take bold steps to reinvent ourselves or better yet, make ourselves something better. Many of us find that we are capable of amazing acts of selflessness if put to the test. Share that experience with others and inspire the community around you.

96. What are your thoughts on celebrities on social networks? – Do you find that celebrities devalue the social networks they are on? Too often I’ve heard people say that social networks begin to lose their credibility when celebrities begin to promote themselves on there. Is this true? Take Twitter for example, the number of high profile individuals on there has grown tremendously over the last six months, but so many people still find value on it because they can choose who they decide to follow. Share your thoughts on this.

97. Are you sick of an online personality? – There are a lot of media icons out there. Online icons are harder to come by, so the fewer there are, the more exposure those that do exist tend to get. Are you tired of any of them? If so which ones and why?

98. Do you think that traditional education can prepare people for the Web 2.0 world? – Traditional education definitely has it’s place in certain areas. For the world of online media, so much of it has been self taught, does a classroom setting stand to be the best place to learn how to create online media or manage it? Do you see crossover possibilities of other degree programs being functional in this highly connected society? I find it unique because you can’t teach someone internet culture, trends, or even get exposed to the latest Web 2.0 apps in a classroom, it’s more something  you have to experience and play with. A life of trial and error is what I say.

99. Which conference do you wait all year to attend? Which would you like to attend? – No matter what your niche is, there is always several conferences that gather some of the greatest minds in that niche. As such, you are one of those that just needs to be there. Which ones do you wait all year to attend? Share with us why you love the conference, what you get out of it, and perhaps share some media you’ve collected of yourself at this event. If you’ve never been to a conference, which do you wish you could attend and why?

100. How do you choose to be remembered? – As we develop our blog, our online personalities, our digital reputation, what is the one thing you want people to walk away with? We pour all of our passion and love into what we do, and as we explore our communities both online and in person, at what point are you comfortable with who you are? Everyone walks away with an impression of the person they meet, and you are no different. Always try to put the best of yourself forward, your mark online is one that can leave an imprint on someone else. Whether it’s the power of your writing, the passion behind the words, or the awe of what you represent, go out and make a difference, and share with others how you want to leave this world.

Photo Credit Chris Seufert

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Post Written by Luis Sandoval. He is a media professional and consultant who shares his insights on social media and technology on his blog The Daily Slackr.

If you would like to receive free updates on future posts about blogging, please subscribe to Bloggin-Ads’s blog feed.

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Thus far it’s been amazing to see some of the feedback both in the comments and in the email. A lot of you are picking some of these topics and making them your own with a twist of your own personal writing style. My hope is that aside from providing you fuel to write, that you also provide others you look to you for inspiration the opportunity to learn from your site,  your style, and your topics. The blogosphere is a close community and I’m honored to be a part of it. While we all write on different topics we’re all headed in the same direction, looking for readers, and hopefully increasing our monetization opportunities.

Time to dive into the ten topics I’ll be sharing with you today!

80. Write on a topic for therapy – If you struggle with something, why not write about it. As a media strategist I always promote transparency, but for the sake of the individual, perhaps this is an instance where you can write under a pen name. Nevertheless by writing on a topic that you’ve had personal experience with, the trauma of that event can be released with the right outlet. While it’s therapy for the writer, it’s an educational experience for the reader. Don’t be afraid to help others while helping yourself. Chances are if you went through something traumatic, you’d hate for anyone to experience what you went through.

81. Discuss your recent experience being in the news – It never fails that at some point during your life, if you’re even interviewed by the news, TV or paper, somehow the message can get misconstrued, so to avoid that, why not follow up on your experience with a post. Chances are you are likely to flesh out the interview better than the paper can because of journalistic guidelines, or the need to cut for brevity. Sometimes where a journalist cuts can leave many readers wondering what the true meaning between the lines is. Sometimes there is more to the message, sometimes there’s not, but as a writer, why not take ot the net and discuss the interview, and perhaps you can save yourself a misdirected reputation.

82. Share your thoughts on the top videos on YouTube – Here’s a random idea, but there ar a lot of good videos and bad videos, but all in all, YouTube is a melting pot of ideas. Take a look at the trending vids, perhaps you’ll find the next viral video. With all the content, it can take a long time to sort through, but perhaps the top videos are something that you’d like to speak about. Never discount where an idea can come from.

83. What are your thoughts on social networks and the number of followers a person has? - It’s crazy, but there’s a lot of people out there that “game” the social networks for higher numbers of followers to provide them some kind of geek cred. For those of us who use the apps in earnest, perhaps personally or professionally it stands to reason that our use is more focused. What are your thoughts on followers? Regardless of network, is it a numbers game or is it about quality? Share your thoughts and be prepared to discuss.

84. What do top blog sites have in common and how can others unlock that magic? – It’s not a big secret when a blog hits critical mass. Having a large following is what every blog strives for. Looking at some of the top blog sites across any topic, what makes them so valuable. What draws the audience to the site where a similar site would only experience a moderate spike in readership. Analyze this and share your findings with your readers. Perhaps you can find the Rosetta stone for blogging and unlock the secrets for everyone to become successful.

85. What’s your favorite podcast and why? – I personally listen to about 15 podcasts, others listen to more or less, but undoubtedly podcasts have become very popular in our every day lives. What do you listen to? What podcasts do you follow on a regular basis and why do you find them interesting? Open the floor up for discussion and let your readers share what they like. It will be great when your readers are introduced to new podcasts that they would not have otherwise found. A great way to introduce new content.

86. Audio books or regular books? – What’s your stance on this topic? Audio books are rapdily taking over with even some of literature’s finest classics being recorded for new readers. It’s no surprise that audio books have taken over but what about regular books? Is there a place for this media still? Which do you prefer. Share what the latest book you’ve read or listened to and chime in on this topic.

87. Will newspapers fade away into oblivion? How do you get your news? – In the last year newspapers have struggled with layoffs, funding issues, and shut downs. As we move forward in a digital age, where does the newspaper stand? Too often people get their news online, but where do you get yours? Is there room for a newspaper to be delivered to your house and provide you with the news? Too many say newspapers are old formats that are on the cusp of extinction. Share your thoughts and the comments section is sure to have an opinion.

88. When do you block or ban someone online? – There are tolerant and patient people that understand that the internet is full of negativity, but it comes with the idea of being transparent online. There are others that are quick to click the ban or block bottom. Which are you? what do you stand for on your social networks, or involvement online. Everyone has a line that must not be crossed, but the question is what is yours?

89. Sex does not sell! – Or does it? Recently GoDaddy came under fire with advertisements that were deemed racy, degrading and irrelevant. Is this true? Does sex sell for you and if so, who’s convinced to buy something because of a sexy ad? Be honest, share your thoughts. We are all products of marketing, everything from our clothing, our food, and our brand of deodorant, somewhere, we bought something because of “sexy” marketing.

Photo Credit darque9

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Post Written by Luis Sandoval. He is a media professional and consultant who shares his insights on social media and technology on his blog The Daily Slackr.

If you would like to receive free updates on future posts about blogging, please subscribe to Bloggin-Ads’s blog feed.

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What drives you to continue blogging? Many of us have been able to break through and make money for what we love, and a lot of us are still finding our way in the blogosphere. What separates the money makers from the non money makers? In my opinion, nothing, everyone has the same opportunity, it just takes a little creative thinking. If you’re already passionate about what you do, then take that same passion to find ways to make your efforts financially worthwhile.

Take the tips and hints that are shared here on Bloggin-ads seriously, and explore your own options and make it happen for yourself. You might not be a six figure blogger, but making a mortgage payment, a car payment, or buying those extras you’d like can go a long way to boosting your confidence in your writing.

71. How have you explained the benefits of blogging to someone who does not know? – You’re a blogger and you love the medium. To writers like ourselves it’ a wonder why everyone is not blogging. With such an open opportunity to share thoughts, ideas, and passions, how do you convince others to blog? Blogging has proven a success for both individuals and companies who’ve taken to the medium as away of stay in touch with their fans and supporters.

72. Comment on the use of auto-DM’s on Twitter – The growing use of auto replies on Twitter has become a problem for some, useful for others. What are your thoughts? Does the idea of an auto reply take away from the human element of these social platforms? The idea of having a bot communicate with you seems counter productive to the entire idea of why social networks are popular. Share what your thoughts are on this growing habit.

73. Discuss how you are approached by supposed “experts” that want your money – Everyone is tossing the word ‘expert” around that the very concept is losing its meaning. In the fight to be the first out of the gate, people are becoming the perverbial snake oil salesman that looks to dupe people into paying them for services that are falsely advertised and/or created under false pretense. Have you been approached by such a person? If so, share your thoughts on this, how did it effect you and what do you look for before you buy into trainings, seminars, and webinars?

74. Discuss your favorite sports team, past and present – Take what you know and use it. Sports are a big topic on both sides of the globe. Compare past and present versions of your team. Share with niche markets on forums or social networks and bring together a think tank to discuss the team. Do you play fantasy sports? Another great opportunity to share what you love with a wide audience. Perhaps you can be the one to introduce someone to the world of fantasy sports.

75. What has society lost in terms of how we deal with one another? – Take your thoughts to the massive scale of humanity as a whole. What has changed, and what have we lost? There are a great many cultures on our planet that adhere to certain living guidlines that others do not have. Some cultures value their elderly, some live their life religiously 24/7, and others value material wealth, but in all we’re one people. How do we differ and is it good or bad?

76. Are you heard in the echo chamber? – With so much going on in the blogosphere, analyze yourself and other sites and differentiate them from the echoes on the net. Do you feel your voice is heard? What’s your broadcast range and how many new readers do you get on your site? If you’vve found a success formula, perhaps sharing those steps would benefit someone new to blogging.

77. Share some urban legends from your surrounding area – These stories are always good during the days before and shortly after Halloween, or perhaps on a Friday the 13th, like the one that just passed. Does your neighborhood, city, state, or country have unusual urban legends that you’d like ot share, perhaps research, and share with your audience. Where do these stories come from and why do they strike fear in us. A great topic to explore for fun.

78. Discuss the current tech battle between Microsoft and Apple – It’s not a surprise that for over 20 years two giant tech companies have been battling it out. A once powerful and mighty company has been defanged, and an underdog had tackled the consumer market with products that have become staples in all our households. What’s your stand on this? What’s in the future of each of these companies? One has stores everywhere, one wants to build stores, one has an ailing leader, the other has a leader that left. This should attract some attention from your readers.

79. Write a list of your own with all the great blogs topics you have! – Do you have a list of ideas bubbling around in your head? If you do, perhaps a list post would draw some attention to your site and get those ideas out of your head. For some reason list posts really attract eyes, and with increased eyes comes increased readership and the success of your site, so get to it!

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Post Written by Luis Sandoval. He is a media professional and consultant who shares his insights on social media and technology on his blog The Daily Slackr.

If you would like to receive free updates on future posts about blogging, please subscribe to Bloggin-Ads’s blog feed.

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Continuing this trend, have you found your stride? What’s worked for you? Surely by now you’ve found a topic that was a hot button for your blog. If so share with us, because Bloggin-Ads is a community of bloggers that is growing with quite a generous nature. What I’ve loved about this community is that we are not afraid to share with one another and help one another out.

Let’s jump into this next batch of topics, and hopefully, you can find something that will strike a chord with your audience!

61. How do you deal with comment abusers? Share your tactics. – The idea of having a formal commenting policy has been a topic of discussion that has been kicked around for the last year. Do you have one for your blog? If you do, share what you’ve done with others, if not, do you think you need one?

62. What’s your process for writing a blog? – Do you have a system that can be replicated by others with success? There’s always fresh faces in the blogosphere, so why not share your process for writing. Guiding others to success is a sure fire way to ensure that they will keep coming back to your site.

63. Rail against injustice of some kind – There’s a lot of social causes out there for you to follow. Perhaps you’ve already got something in mind. This is very different then having a passion for a topic. When you “rail” against something, you’re venomously against something, and you will go to extremes to denounce it. Chances are your site might reach controversial status, but eyes will be on your and your topic.

64. Share your thoughts on censorship – Pro? Con? A nice hot button topic that has a range of opinions. Keep your eyes on what the governments of this world are doing. What have big companies done to our rights? Is censorship a move that is in the best interest of the people? This is especially of great interest if your site has a topic that alone would stand as controversial.

65. Support a politician – Locally where I am at, it’s not uncommon for sites to start popping up around election time. People are supporting or flinging mud at the politicians running for office. Interested in going into politics? This is a good way to get your name out there and involving yourself in the political process. Your keen insight could be warranted as useful and could possibly sway those on the fence. Give it a try!

66. Maybe you’re a flamer, how do you call people out? - It takes all kinds right? Some of us play by the rules, others of us just go out to post and comment to “flame” people, or basically call them out on something they did or said. It’s not necessarily an accepted practice, but like I said it takes all kinds. Do you take the fight to people? Where do you pull your content, how do you walk that line preventing legal issues? Share some of your tips and tricks, and your quick wit with the audience.

67. What’s your blog platform of choice? – We all picked out platform of choice for a reason. Some of us have migrated, and some of us, experimented at the beginning as we explored our options. There’s a lot of new people out there looking for a way to find a home with their blog. Help them out by sharing your experience, and things they would look out for. By sharing this experience, you’re making blogging even more accessible.

68. Complain about “echo” in the blogosphere – How many times have you come across content that is simply regirgitated with little to no fresh insight provided? It happens more often than you think and these types of posts are just echoes of what was originally written, which was probably better than its echo. What are your thoughts on this? If you’re using the same content, but making it your own in terms of personal thoughts and views, then you’ve provided just another perspective on the topic. That is something worthwhile to the community.

69. Complain about blogs that make you register to comment – I can’t tell you how much I loathe having to register just to comment on a post. I don’t mind providing information for the actual post itself, but if I’m  having to sign up for some kind of account and then check my email to activate somthing, etc, then you’ve lost me for good. I’m not coming back and you’ve just made it hader for me to want to interact with you. Maybe I’m wrong, do you support comment registration? There’s two views, write a nice post on this and get people chatting about the need for such a procedure. Perhaps it does have a place with regards to blog sites.

70. Explain to your readers why it is important to have an editorial calendar – Are you writing for multiple blogs? If you are, then even veterans in the blogging business can get behind. It’s important to find the balance you need to ensure that posts are done in a timely manne for everything you write. Editorial calendars are also good because they also get your topics straight, giving you time to research appropriately.

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Post Written by Luis Sandoval. He is a media professional and consultant who shares his insights on social media and technology on his blog The Daily Slackr.

If you would like to receive free updates on future posts about blogging, please subscribe to Bloggin-Ads’s blog feed.

Enjoy these last few posts on Top 100 Blog Topics as we head out onto the home stretch for this series.

51. Discuss the release of a new product and how it will effect the industry – Whether your a fan of a specific brand, or perhaps your discussing a company whom you despise, in either case, the release of a new product is always big news, and providing your insight can offer readers a chance to see something they would not have seen with their eyes. Putting your own unique spin on the discussion is what makes you stand out from the rest.

52. Explore best practices for online behavior – A much discussed topic amongst social media experts are the unwritten “rules” of online ettiquette, especially when it comes to how people should interact with one another, and how they should participate on the various social networks. Do you have a baseline for behavior that you accept and do not accept? Chip in, or start your own conversation and let the audience run with it. A great way to get discussion going.

53. Share your feelings on the salesy approach of online vendors and their pop-up ads – We’ve all been victim to the onslaught of online advertising through pop-up ads that have frustrated us for years. Advertisers are always looking for ways to get in front of our eyeballs, but what are your thoughts on this? Is this justifiable or just another way of forcing products down our throats?

54. Explain how you see the music industry doing in this time period of digital content – First there was Napster, now the huge number of peer-2-peer networks that are constantly sharing content and data across the digital boundaries. Share your thoughts on how this has effected the entertainment industry as a whole. Has it been for the good, the bad, or as yet undetermined? Like any other industry the entertainment industry, especially music, needs to adapt to the modern changes coming to the digital medium.

55. Green technology is becoming a trending topic, discuss how it has effected your life – Living green and becoming green are issues that have impacted the global scene. Everyone from home manufacturers, car manufacturers, food producers, and individuals are taking steps to be more conscious of our environment. Has this affected you at all, if so please share how, and if not, share why as well.

56. Discuss your take on Torrents and other file sharing services – With so much content on the net available, it’s hard to keep track of it all sometimes. Lots of content makes it on the torrent sites where users are able to download and share as they wish. Do you support torrent clients? Have you taken a stand against torrent clients? Discuss your take an engage your audience with this timeless topic.

57. Complain about how people should be paying you for your creative work – Have you been asked to do things because it’d be good for your portfolio? Many of us starting out in any creative work field are typically approached to do work for free. As if somehow our portfolios will magically look better because of this effort. Are you tired of giving your stuff away for free? Share your thoughts on the idea, and perhaps give tips to those at the beginning of their road.

58. Complain about spam – Spam can be one of the most annoying aspects of email. Already known as junk mail in the physical world, spam seems to find ways through filters and leaves messages that many of us find disgusting and improper. Talk about it, who keeps these people in business? Someone has to be clicking on these links, buy why?

59. Become an activist on a topic your passionate about – There is always that one thing that everyone is passionate about. Become a leader in your community, regional area, or online sphere by leading the charge on that topic and sharing your passion to make others aware of what you believe. Whether it’s for social good or social awareness, lead the way and let your voice be known.

60. Share your life experiences with the world – Many of us who have lived life and see those younger struggling with similar issues understand the plight. Feel free to share life lessons, life hacks, and understandings as you see fit in your own life. perhaps collecte stories from several people, or allow people to share on your site to make it more comprehensive. Readers can read and further understand that they are not alone, thus creating a support network.

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With this next list I encourage all our readers to take the challenge and pick a few of the topics discussed in earlier posts, or perhaps some of these and explore them on your own blog, no matter what you write about. I’m sure that you can find a way to make some of these relevant. While I add my own explanation of the topics chosen, that by no means seals the deal as the only options. Makes these topics your own and write some quality content!

31. Praise a topic from the TED conference – For those of you knew to the game, TED is a major global conference held yearly to bring some of the greatest minds together for a series of speaking events that lay the ground for some amazing change. A lot of the ideas shared push the boundaries of what our minds can comprehend, but with a little research and some genuine interest, those following the speakers will not only get educated, but also have their world turned upside down by some of these amazing minds. I’ve seen topics discussed on biology, social communities, space travel, and green living that have really set the bar at genius level. If you get a chance, check out some of the TED speakers on their website and write some posts on the ideas generated by these amazing thinkers.

32. Discuss how you can make a good idea better – From time to time I explore the patent office website and take a look at some of the patents both new and old that have been registered there. A lot of them are really interesting, some appear to be useless, and some are just outdated and no longer serve a purpose. Still it’s a great playground for innovative minds to explore ideas and build upon their own. There’s nothing wrong with using an existing idea and making it better. That’s how we’ve progressed all these years, and if your product is unique enough to be useful, there is definitely some ground for potential manufacturing. Now don’t give away all your ideas, but if you’re a business with some patents, keep users along for the ride if possible and do something for the greater good.

33. Define social media – Social media is a broad topic. So many self proclaimed experts and pundits debate and define this word to death. There are a lot of good definitions, but what does it mean to you? Carve yourself a niche and explain what social media means to you and why others should take heed of your words. It seems like there is a lot of general acceptance of a well thought out definition, so take the opportunity to think it over, and give it a life of its own.

34. Explain why everyone else has the wrong idea of what social media really is – Many say social media is the playground for day dreamers as opposed to play-makers. Is this true? Explain your thoughts on this debate. Is there true value in the knowledge of the masses? How have you leveraged social media for your own purposes? There’s a lot of ground to cover on topic and perhaps could stand to be a series of posts exploring the topic, but each of us have an opinion and perhaps yours needs to be heard. Find the case studies of companies that have used it, individuals that have become better for it, and see the flip-side of things, those that have burned by it. Make a decision and share it with your readers.

35. Explain what Web 2.0 is – Web 2.0 is a phrase that has become so cliche amongst the tech community. Still, to the uninitiated it’s a phrase that brings excitement and wonder to just what exactly the world of Web 2.0 really is. What are your thoughts on the topic? Do we kill the phrase and move on? What truly defines something has Web 2.0? Many say that the era of hip names without vowels at the end was a fad and will slowly pass us, yet some of the biggest applications out there used on a daily basis follow this trend. Share and discuss you thoughts on this.

36. Talk about business applications from the Web 2.0 rush – We know socially a lot of applications out there are fun to use. They’ve introduced us to amazing people we would have otherwise never met. Still that leaves a large segment of the world at large. What about the business world? Is there true business application with any of the Web 2.0 tools out there? Some say yes, some say no. Take a look at the topic and discuss it with your readers. Once you take a stand, bring out case studies to support your claims and debate it if you wish to share both sides of the story.

37. Define what you think Web 3.0 will be – Already the tech world is abuzz with the Web 3.0 movement. Is it coming? If so what is it and how will it define itself separate from the Web 2.0 era? I’m personally not quite sure if we’re even at the point for 3.0, I feel like many are just jumping on board with what 2.0 had to offer with its global interaction, it’s hard to imagine another jump just when people are getting on-board. What do you think?

38. How do  you deal with people stuck in the Web 1.0 era? – You don’t have to work in tech support to have dealt with these people. Some of them are our parents, grandparents, bosses, friends, neighbors, you name it. We’ve all dealt with them, those that fear computers, theinternet, community tools. They fear big brother and being cyber stalked, having seen too many movies they feel an unplugged life is worthwhile. Is this normal? How do you deal with Web 1.0 or better said, NO.0? Share your stories and the outcome. Any success stories of getting someone to forge ahead with their new connected lifestyle? We’d love to hear it.

39. How has technology enhanced your efforts? – Whether you’re running a business, an employee utilizing the tools to make your daily job easier, or just using it for your day to day duties, technology has most certainly changed our lives. Share some of those stories, big or small, and discuss some of what you’d like to see change. There’s a lot out there that has changed the way we work, communicate, travel, get our news, find reviews on locations, even make our purchases. What’s really rocked your world and write about it.

40. Write a post that defines some commonplace words in media today – There are a lot of words out there the confuse some of the more common readers. RSS, FTP, friending, tweet, blog, vlog, feed, feed reader, it almost sounds like words out of the next episode of Star Trek. Without bridging that gap there are a lot of people who are left behind, confused, and unknowingly throwing good ideas because they just don’t know the terminology. Why not write a post on some of the most common words used in your niche. Whether you’re a fashion designer, engineer, doctor, lawyer, pilot, all of our fields have their own vocabulary and if we want reader to “get us,” we’ll help them a long the way by defining the words that come so natural to us.

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Luis Sandoval is a media professional and consultant who shares his insights on social media and technology on his blog The Daily Slackr.

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21. Is online media dumbing down society? – This is an interesting commentary about a connected world in general. There are great many people who will believe the social networks, blogging, and viral videos are a waste of time. Yet on the other hand, a great many companies are using social media to further their online marketing efforts. We as bloggers use it to build our online identity and make money while doing it. So is this truly the dumbing down of if people are connecting with one another and learning?

22. Discuss the latest iteration of a software update (Microsoft, Apple, Adobe) – This is a good key topic especially around the time of release. For example, when Vista came out there was a lot of backlash regarding the OS. During that time frame every website was sharing their personal experiences with the OS and the cycle continued. Your post does not have to be about a software package that is as popular as a Microsoft product. Take a look at your favorite web tools, or web 2.0 applications, and write up pros and cons. Sharing your experiences can help others make a decision on whether the software is right for them.

23. Praise someone you learned something from or has done something for the greater good – It never hurst to share the love, especially if someone is really deserving of it. Some people are just naturally hubs of information and are good sources for networking. These individuals are known to have shared a lot of their wisdom with people, and you may know such a person. If so, be proud, and make other people aware of them.

24. Have you been hit with a layoff or perhaps inbetween jobs? How are you continuing your learning? – As a professional we’ve always been told that gaps in your resume typically look bad. That is unless you’ve found ways to fill in the gaps with business forwarding education. If you’re in the midst of this inbetween moment, then share with users what you are doing to be proactive on not just your job hunt, but perhaps what you’re doing to further your own education. Perhaps you’re teaching yourself how to code for web design, create graphics, or online marketing techniques, no matter what it is, share your success and inspire others.

25. Are you an entrepreneur? Share your thoughts on finances, leads, and lifestyle – A lot of people are ont their own these days. Taking their ideas and making great strides to see them become a reality. If you’re out there running rogue, why not share your successes and your failures, and provide a road map for others out there. Sometimes collaboration is an excellent way to meld your talents together and rallying people around a well written blog can be a benefit.

26. Discuss your view on world politics and its impact on your immediate community – So you’ve got a big opinion, and no one is listening? Or perhaps you are used to speaking to large groups and others support your ideas, why not take it to the blog? Writing down ideas like this is a great way to kick up some interesting debates. Don’t be afraid of causing a ruckus, sometimes ripples in the water can draw attention.

27. Explain how the economy is going into a recession – If you’re good with finances and can predict economic trends, that alone is an interesting article. Read the newspaper and discuss what is happening locally and on a global level. There is plenty going on in the world to drum up topics of discussion.

28. Raise awareness for a social cause for social good – Take your passions online. Save the whales, save the trees, save whatever is of interest to you by rallying support around a blog. Even just one post could raise awareness for something that you’re looking to raising support for. There are a lot of people doing some great things out there with their blogs and articles. Feeding the hungry, raising money for cancer research, the causes are big and small, so make something of your talents and make a change.

29. Explain how 2009 will be your best year ever – Fullfill your resolutions, make them known with a post. Do you have big plans for this year? A great many of us are planning big moves to forward our initiatives. Share your plans, explain your moves, and talk with the networks out there on how they can help you make it happen. Being involved in social media like blogging creates a community that fosters involvement both ways, so while you seek help, others will seek yours.

30. Create a satirical post (SNL style) on a politician/celebrity/business leader/religious leader/blogger – Humor is always something that we don’t get enough of. There’s a lot of ugliness out in the world that sometimes we forget to laugh. Take the lead in making people laugh with witty posts that poke fun of things, people, and topics. All done in good taste, there’s a lot of room for comedy. There are sites out there that do this amazingly, like The Onion, who have taken it further with their video site Onion Network News. Take a break from the norm and make people laugh, or build an entire site on comedy, take your pick!

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Luis Sandoval is a media professional and consultant who shares his insights on social media and technology on his blog The Daily Slackr.

If you would like to receive free updates on future posts about blogging, please subscribe to Bloggin-Ads’s blog feed.

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Back for another dose of topics? There’s a lot more to go in this list of 100. I did a video post last night on my own blog, after coming home from a housewarming party I attended, which discusses me as a writer. People always seem surprised when you tell them that you blog and write on a regular basis. Two things come to mind, one that they actually think it’s amazing that I can find topics to write about, and secondly that there are still a lot of people out there who don’t blog themselves.

If you’re sticking with us for the long haul, then you will definitely not have a lack of things to write about this year. The list provided here on this site are just examples of topics or where you can find topics. There is an endless number of places to gain inspiration, but I figure 100 ideas would be a good way to get your creative minds going, point you in the right direction.

Next Set of Ten Topics

11. Comment on the latest your latest discussion – We all have friends that we carry fierce discussions with. Whether it’s politics, world economy, issues on green living, no matter what the topic, share your ideas on the discussions in a blog post. Chances are that you will drum up support or bring out the debaters from the woodwork to challenge you on your thoughts, but why else would you write?

12. Talk about celebrity news, they love the attention! - Some of us out there are celebrity gossip whores. No biggie, we all need something interesting to read, and there are a few out there that have made a great living off celebrity blogging, Perez Hilton. There’s enough news out there that you can write about to fill up volumes, so get to it. If you love celebrities, then get to writing, the industry is full of information you can use.

13. Write a posts talking about your heroes – All of us looked up to someone in our lives. Whether it was someone in tights on the pages of a comic book, or someone in real life who lifted us up and inspired us. There’s nothing bad anyone can say about the heroes we had growing up as kids, or even those we look up to as adults. All of us at one point attempted to emulate someone in our lives fictional or otherwise. Share your thoughts and analysis on this over a period of several posts. Help the readers understand you, and introduce them to someone they may not know.

14. Complain about Twitter – Okay, not just about Twitter, though I think everyone remembers the Fail Whale not too long ago, but about any service you use. There is always room for change, always room for improvement. Do you see a system, software, hardware, or process that needs revamping. Can you talk about it intelligently and offer up solutions that others can’t? This would be a great topic for those that like to create think tanks of people to help solve problems. There are always people who want to complain, but complainer with solutions are usually the one paid attention to.

15. Share how your life has become better thanks to a certain “thing” – Whether it’s technology, a certain lifestyle change, or any other contributing factor, if something has changed your life for the better, write about it. Readers want to learn, be introduced to new things and ideas, and if you know of something that can benefit others, it’s a sure way to generate traffic to your site. A daily documentation of the process is always good for doubters, but keep the ball rolling by showing how much improvement there’s been.

16. Write about new applications you use or that you’ve developed – There’s a lot of us out there the depend on mobile apps to get us through the day. Running around with work and personal life stuff keeps us busy, but mobile apps keep us connected. Do you have a favorite? Perhaps you have a Top 5 or Top 10 list on hand that you’d like to share. Write it up! On the other hand, there’s a lot of home brew developers out there that would easily create a blog on their experience and then give free press to their applications by writing about it and documenting the progress.

17. Explain why people don’t read anymore – There’s a big change in how people consume their content. Traditional media, while it still has its uses, is slowly fading away, making room for digital media to take its place. Are you one of those people making the change over to podcasts, RSS feeds, online news, audio books; or do you relish the traditional newspaper, a real book in hand when reading, and the nightly news? Share your thoughts on the matter, it’s a good topic for discussion.

18. Do you immerse yourself in entertainment? – If you’re a big movie buff, or find yourself immersed in video games and/ music, an entertainment review blog might be what you are looking for. If you’re already good at something, why change the formula? Take your experiences and become the next Ebert by sharing with people what is good and what is bad, and let them make their own decisions. There’s a lot to be said of quality sites that rate things, people tend to trust people, not entities and corporations.

19. Stay-at-home parents have a lot to say – A big chunk of the blogosphere is real estate belonging to “mommy bloggers” “parent bloggers” whatever you choose to call them. If you’re one, write about your experiences as a parent, being at home, raising kids, anything that comes to mind. There are whole communities based on this movement to offer encouragement and support, so why not join in.

20. Talk about how you or someone you know suffers from a condition – Sometimes it helps to share with the world. Many of us do not do well with keeping pain and suffering inside, and by finding friends and people we can network with, people feel more secure. Thanks to a global internet and the numerous social networks, individuals with health problems are not alone. Share your experiences, your treatments, you prognosis and help educate others while also connecting with people who will grow with you every step of the way!

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Luis Sandoval is a media professional and consultant who shares his insights on social media and technology on his blog The Daily Slackr.

If you would like to receive free updates on future posts about blogging, please subscribe to Bloggin-Ads’s blog feed.

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Happy New Year to all our readers here at Bloggin-Ads. It was an amazing 2008 for me, as I’m sure all of you as well. For those that had somewhat of a slump in 2008, no worries, 2009 is a clean slate, and if you’re looking at making the most of your blog this new year, please stick with this site, we’ll guide you as best we can by providing you the tools and ideas as jumping off points to make your efforts worthwhile.

Coming on board and joining the Bloggin-Ads team earlier this year was an amazing accomplishment for me. I had been writing my own blog for some time and was looking at ways to branch out and share other areas of my expertise. I had the pleasure of working with Mike, and now have the pleasure of working with Stephen once he took over management of the site. As a writer there’s nothing more special then having readers like you interact with me in the comments section. Whether you like or dislike, agree or disagree, there is always room for good conversation and I’m always one to listen to good advice, so let’s forge ahead shall we?

At the end of 2008 I share with everyone some pretty innovative ways to monetize your blog. It was a three part series that broke down the methods, both directly and indirectly, that you could turn your blog into a cashcow. With some proper understanding and a little patience, any blog could become profitable. Naturally how much you make depends on two things, the niche you have placed yourself in, and the amount of advertising you’re utilizing. Not every thing listed will work for your site, but chances are you will find what works for you.

Now for those new readers joining us in 2009, who perhaps have not started a blog and are looking for ideas to get the ball rolling, let me say welcome! You’ve come to the right place and the next series of posts will focus on topics that you can select when blogging, or at the very least find some good leads to get your posts going. And let me start off by saying…yes, it is possible to make money blogging!

First 10 Topics

1. Read the newspaper and write about the front page news – Take any section of your local newspaper and dissect it. Depending on what your niche is there is nothing wrong with traditional media as a source for good content. Pay special attention to niche topics that perhaps might generate increased traffic to your site. If you’re not carrying around a laptop or mobile device to stay up to date with the latest in world news, traditional media is a safe backup.
2. Surf the Web and find out about the day’s news. Write about a story that’s popular. – If you are connected, sometimes online news sites have deeper sections then the standard newspaper. Find popular posts that you have strong opinions on, delve into the commentary sections, even look into the classifieds. Sometimes some good ideas can be drummed up by reading some pretty funny classified ads.
3. Check Twitter for interesting stuff, especially stuff that a lot of people are talking about. – Twitter has long since been a good source of information. While I recommend that everyone still do their research, finding leads on Twitter does not hurt. A day never passes when Twitter does not have a hot button topic. These topics are trended and are obviously of great interest to people. Think of creative ways to write about it and use it, and don’t hesitate to post a link on Twitter to the analysis of your post.
4. Complain about how Digg’s front page sucks these days – Okay so Digg might not necessarily suck, but a blog topic with that title would definitely generate some hits. Titles are always good ways to net an audience, and unique analysis of any situation is what keeps people interested. Does a site like Digg or Reddit suck? Are they losing their competitive edge that they had in 2007 and early 2008? Why not chime in?
5. Complain about how Digg’s algorithm is still broken – Here’s a big one, with Digg once again as an example. There was a big problem with the algorithm that was used by Digg, and how it favored certain people and allowed them to manipulate the rankings of their stories. Do you see other sites with similar problems? Any site like Digg has an algorithm that ranks, places, and uses user generated interest to publish the stories. Perhaps you have a unique way of flipping that model and introducing a new method.
6. Discuss about any other bookmarking/news service – Take a look at the abundance of bookmarking and news services and compare and contrast them. Look into their archives for old stories that pique your interest, or perhaps revisit a once hot topic by providing an update. There’s always good sources of materials in these venues.
7. Comment on the latest Scobleizer post – Everyone knows who Scoble is, if not you’ve not been on the social networks long enough. Nevertheless someone of his caliber has influence on trending topics, and he’s always a good one to follow and read. But this stands for anyone who is ranked high enough, interesting enough, and if you choose to use them as a jump off point, make sure you note that in your title, talk about instant traffic!
8. Explain why some people are the most important bloggers ever – There are a lot of people you and I look up to in the blogosphere. Use these people to write reflections on their work, and their standing in the community and how they have affected you as a writer/blogger. They say imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, attempt to mimic their style, but pay them homage, perhaps you might attract their interest and build a relationship with them.
9. Explain why certain bloggers are losing their influence – Media is a fast world to be in, and there are lots of people who fall from grace. What was once hot today is not tomorrow, almost like Hollywood. Nowadays there are blogs out there that will sell for millions of dollars, their writers are the top tiered people in the blogosphere, but many of them can fall just like any of us, and some choose to walk away from the medium all together. These are excellent ideas for posts, and mirrors what VH1 does with their “Behind the Music” series, except this time you’re writing about once great blogs or bloggers.
10. Scan FriendFeed for ideas – Have you siged up for FriendFeed? If not I suggest you do that right now…it’s okay…I’ll wait…………Okay, FriendFeed can be your best friend when scanning the social networks for ideas. It’s a lot to take in, but if you’re good at scanning lots of data very quickly you can find easy topics to talk about, no matter what your niche is. FriendFeed works as the aggregators of all aggregators for your social networks, and anyone you follow will have all their data poured through this network. Take some time to read through some of the discussions and find what you think will be your next big post.

I have no desire to overwhelm our readers with a huge list, so I’m limiting it to ten per post. I think there’s enough description after the topic to give you ideas and direction to get started. Check back over the next few weeks for more topics to keep you moving forward in 2009!

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Luis Sandoval is a media professional and consultant who shares his insights on social media and technology on his blog The Daily Slackr.

If you would like to receive free updates on future posts about blogging, please subscribe to Bloggin-Ads’s blog feed.

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