Hey guys, a rather short post tonight from me. I just got back from the eye doctor with dilated eyes, and I really can’t read too well. So I want to kind of half-ass my way out of writing a huge post tonight by presenting you with a quick tip to help you write posts on your blog.
What is Mind Mapping?
Mind mapping is a great way to discover new ideas by creating an organized diagram of interconnecting bubble filled with ideas, tasks, etc. It is something they teach you in Middle School, and can be easily applied to blogging.
In brief, a mind map can be as simple looking as this:
The greatest thing about mind mapping is you can come up with a ton of post ideas in just a few minutes. You can mind map to just create ideas for one post, or you can mind map to think of what to cover in one individual post. You would be surprised how easy it really is if you have never done it for your blog before.
For more information on how to mind map for your blog, check out Darren Rowse’s post at ProBlogger “Discover Hundreds of Post Ideas for Your Blog with Mind Mapping“. He covers a lot more information that I do in this post.
Sorry if you were expecting more guys, I feel bad for writing such little info, but I just can’t read very well with dilated eyes!
The Discussion
Leave a Comment Read Again?Haha, even though I have been around these things elementary school as you said, they still prove to be useful. Honestly, I do try to map out things before I post, it’s just makes your ideas easier to get across and it helps to keep your thoughts organized I think!
I just started mind mapping for blogs after I saw ProBlogger’s post. I honestly don’t know why I never did it before. It must have slipped my mind since I didn’t do it for so long. xD
ProBlogger’s post on the topic was just outstanding, even by his exceptional standards!
I could honestly say that, that article was one of the very few I really could connect with.
Every word, just seemed to flow just as one would want it to ~ a lot like your post here Alex
I’ve even gotten a couple of ideas from this post that wasn’t evident in Darren’s!
BTW – Hope your eyes are better man, get well soon. We are feeling the missing presence of ProBlogger Mr.Alex already
Yeah, Darren really thought that post out and explained it to every last detail.
My eyes are better, they just needed a bit of rest to get back to normal. If anyone is interested, you can kind of see a picture of one of my eyes dilated here.
Woah man, I just saw that ~ your pupils are almost big as your whole eye
Hope your getting better brother
Ahh, I hate it when they put that stuff in your eyes, it’s so weird! I’ve only ever tried this mind mapping sort of thing a couple of times but it has generated 10+ post ideas pretty much every time, so I think they’re a good idea and yeah, ProBlogger is always talking them up!
10 ideas is a lot better than nothing. Keep sticking with it, and I’m sure you will be able to knock out a lot more than 10 in no time.
That’s 10 more than me
Nice work on the brain-storming, don’t you just love how it snowballs into so much more than you expected?
That’s what I love about brain-storming – when it clicks, it keeps clicking till your overflowing with ideas.
good tips. in my blog, im confused with new idea and sub idea.
sory my speak english verry bad
The “New idea” can just be looked at as the idea for a post you get after thinking about how to expand your “Initial idea”. The same thing goes for “Sub idea”. Just read the post at ProBlogger, he explains it in a lot more detail than I did.
I’ve seen quite a few bloggers talking about mind mapping lately but was unclear what it was. Thanks for clearing that up for me.
Talking of the eye doctor. I hate it when they stick that torch thing in your face and they get in really close, not go if they have bad breath!
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Maybe they just figured out they could apply mind mapping to blogging too. :p But in all seriousness, it’s a great way to answer the question “how do I come up with post ideas?” and is something every blogger should know.
Speaking of that torch, they stuck that in my eye yesterday. My doctor told me it wouldn’t touch my eye, and she actually ended up touching it a bit. Such a terrible eye trip. xD
Alex,
Mind mapping is a useful practice. Hey bro, nice work. Stumbled and reviewed. Keep it up! Also, thanks for sharing your favorite mac apps. Lastly, what program do you use to mind map?
-Mig
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Thanks a lot for stopping my Miguel. Glad you liked my Mac apps. I’ve only been using a Mac since about September 2008, and only found a small hand full of really great apps.
I don’t use a mind mapping program, because I can’t always concentrate the best while staring at a computer screen. So I just use a pen and notepad to do it. I recommend it more than a mind mapping program, but really it’s just personal taste.
I Googled it for you..might want to check this out: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_mind_mapping_software. Enjoy. :p
Awesome link, thanks man.
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Yeah thanks for sharing! Checked the list out, and I may think about downloading the XMind program, it could prove to be useful.
Windows FTW *cough cough*
Nah jokes, they suck ~ too many bugs.
Thanks for the link too man, those are some nifty tools – never heard about them before either :O
Might try out a few, and write up a review soon
Alex,
No problem, I appreciate it bro. Yeah, like what you’re doing here at the site. Keep it up!
Thanks again,
-Mig
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This ones a keeper! I always brainstorm posts in several different directions, but never thought to write it out in such a manner.
Dennis Edell’s last blog post..Top Commenter Contests – Officially Speaking…
What other methods do you use? Let me know how mind mapping turns out by the way.
No real method, just my mind and a notepad file full of titles lol. Or I’ll trap a friend on messenger and brainstorm together for a while.
Dennis Edell’s last blog post..Top Commenter Contests – Officially Speaking…
Haha, interrogating your friends on MSN for brain-storming? There’s something not many people (if any) know about
I’m going to try this later on, try and let them persuade me on topic content
After all, if you just learn to listen, you will be more successful in anything you do – let alone blogging/
Great tip here Dennis!
I don’t use MSN, but AIM & Yahoo; you got the idea though
.
I’ll also be sending you a trackback with my own post, as I left of a good part of the tip.
Dennis Edell’s last blog post..Top Commenter Contests – Officially Speaking…
Hehe, I was actually expecting more in this post
But problogger has covered it and you have a link there !!
Me too, but my eyes needed some rest! I left you with a few somewhat pretty pictures though at least.
I have been using Mindmapping for long and I must say it is must have tool for all the blogger
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You’re absolutely right. If all bloggers really think about it and use mind mapping properly, then never again will we have to read those “How to find post inspiration” articles.
You are right with that. Mind mapping is what most bloggers need. Sometimes they just need motivation or inspiration. Mind mapping is the answer to make new post.
I’m not using this tips to write posts so, when when I went to write I’m not getting any post ideas. Now I’m going to implement these Mind Mapping trick in my blog let’s see the difference.
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I must say it is must have tool for all the blogger
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