Are You Easily Inspired or Do You Ever Feel Stumped For New Ideas? Here are Some Ways to Stay Inspired and Find Fresh Content Creation Ideas.
If you are a content creator, you know the importance of having lots of great stories that you can draw from. You probably know that content is key to keeping your business running smoothly. But what do you do when you feel like you’ve run out of ideas? How can you stay inspired and keep your content fresh?
I have learned to spot inspiration everywhere I go but I haven’t always been this way. Some may say that I am a cup-half-full kind of person others say that I am easily impressed. Everywhere, we look we can find stories and images that inspire us.
Recently, I was out near the ocean at a park. I saw a young man teaching a younger boy how to fish. I said to the young man, “I love the way you’re teaching him how to fish.”
The man said, “My dad taught me, so I’m teaching my boy how to fish. He’s gotta learn that not all our food comes from drive-through bags.”
I said, “I agree. I’m sure it’s something he will never forget. Keep it up.”
Fresh content, like fresh fish, is essential to nourishing you and your small business. Finding relevant and engaging content that your audience will digest and come back again and again for is a skill like fishing that you can learn. But sometimes, coming up with new ideas can be difficult. So if you’re feeling stuck, don’t worry – there are plenty of ways to find inspiration for your next piece of content.
Here are 7 Places to Look for New Content Creation Ideas When You Need Some Inspiration:
- Your Clients & Customers
Of course, one way to come up with new content ideas is to look to your customers. Talk to them about their needs and wants, and see what they have to say. Go to a location where you think your ideal customer might go, perhaps a coffee shop or a bookstore, and observe people’s behavior. You might also stick up a conversation as I did with the young men fishing. You’ll be surprised at the ideas they come up with. - Your Local Environment
Sometimes, we need a new outlook by getting outside and expanding our horizons. If you’re feeling stuck, try working or spending some time in a different environment – like a coffee shop, the park, or even the beach. I often bring a notebook or a draft of something I am working on to the beach and write down ideas. Even updating your office with fresh decor can help. This can help jumpstart your creativity and give you some fresh content ideas to work with. - Your Competition or Colleagues
I have learned to stop seeing other businesses as my competition and instead view everyone as colleagues that I can learn something from. Keeping an eye on your colleagues’ actions is a great way to find new content ideas. See what they’re talking about, and see if there’s anything you can add to the conversation. There are always new happenings occurring in your industry. So stay up to date on the latest news and trends, and see how you can apply them to your business. Trends are forever changing. Don’t avoid keeping up with them. It is super essential. This will help you make sure your content is relevant and informative. - Your Team or Mentor
If you have a team of people working for you, this is an excellent resource for new content ideas. Brainstorm with them and see what they come up with. They might have some great ideas you wouldn’t have thought of alone. You may also work with a mentor or a coach, this individual can also inspire you with fresh ideas that you don’t see yourself. - Your Analytics or Google Analytics
Your website analytics tell you a lot about your audience and what they’re interested in. Use this information to come up with new content ideas that will appeal to them. You can also use Google Trends and Google Keyword Planner tools to look for trends and keywords that people are searching for related to your niche. - Your Harddrive
If you already have a content library, it is helpful to go back and see what you’ve already created. In addition, it will help you develop new ideas for repurposing or expanding your existing content. - Your Passions
Another way to generate new content creation ideas is to look at your passions. What are you passionate about? Is there anything you can write about that would be helpful to your audience? Just like the young man teaching how to fish, think about what you could teach your audience, what can you teach or demonstrate? Your passions can be a great source of inspiration for new post ideas for your blog, or podcast. or social media.
Remember, when you’re feeling stuck, it’s important to remember that there are plenty of places to look for inspiration and fresh content creation ideas. By keeping your eyes open and exploring all the options, you’ll surely find some great ideas for your next piece of content.
Lastly, keep a notebook of ideas for articles on you at all times. You can do this on your phone or with a physical notebook. I use an app called Evernote so that I can jot down ideas whenever they strike me. One more tip, if you do keep a physical notebook, you can take a picture of your notes on Evernote so they are stored safely in the cloud.
Now that you have written some great content for your blog, what are you going to do to share that with everyone?
My friend and colleague, Connie Ragen Green, has an awesome course called Syndication Optimization that shows you exactly what you need to do with all the fresh content you are creating so that more than just a small handful of people see it. Connie’s course is powerful because she shares some unique tips and strategies that I have not seen anywhere else. And one more thing that’s brilliant about Connie’s courses is the fact that you can ask Connie questions and she answers you either in real-time or gets back to you to share her expert advice later. You can click here or on Connie’s image below to learn more.
