24 easy ways to generate content ideas

24 Ways to Generate Content Ideas

Eugene Farberwww.ContentStrategyHub.com

Twitter: @EugeneFarber

Eugene Farber www.ContentStrategyHub.com

1. Ask!

Use Social Media Use Your Email List Use Your Blog Ask Outside Your Industry


2. Repurpose

Use Different Media http://www.contentstrategyhub.com/p

opular-effective-content-formats/


3. Expand on Ideas

Go Through Existing Content Pick Out Ideas to Expand On Like Spin-Off Show on TV


4. Scan for Ideas

Library, Newsstand, Bookstore Pick Out Attention-Grabbing

Headlines


5. Check Related Keywords

Create a List of Keywords Use Tools to Generate NEW Keywords

Google Keyword Tool Market Samurai Wordtracker Keyword Questions

Write about New Keywords


6. Recent Events

Recent Industry Events Unrelated Recent Events

Relate Them to Your Topic Benefits

Fresh Content Increased Search Traffic


7. Create a Persona

Think of Your Business as a Person Describe the Person Talk from Character’s Perspective


8. “Steal” Ideas

Look at Industry Leader Content Blogs Newsletters

What Are They Doing? How Are They Doing It? Don’t Plagiarize!


9. Trending Topics

Ensures Current Content Where to Find Trending Topics

Twitter Facebook Google Trends Digg Alexa Technorati


10. Industry Groups

Join Industry Focused Groups Facebook LinkedIn Google Yahoo! Meetup Forums


11. Q/A Sites

Write Content to Answer Questions Where to Find Questions

Yahoo WikiAnswers Quora LinkedIn Answers


12. Google Alerts

Set Alerts for Any Keyword Set Frequency of Alerts Get Content Ideas Delivered Directly

to Email


13. Curate

Share External Content Aggregate

Data Infographics Resources


14. Renew/Review/Summarize

Collect Previous Content on Same Topic

Create “Table of Contents” Post


15. Interviews

Share the Burden of Creating Content Value to Reader Social Proof


16. Google Analytics

What Searches Are Leading to Your Site?

What Searches Are Being Performed On Your Site?


17. Comments/Emails

Expand on Ideas Left in Comment Section of Your Blog

Expand on Ideas in Email Correspondences

Every Interaction is Potential Content


18. Play Devil’s Advocate

Spark Discussion External Content – Call Someone Out Internal Content – Call Yourself Out


19. YouTube

2nd Largest Search Engine Reaction or Summary Embed Video for Bonus Points


20. Amazon Books

Inside Cover Sneak-Peek Table of Contents Pick out Topics


21. Product/Service Oriented

Not a Sales Pitch Updates Success Stories Benefits

Not Specifications


22. Seek OutGuest Authors

Share the Content Creation Burden New Perspective Reader Value Find Authors

Publicize On Your Blog Ask Directly


23. Personal Stories

People Relate to Other People Be Human Spokesperson for Brands


24. Metaphors

Relate Anything to Anything Easier to Connect To Easier to Comprehend Make Dry Content Entertaining and

Fascinating

Eugene Farberwww.ContentStrategyHub.com

Twitter: @EugeneFarber