Introducing the Blog Topic Generator, Learning to Not Hate Writing, and More in HubSpot Content This Week

Ugh … writing. As a former freelancer writer, and someone who generally enjoys writing, you think I wouldn't struggle with it so much. But, alas, I do. From coming up with great topic ideas, to formulating compelling arguments, to stringing sentences together in a way that makes the experience enjoyable for readers, there are a lot of pain points.

So, why even bother to write? I'd love to convince you that the process of writing is rich and rewarding and that there's really no better feeling in the world than adding that final punctuation mark to the end of a blog post you've been pouring your heart and soul into. But if all that sounds like a bunch of artsy-fartsy mumbo jumbo (understandable), here's a better reason for you: Writing is good for business.

Research tells us that companies that regularly write and publish blog posts get 55% more web traffic and 70% more leads than companies that don't. So, fingers at the ready, everyone -- it's time to write. And we've got plenty of content that can help.

How to Stop Hating Writing (and Actually Get Kinda Good)

Remember all of those things that I (and possibly you) struggle with when writing? Good news! We've rounded up a ton of tips and best practices from the likes of Dan Lyons, Ann Handley, and more to help you improve your writing prowess. Want to dive deeper? Check out The Marketer's Pocket Guide to Writing Good (and yes, we know it should be "Well").

Don't Know What to Write About? Get Ideas From the Blog Topic Generator [Free Tool]

So I just got some awesome advice from the guide above, I have some killer classical tunes playing in the background, and I'm ready to get my writing on. There's only one, big problem: I have no idea what the heck I should be writing about. If only there was magic button I could push to get a bunch of fresh ideas. Wait, there is? And it's called the Blog Topic Generator? And it's FREE?! Check it out, fellow bloggers.

30-Day Blog Challenge Tip #15: Join the Blogging Community

When a serious case of writer's block kicks in and you feel like Hulk-smashing your fists through your keyboard, just remember this: You're not alone! In a recent tip post from our 30-Day Blog Challenge series, David Berkowitz, Chief Marketing Officer at MRY, reminds us that there's a whole community of bloggers out there -- a community that can prove quite helpful to bloggers in need of assistance.

15 Smart Marketers Share Insights on the Future of the Industry

We recently had 15 marketing mavens peer into their crystal balls and tell us what they think the future of the industry will hold. And while we got a diverse array of responses, the word "content" made an appearance in many of them. This group of writers made it clear the future of content is all about context and personalization: delivering the right stuff, to the right people, at the right time.

10 Common Mistakes Most Business Bloggers Make

Do you include images and calls-to-action in all of your blog posts? Do you spend a good chunk of time strengthening your headlines after you've finished writing? Do you publish posts on a consistent basis? If you answered "no" to any (or all) of these questions, definitely check out this new post from our Insiders section.

Sales Flash: Your Inbound Leads Are Useless Without A Valuable Followup

This scenario is a common one: A company holds a webinar or other event and generates a whole ton of new leads. Those leads go to the sales team, which then calls or emails those leads with a canned sales pitch. Effective tactic? Absolutely not. In this new post from our Sales section, learn how you can use personalized, well-written content to make your followups more effective.

15 Blog KPIs You Should Already Be Tracking

So, you've overcome your terrible bout of writer's block, you've crafted and published some amazing blog posts with attention-grabbing headlines, and now it's time to sit back and let the leads roll in. Of course, by "sitting back," we mean "regularly measuring the performance of your blog and sharing those metrics with your team." Not sure what key performance indicators (KPIs) you should be tracking? No worries. HubSpot's lead blog strategist, Pamela Vaughan, has got you covered.

'Devil Baby' Is an Online Marketing Hit, But Can This Demon Child Sell Movie Tix?

I'll now leave you with a new post from HubSpot's resident writing wiz, Dan Lyons, in which he takes a look at a new (and arguably scary) marketing campaign, which involves a demonic, animatronic baby wreaking havoc on unsuspecting bystanders. Enjoy!

What was the most interesting thing you learned this week on Inbound Hub? What do you want to see more of? Leave your feedback in the comments!