How to Come Up With Blog Content Ideas?

You know you need to create good blog content, but the ideas just aren't flowing. You sit down at your computer, fingers poised over the keyboard, and... nothing. 

Keyword Research For Blogs

Keywords are the words and phrases people use when they search for information online. By understanding what your audience is searching for, you can create content that answers their questions, addresses their needs, and ultimately, drives traffic to your website. Tools like SEMrush, Ahrefs, and even Google's own Keyword Planner can help you uncover those golden nuggets of search intent.

But keyword research isn't just about finding popular search terms. It's about understanding the why behind those searches. What are people really looking for? What problems are they trying to solve? What questions are they asking? By digging deeper into keyword research, you can uncover a treasure trove of content ideas that resonate with your audience and provide genuine value.

Your Audience is Talking

Pay attention to the questions they ask, the comments they leave, and the conversations they have on social media. What are their pain points? What are they curious about? What topics spark their interest?

Don't be afraid to ask your audience directly what they'd like to read about. You can use polls, surveys, or even just a simple question on social media to gather valuable insights and spark content ideas.

Competitor Analysis

Take a peek at what your competitors are doing. What kind of content are they creating? What topics are they covering? What's working well for them? Don't just copy their ideas, but use their content as inspiration and identify opportunities to differentiate yourself and offer a unique perspective.

You can also use competitor analysis to identify content gaps. Are there any topics that your competitors are neglecting? Are there any questions that their content isn't answering? These gaps can provide fertile ground for fresh content ideas that fill a need in the market.

Brainstorming Techniques

Grab a pen and paper (or your favourite mind-mapping tool) and let those ideas flow freely. Here are a few brainstorming techniques to get you started:

• Mind mapping: Start with a central topic and branch out with related ideas, creating a visual map of your thoughts.
• Freewriting: Set a timer and write non-stop for a set period, without worrying about grammar or structure. Just let your thoughts flow onto the page.
• Brain dumping: Write down every single idea that comes to mind, no matter how silly or irrelevant it might seem. You can always filter and refine later.

Collaborating with colleagues, friends, or even your audience can bring fresh perspectives and spark new ideas you might not have thought of on your own.

Sharing is Caring

You don't always have to create original content from scratch. Content curation involves finding and sharing relevant and valuable content from other sources. This could be anything from interesting articles and blog posts to videos and infographics.

By curating content, you can provide your audience with a diverse range of perspectives and information, while also positioning yourself as a valuable resource and thought leader in your industry.

Give Your Content a New Lease of Life

Repurposing content involves taking existing content and transforming it into a new format. For example, you could turn a blog post into a video, an infographic, or even a series of social media posts.

This not only gives your old content a new lease of life, but it also allows you to reach a wider audience and cater to different learning styles.

Finding Inspiration in Unexpected Places

Sometimes, the best content ideas come from the most unexpected places. Pay attention to your surroundings, your conversations, and your everyday experiences. You might find inspiration in a news story, a book you're reading, or even a conversation with a friend.

Keep a notebook or use a note-taking app to jot down ideas as they come to you. You never know when inspiration might strike!

Don't Overthink It: Just Start Writing!

Finding content ideas for your website doesn't have to be a struggle. By tapping into your creativity, utilising available resources, and staying curious, you can generate a constant flow of fresh and engaging content that resonates with your audience and achieves your marketing goals.

Need a helping hand with your content strategy? Get in touch with Childsey and let's create a content plan that gets you noticed.