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Finding content ideas for blogs is one of the most dreaded but important things to do.
With so much content on the internet, we are bound to feel jittery and overwhelmed at the same time. The thought of an “out of the box” idea does scare me on most days.
Sometimes I feel writers’ block is just a common excuse for being lazy and not writing. But now when I sit down to think and brainstorm about an idea, I feel “man, this idea is not working!”.
“I need something better and good”.
Even telling a story can be an uphill task. Since the pandemic, I have been at home. I hardly go anywhere out, except for chores and grocery shopping. So I am always asking myself – From where do I churn out stories? How do I find content ideas for blogs?
But, one day scrolling on Instagram I came across a post. It was about being observant every day. You will find ideas and stories in anything, either small or big. Every day is a story. Now how you can develop that into a social media post, blog post idea, a Youtube video, that’s where your talent lies.
So one best way is to be in the moment, observe things around you, think of how you can gel that story with a brilliant thought or lesson. Once you get it right, you will love it.
Also, it will sound relatable, genuine, and honest.
Coming back on to finding content ideas for blogs, read on.
Best Platforms for Blog and Content Ideas:
Quora
Quora is one of the best platforms to find content ideas. Just type out your nice and some keywords. And boom. You will find what others are looking for answers to. What kind of questions are being asked. You will get an idea as to what is the current search query. Then you can start your research, outline, and get writing.
Buzzsumo
The name itself is a new buzzword. Although it’s been a while for this platform, it’s gaining popularity now. It is a paid tool, but the free version is a good way to start off. You can know which content is having engagement on platforms like Facebook, Youtube, Twitter, Reddit, etc. Also has different options like discover, content, influencer’s, monitoring, and alerts.
If you haven’t tried Buzzsumo, I would highly recommend you try it.
Keyword iO
Now, this actually works for searching long-tail keywords. But it will also suggest content ideas. You will have to note down what is suitable as per your niche or industry.
People Also ask:
This is one of the gold mines. All you have to do is put your topic in the search bar and hit enter. You will get some suggestions and below that, you will get some questions suggested by Google itself. It will be related to your topic and you will understand what all you can write about.
Google Page End Suggestions:
While doing a Google search, you will see at the end of the page some suggestions. These are related to your search query.
Your Competition:
It is always a good step to stay one step ahead of your competitor. It can be their blogs, social media handles, their engagement rate on socials, etc.
You can also be a part of their email list and know what they are talking about. This way you will know about industry insights plan your content well in advance and save yourself from posting similar content.
Answer The Public:
This platform will give you content ideas related to your keyword in the form of questions. It will generate some pretty decent blog content ideas. It basically takes all results from google and presents them to you an easier form.
Tools for Content Ideas:
There are two free tools available to generate content ideas as well as headlines:
One is Hubspot idea generator
The second is Portent headline generator
Social Media:
Another platform to look out for content ideas is social media handles like LinkedIn, Twitter, Youtube, Facebook groups Instagram. You can take advantage of poll features and ask your followers or connections their views on a particular subject. That will give you an idea of various questions, doubts your followers, or connections may have. You can definitely come up with a solution to solve their doubts or questions.
Even the comment section of all social media handles is a good way to look out for blog content ideas. People may ask you a random query related to your post. So better to take notes of those comments or questions.
Daily Life:
Let me tell you, everyone is a storyteller. We live stories day in and day out. Only one thing is required good observation skills.
Observe all minute details, that ad commercial that bored you, or that commercial song that you kept humming while cooking. Anything can be content. Just pay attention to things and events happening around you.
Conclusion
I agree that coming up with content ideas can be a tedious process. The pressure to come up with new and interesting ideas is real.
The best way is to try the above-mentioned ways. Also, I would highly suggest having a personal swipe file for ideas. It is really handy and useful when facing writer’s block.
And to start with a rough outline. Once the basic outline is done you can direct the way of your blog. What all do you want to include, what can you exclude, do your research well, keep a tab on the latest developments in your industry and niche.
Always remember to solve a problem with your content. People are looking out for solutions to a particular problem. Once the mindset is solving what your target audience must be facing, then you are on the right track.
Remember to keep it real, simple, to the point. Take it slow and easy. Soon you will never run out of content ideas for blogs, articles or social media posts.
Don’t beat around the bush.
Also, content creation whether for blogs or social media channels is a regular process. Don’t forget to enjoy the process. The more you enjoy it, the more you will find it easy to come up with new “bulb” ideas.
So, get going. Start researching, planning, outlining, writing, editing, and publishing.
Happy Content Creation.!
All the best for your next blog post!