5 Ways I Come Up With Blog Topics Every Day
Do you struggle to come up with content ideas? Here are five ways I come up with topics for client blogs every day.
Whether you’re a blogger, business owner, or just want to build an online presence, you know that creating fresh content is key.
And while it’s not always easy to come up with new ideas, it is possible to get into a flow and maintain it.
I often find that as a freelance copywriter, my clients struggle to come up with ideas for their blog or social media posts. They know they need to be creating content, but they don’t know what to write about.
I’m always looking for new ideas and ways to come up with content. But sometimes, the ideas don’t come as easily as I want them to.
Thankfully, I’ve developed a few strategies for generating content ideas that work for me. Here are five ways that I come up with content:
1. Stay Informed On The News
Okay, I know the news sucks. You can’t turn on your local news station or open up a newspaper without being bombarded with depressing stories.
But if you want to write on topics that people are interested in, it’s essential to stay informed on current events.
I try to keep up with the news by reading articles online from different sources. I also follow certain news outlets, politicians, and influencers on social media.
This way, I can quickly see what topics are trending and generate ideas for articles based on that information.
How does this help? While I’m not a journalist per se, following current events is a great way to keep a finger on the pulse of humanity. What stories are pushing buttons? Where are people getting passionate? How can you add your voice to the conversation?
Tapping into cultural trends is a great way to develop content that people will actually want to read and engage with.
2. Look For Gaps In Your Industry’s Content
When you’re trying to come up with ideas for articles, it can be helpful to see what others in your industry are writing about. But instead of just looking at the surface level, try to find the gaps in their content.
What topics are they not covering? Is there a different angle you can take on a popular topic? Can you provide more information on a particular subject? Is there a way to refute a popular opinion in your industry?
By identifying the gaps in your industry’s content, you can come up with ideas for articles that fill those voids. And if you’re able to do it better than anyone else, you’ll quickly become a go-to source for information on that topic.
3. Use Social Media To Your Advantage
Social media is a great way to see what people are talking about in real-time. You can use social media to your advantage by following relevant hashtags, monitoring trending topics, and keeping an eye on what influencers in your industry are saying.
This information can be used to generate ideas for articles that are timely and relevant.
For example, if you see that a particular hashtag is trending, you can write an article about that topic. Or, if an influencer in your industry says something controversial, you can write a piece exploring that opinion in more depth.
By using social media as a content research tool, you can quickly come up with ideas that are relevant to what’s happening in the world right now.
Just be careful not to get too caught up in the social media rabbit hole — it’s easy to spend hours scrolling through your feed without accomplishing anything.
4. Keep A List Of Article Ideas Handy
Inspiration can strike at any time, so it’s essential to be prepared. I like to keep a list of article ideas handy at all times, either in a physical notebook or in the iPhone notes app on my phone.
This way, when I have an excellent idea for an article, I can quickly jot it down and come back to it later.
I also try to keep my list of ideas organized in some way, either by topic or by publication. This way, when I’m looking for something to write about, I can quickly scan my list and find something that’s a good fit.
If you don’t already have a list of ideas, start one today. And if you find yourself struggling to come up with ideas, take a look at your list and see if anything inspires you.
You may be surprised to find that a seemingly useless idea you had last week has marinated into something extraordinary.
5. Brainstorm With Friends
When all else fails, brainstorming with a friend can be a great way to generate ideas for articles. This is especially true if your friend is in a similar industry or has a similar writing style.
One of my favorite ways to brainstorm is with the fantastic online writer community. Not only do they understand the challenges that come with writing online, but they’re also full of great ideas.
Sometimes, all it takes is a quick tweet of “What is something silly in your daily routine that drives you completely nuts.”
Soon, I’ll see a stream of responses full of great ideas for articles. (Because if one person struggles, then chances are others do, too!)
What About SEO?
Hey Brad, you didn’t mention anything about SEO. What about keywords?
Trust me, I didn’t forget about SEO. Making sure that articles and blogs are optimized for search engines is essential. But it’s not the be-all, end-all of content creation.
If you focus too much on SEO, you may find yourself writing articles that are nothing more than a list of keywords — and that’s not going to do anything for your readers or your business when it comes to engaging real-life people with real-life issues.
Do the work to research keywords and watch your analytics, but don’t let SEO be the sole driving force behind your content creation.
Remember The Pain Points
Remember, writing content that people want to read is all about answering common questions and bringing solutions to shared pain points.
If you can find a way to do that, you’ll be well on your way to creating content that people will love.
Do you have any other tips for generating ideas for articles? Share them in the comments below!
