When you start a blog, you’re fresh, inspired, and full of ideas for content. Likely as not, you’re writing the blog because the topic at hand is near and dear to your heart, and you’ve got a ton to say.
Sooner or later, though, you exhaust all those ideas. Welcome to the content creator’s dilemma. Your enthusiasm level remains high, but you have to ask yourself “where can I get more ideas?”
Here are methods that will help you rediscover that vast sea of ideas that you originally had when you started your blog. Remember, it’s always a good idea to keep a log and record ideas as they hit you. The great idea you think you couldn’t possibly forget ends up being forgotten right about the time you sit down to write.
Get thee to google.com/alerts
If you had to pick one of these methods to use on a day-to-day basis, make it Google Alerts. At google.com/alerts, enter your keywords of interest, and you can look forward to some of the best stories every day. You’ll have plenty of content ideas and you’ll be keeping up with the latest news in your field.
Visit your competition
What are they writing about? Never plagiarize their work. But reading their content and checking out the feedback they get is bound to give you ideas that you can incorporate in your own writing.
Share your opinion about somebody else’s content
From time to time, you’re bound to find some article that you disagree with, and strongly. Great—express your disagreement by writing a counterpoint article of your own. You’ll find yourself inspired and coming up with just the right words in no time at all.
Do the same with your own, previous articles
After you’ve been blogging a while, you probably have some older opinionated pieces to look at. When reconsidering those posts, ask yourself “do I still believe that?” Doing this will give you inspiration for your blog and in some instances more up to date content.
What’s missing from other bloggers’ content?
When reading other people’s articles, you will often find important things missing. Be sure to address the missing topics in your own articles. And use the exercise to get in their head and predict what they’ll write about next. Voila! Another topic idea for your work.
Use “lateral exploration”
Seek out articles that don’t exactly fit in your niche and then consider how they might be connected. Thinking out of the box like this will spark ideas for fresh and original angles for your own work.
Identify the reader’s pain
If you take the time to consider your readers’ pain and problems, then you can better relate to them. Nothing creates a stronger bond than helping someone or showing empathy when you craft your content.
Get journalistic, and do some interviews!
Reach out to others in your field. Ask them if you can do Q & A interviews. Once you’ve written it up, you can you have a finished article for your blog. If the interviewee happens to have a product, then let them plug it. And if they have an affiliate program, so much the better! Be sure to include your link.
Help readers avoid the mistakes you’ve made
Sharing the problems you’ve encountered and explaining how you overcame them makes you more relatable. And when you help readers who’ve found themselves with the same problems, helping them out will make them likely to return.
Look for humorous angles
Just about everyone can use a chuckle, whatever your topic is. Story telling is important in content, and funny stories that entertain while informing will keep readers coming back. Odd-ball posts that inspire humor are in many cases receive the most feedback.
Make predictions
Think about the news you found by setting up Google alerts. Keeping up with the goings on in your niche will give you a feel for what’s coming next. If your prediction turns out to be right, your audience will be impressed—instant authority for you.
Take a chill pill and allow ideas to bubble up on their own
Creativity doesn’t always like to be forced. Relaxation leads to ideation. Whether you’re spending time in nature, enjoying a warm shower, or dozing in bed, be prepared (but not anxious) for fresh ideas to pop into your mind.
Get moving!
Working out causes your body to release endorphins. Endorphins are a feel-good chemical, and feeling good is a better, more creative state of mind. Regular exercisers sleep better, too. More sleep leads to more alertness, leads to better ideation. Leads to more and easier content creation.
Look to your audience for ideas
Post an open-ended question, invite comments, and then promise that one of the participants will win a prize. You can prompt even more participation by letting contributors vote for the winner.
Explore social platform comments
For example, look for related Youtube videos and read the comments (and the Youtuber’s answers). Take a look at all the comments and compile some of the unusual thoughts or questions. Do the same on Quora, Reddit, and other platforms. Then return to the social platforms, contribute some insights, and point readers to your blog.
Do a product review
Not every piece of content has to be an essay. Be sure to look for products in your niche, get familiar with them, and write reviews. Reviews attract readers with buyer intent, and honest reviews build trust in you. Don’t confine yourself to elaborate, flashy program reviews. Whatever your niche, Amazon and other platforms will have plenty of books to review. An endless supply, most likely, and if you’re an affiliate for those platforms, you can monetize your content.
Invite guest bloggers
Find other bloggers you like and trust, and let them contribute a couple of articles. Be sure to let them include a link to their blog in their signature. They’ll reciprocate by letting you post in front of your audience, and you’ll be building valuable relationships.
