I like to cruise AR posts (starting with the featureds) for post ideas, too.  Maybe it's because I'm a marketing solutions vendor, but I always get ideas for my own posts from reading about Rainers and their marketing challenges. 

I also keep a special pad on my desk with an ongoing list of potential titles.  I also picked up a small spiral notebook that I keep in my car.  I get some of my best ideas when I'm out running on Sunday morning or sitting at my daughter's ballet class on Tuesday afternoons.  Oh, to have enough time to write about all of my ideas....

My lawnmower holds the record of where most of my ideas come from.  I guess since my brain doesn't have much to do while I cut grass (which I actually enjoy) so I often get ideas, solve problems and find questions for my answers.  

Lane,

I read the paper everyday.  It not only gives me something to possibly write about but I stay up on what is going on in the surrounding communities.  I also have several ideas that are still being worked on and they will eventually get posted.  And of course, you can't forget about the points :)

You are right you have to stay focused and on track. So I have begun compiling my list of subjects that I feel that would be of interest to others in the community as I learn my way around AR,

I'm laughing at some of these comments because I'm always trying to conjure a great topic while driving, putting on mascara and having breakfast at the same time! But then those great ideas slip away in the chaos of the day. I need to start keeping notes because I love to write!

Thanks for the inspiration Lane!

(I'm an IN-the-car person!!)

My wife uses a digital recorder for her stuff...  I use my phone/pda.  It's a great option.  If I don't record the idea... it's gone!

Lane - I really enjoyed this post - it gets my creative juices flowing.  For points, I have to wait until the week rolls over, but I want to be ready to get the maximum!  I have moved from about #50 up to #8 in the Austin market in less than three weeks.  I am still about 82,000 points behind #1 (just for Austin and the county), but it is a big drop-off after that.  I am 23,000 behind #2.  I have been taking it one at a time once I started making progress.  My next goal is to pass #7, which is less than 1,500 points right now.

THanks for a great post Lane. I particularly like the concept of a series and of course, "keeping a list." I've got to start my list.... now where did I put it.

Thanks for the tips. I enjoy reading posts on AR and have learned a lot. I like the idea of keeping a list .

Good tips Lane, thanks for sharing.

Thanks, Lane. Coming up with ideas can be challenging. You've given us some great tips!

Great Post!!  Some great ideas here, thanks.

I prefer to use Topix.net, Google Alert, and topics generated by clients on a daily basis. You should write about the events and situations happening in your target areas. After all, blogging helps in the search engines and you will be providing valuable information to the community. Active Rain blogs are good because they tend to generate additional insights from others. Keeping a list is a must if you can remember where you left the list. I wrote a blog about keeping your blogs local and the best resources for blogs.

Regards,

Carolyn Nelson, NAR Certified Real Estate Assistant | Carolyn@OnlineREPA.com | http://www.onlinerepa.com/ | Bus:  877.717.4491 | Fax:  866.590.2269

I'm hearing you. It's time to write my weekly blog today. I should have made a list of all the ideas that have come to mind this week. I am new to this-I read a lot-and am certainly inspired by all the prolific writers here.

Thank you all for the comments. 

Carolyn -  I think that we need to explore a variety of media to find subjects.  Also, oddly perhaps, I find that many of my local clients want to see a national perspective on things, despite knowing that real estate is a collection of local phenomenon. 

Vicki -  I just started writing a list, and ended up with thirty blog posts that I need to do.  Some of them are from my "Alphabet Series" that I'm in (currently up to S) and others aren't.  BTW, I know what the X post was going to be about back when I was writing D...

And, for my Blogger Blog, I need to sit down and write a bunch of review blogs.  I have basically added a new post there every day since the beginning of July.  People that only hit it once a week or so might be overwhelmed.  So, I plan on doing a recap each week hitting the high points. 

Finally, I have talked Angel Walker into doing a guest spot on my Blogger Blog Friday.  In true Sesame Street style, she'll be sponsored by the letter S (for Staging).  

What it comes down to is that even if I didn't want to get creative, I would have at least another 40 posts I could pull out... and I'm sure I will come up with more stuff.