The following is a guest post. Enjoy!
Writers are always looking for new angles for their blogs, particularly if their niche is in business or industry. In some cases, it seems like everything has already been written. However, there are still topics to be written about. Even if they have already been used, there's something to carve out of them. So, here are some ideas for people who write business and industry blogs.
Manufacturing Outside the U.S.
In the U.S., this generally means Mexico manufacturing. This is a topic that many people want (or even need) to know more about, but there's a shortage of really current first-hand information on the web. If you or someone you know has a lot of experience in this field, it wouldn't hurt to start putting that experience down on your blog. People want to know what the labor pool is like, how much you pay in salaries, what it's like to work with a foreign government, whether the utility grid is reliable, how much time you have to spend down there overseeing things, how much you pay in transportation and tariffs, how COVID has affected your business, and so on. Ultimately, many readers will want to know if it's worth the trouble of moving their manufacturing across the border; others have already decided they're going to do it and would benefit from reading about your experience.
Coronavirus Innovations
The COVID-19 pandemic of 2020 has completely changed how many businesses operate. Some industries have been turned on their head, some have been demolished, and some are actually thriving. No matter which category you fall under, you are gaining insight that could translate well into a blog format.
The Rise of ERP
One of the ways remote operations have succeeded is through the increased use of Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) software. Business and industry blog writers can write about this platform and the advantages it provides, such as a streamlined workflow. Because employees no longer work in the same office, they rely on ERP to review necessary data. For example, an inventory manager who works from home can receive alerts about product reorders instead of doing a live count at the warehouse. If you have recent experience with ERP software, turn that experience into blog posts.
The Internet of Things
Another idea for writers to use is the increase of production machine operations via the Internet of Things (IoT). Production plants now incorporate this technology in their devices to track productivity and alert workers & supervisors to various issues. If employees work from home, all that's needed to track this information is a laptop or smart device. They're able to login to a cloud application for a real-time look at production activity; warnings and alerts can be addressed by the worker or the supervisor. In turn, IoT reduces the amount of downtime for a device. No matter where you are on the "food chain," your experience with the IoT in the workplace could make rich blog fodder.
Thriving Instead of Surviving
There are plenty of blog posts about industries barely surviving the pandemic. What's needed are articles that highlight thriving companies. They need to cover not only the mindset of the company but also the innovations they developed to keep going. This type of blog article does a few things. One, it minimizes the hopelessness of similar businesses. Two, it shows readers how strong a certain industry has become during the harshest times.
Work-Life Balance Restoration
When employees work from home, their work-life balance can become skewed. Recent studies reveal that people who switched to this environment full-time work three hours more a week. Use your blog to share how you restore your work-life balance. Good blogs aren't just interesting; they help people.
New Year Predictions
Finally, it's never too early to write a business or industry post that predicts the next year's outcome. There are enough statistics out there that cover quarterly production and income numbers to gain a sense of the upcoming 12 months. However, this shouldn't be an opinion piece. Nor should it be depressing. Instead, look at the positives and focus on them. Be realistic, but look for silver linings.
