3 Ways to Recycle Old (But Still Relevant) Blog Content

Writing a blog can be very rewarding. You can educate the masses, share your opinions, and even make a bit of coin.

But most bloggers see a very small return on the blog posts they write, at least when it comes to time, and one of the biggest reasons is simply this:

Once they’ve talked about an idea once, they never talk about it again. Then they’re off to try to dream up another completely new idea. 

This is a mistake! After you’ve done the research on a topic to write a great blog post about it, you should maximize the return on your labor by regularly referring to the insights you shared. 

This not only saves you time and effort, it’s helpful for your readers. A bit of repetition will make learning easier for them, instead of forcing them to drink from a firehose of new ideas every week.  

So without further ado, let’s take a look at 3 ways you can recycle your old blog content.

1. Write a Book

This might seem like a no-brainer–us being writers and all. But writing a book is a great place to recycle your old content. Just think of it as compiling all of your content and editing it into one all-encompassing resource. 

Not only that but, in a book, you can also add a whole new level of depth you couldn’t on your blog. Blog posts normally aren’t super intensive reads because people just aren’t that interested in a 20,000 word blog post. But with a book, you can further explore your topics and present new information.

On top of all of this, writing a book from your pre-written content is often easier than writing from scratch and a faster way to become an author. If you’ve never written a book though, be sure to do research on how to write a book first.

And if you’re still not convinced this is a good idea, consider Malcolm Gladwell. As his Wikipedia page explains, “Gladwell gained popularity with two New Yorker articles, both written in 1996: “The Tipping Point” and “The Coolhunt”. These two pieces would become the basis for Gladwell’s first book, The Tipping Point, for which he received a $1 million advance.”

Not too shabby. Almost makes me want to break out my keyboard and start writing!

2. Create an Online Course

Creating a course is another perfect way to recycle your old content–especially if you have something to teach. 

Courses also allow you stretch your content in ways you never thought before. From video presentations to quizzes and homework, a course not only helps you recycle your content, but also to further connect with your readers. For example, if you have a blog post about how to reheat food like pizza, you might create a course about how to lower your grocery budget and reduce food waste. This would be a great place to include a video of the reheating tips you mentioned in your blog post, along with strategies for reheating other foods besides pizza. 

And this brings along another added benefit–furthering your author brand. By creating an engaging and informative course, you can increase your authority on a subject and encourage your readers (or course takers) to come back for more. A great example on how to do this is Eevi Jones’s Bestselling Story Idea Masterclass.

And perhaps the biggest benefit is, although people aren’t super likely to pay for a blog post, many of them will pay for a good course, which can help you monetize your blog or author website. 

If you are thinking about creating an online course, there are actually some great course creation platforms out there. Two of the best are Teachable and Thinkific. Both offer a great place to host your course and come with all sorts of great features to make selling your content easier from a technical perspective.

3. Host or Appear on a Podcast

Let’s be real… There are a lot of people out there who just don’t read blogs. In fact, they might not do too much reading at all. But that doesn’t mean they can’t be reached. Often times, motivated individuals will find another way to get their information fix — through other means such as podcasts.

And this is great for you. By tapping into the podcast market, you can recycle all of your old material and present it in a new medium. 

Another great thing about podcasts is that you can often put out more information than just a standard blog. You can really hammer home case studies and even personal opinions. 

Like with creating a course, a podcast can help further your author brand. Your listeners will be able to connect more with you personally. Just be sure to follow proper podcast etiquette, or else your experience may not be as rewarding as it could be.

Recycled Content Can Be Better than Brand New

Now you know a few ways to recycle the older content on your blog, whether you started the site yourself or bought a blog from someone else. And it’s worth noting that there are certainly more. For example, the popular blogger Tim Denning publishes his content on both Medium and his own website, giving him access to a broader readership.

In some ways, your older content can actually be better for you than new content. Now, don’t neglect your new content. Just make sure you’re getting the most out of the content you create. By exploring new possibilities with recycled material, you can help further establish your authority and your brand. Don’t let these opportunities pass you by!

Cheers!

Photo by Steve Johnson from Pexels