6 Practical Ways to Generate Content Ideas

rayw

| 26 Nov 2013 |

Just like a magazine or newspaper reporter, marketers today need to create content often and on the fly. Marketers have to cover various topics such as how-to articles and news updates. And more often than not, this writing process can become mentally draining which in turn can induce a writer’s block. To help marketers overcome this impediment, here are 6 tips you can use:

Read blogs, magazines, and books for inspiration

Websites and magazines such as Mashable, TheNextWeb, and Inc. Magazine are all great sources for idea generation. These publications offer insights on the latest technology trends, advice from established entrepreneurs, and business forecasts. This can help you come up with topics that are popular today and are enticing to your audience. For example, you can read publications such as Inc. Magazine (online and offline), which offer useful tips such as “Forget Holiday Bonuses: 10 Creative Ways to Thank Employees” and “How Your Millennial Talent Can Mentor Your Most Senior Employees,” to understand and address your readers’ current needs. Moreover, you can read technical books to gain knowledge. By constantly reading marketing, advertising, or even literature books, you can become exposed to fresh ideas. This in turn can help you come up with topics that are unique, appealing, most importantly, useful to your audience. For example, you can read books such as “The Copywriter’s Handbook” and “Content Rules” to understand the different ways you can create and promote your content. You then can transform this knowledge into a piece of valuable content for your readers.
Watch YouTube videos

In addition to reading blogs, magazines, and books, you can watch YouTube videos. Just like other digital and physical publications, YouTube contains boundless information. By subscribing to credible YouTube channels such as HubSpot, Forbes, and Big Think, you can garner helpful information through vivid, colorful videos. This can further help you find topics that are useful to your audience. Moreover, aside from watching business- or marketing-related videos, you can also watch entertaining clips such as NBA or NHL highlights to relax your mind. This approach can also help you come up with creative, appealing articles.
Browse through Twitter

Thousands of marketers and business professionals are using this micro-blogging platform to share ideas, interact with each other, and absorb information. You can also do so by following potent Twitter accounts such as Fast Company, Social Media Today, and Business 2 Community. By following these Twitter accounts, you can find topics easily that are intriguing to you as well as to your audience.
Talk to a colleague or friend

Talking to a friend or colleague and bounce ideas of them can help you come up with creative ideas tremendously. By discussing a topic with a coworker, you can analyze an idea from a whole new perspective. This in turn can help you approach your article from a different angle and make your content slightly different from what it usually is. After all, your audience wants to read articles that are new, authentic, and most importantly, unique!
Take a walk. According to Psychology

Today, removing yourself from your work environment after working for awhile can boost your productivity and creativity. The article states that “our bodies and minds have natural rhythms of optimal performance. For most of us, those rhythms are in 90-minutes to 2-hour increments. Our natural rapid-eye-movement dream cycles, for instance, typically flow in 90-minute waves.” This means that after working for roughly 90 minutes, you should step outside and breathe in some fresh air to relax your mind. You can also try speed walking or jogging if time permits. If not, you can always walk around the office or look out the window to take your eyes of your work.
Use analytics

By conducting an on-page analysis on the type of content your readers are searching, you can precisely allocate topics that your readers are interested in. This can help you formulate content that will most likely become well-received by your readers as there’s a demand for it. Additionally, by using an on-page analysis to find topics, you’re eliminating an immense amount of time on brainstorming.

Creating content frequently can be challenging for some marketers. However, by going over the 6 tips above, you can find valuable resources for inspiration for your next piece of content!

6 Practical Ways to Generate Content Ideas

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6 Practical Ways to Generate Content Ideas

Read blogs, magazines, and books for inspiration

Watch YouTube videos

Browse through Twitter

Talk to a colleague or friend

Take a walk. According to Psychology

Use analytics

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