The big question is: What do I blog about?

Getting the right format set up and running is comparatively easy when you want to start blogging. Whether you choose WordPress or select from the myriad of other choices the Internet provides, getting a platform working usually doesn’t require a whole lot of technical expertise. The frustration can start when you find yourself staring at a blank screen afterward.

For many new bloggers, deciding what to write about is often when the real work begins.

Here’s a few tips to help you get started if you’re stuck.

Choose something to write about that you’re genuinely interested in

Enthusiasm comes into play here. If you’re looking to attract followers with a topic you think they might be interested in, you run the risk of writing a blog that shows you’re not really fired up about the subject matter. You want visitors to turn into loyal readers and for that you need to keep them coming back. Write about the things you care deeply about.

Consider your audience

Although everyone that blogs likes to write or they wouldn’t be doing it in the first place, it’s important to take some time to consider who you’re aiming for before you start typing. In other words, you need to think about your audience. A big part here is finding your niche or market and writing about the things that attract that audience to your blog. Once you’ve defined your market, take a moment or two to ask what you’ve got to teach them? Readers come back to blogs that are valued added—meaning they offer insights or information the reader can’t get anywhere else.

Decide which topics you want to stay away from

You need to remember the Internet is a public forum and anyone can read what you’ve published there once you hit the send button. Thinking about the feelings of friends, family and anyone else who might be involved in the topic of your posts is the right way to start a blog. For example, there are things you might write about in a journal that are better kept private. Writing about passages from a personal diary is another questionable move when it comes to blog topics.

That doesn’t mean you need to be totally original either. Hobbies, technology or even politics are great topics provided you can put an original spin on them that incorporates your own personal style.