Are you struggling to come up with ideas for content? Are you feeling like you’ve run out of things to say on social media? If so, don’t worry – you’re not alone. A lot of people find it difficult to come up with new content ideas, especially when they’re under pressure to produce a certain amount of material. But don’t worry – there are plenty of ways to find inspiration. In this blog post, we’ll share five methods that you can use to find new content ideas. So read on and get inspired!
Trending Topics on Google:
Keeping up with the latest trends is essential for any content creator. By using Google Trends, you can see what topics are being searched for the most and find ways to relate those topics to your brand or niche. Find out more on this over at this link on Google. You can also set up Google Alerts to keep up to date on specific topics, find out more here.
Social Media Hashtags and Comment Sections:
Another great way to find content ideas is by looking at what people are talking about on social media. Hashtags can be a great way to see what topics are trending, and the comment sections of popular posts can give you an idea of what people are interested in discussing. Even if the content being discussed on those threads isn’t the right fit for your strategy right now, take note of what’s being discussed as there may be an opportunity for you to bring that topic up at the right time for your business and audience.
Questions Your Customers Ask Frequently:
If you want to create content that your customers will love, then ask them what they want to know! By surveying your audience or monitoring online discussion forums and groups, you can get a sense of the questions they have about your industry or niche. Outside of your own audience, look at comments on bigger, more engaged accounts in your sector and see what your ideal customer is talking about there too. A tip I always give my clients is to keep track of questions that are asked in one place that they’ll have access to all the time, that might be their diary or a file on their phone based on whatever works for them and over time you’ll see particular trends that will be the right content for your potential customers.
Breaking News and Updates for Your Industry or Niche:
As a content creator, it’s important to stay up-to-date on the latest news and updates in your industry or niche. By monitoring news sources and keeping track of relevant hashtags, you can find new content ideas that your audience will love. Generally, I would advise people to have a list of sites in their space that they’re comfortable will always report accurately or have relevant content. Such sites would include regulatory authorities, chambers of commerce, or even larger organisations that have a team with the type of resources available that you as a small to medium-sized business owner wouldn’t have access to.
Groups and Forums That Your Ideal Customer Spends Time In:
Finally, one of the best ways to find content ideas is by spending time in groups and forums where your ideal customer hangs out. By seeing what people are talking about and sharing, you can get a sense of the types of content that pique people’s interests. That said, when you are looking at ideas within forums, please remember that just about every community has a set of guidelines. Sometimes you might not be permitted to look for business at all, sometimes you can mention your brand on a particular day of the week. Often the owner of that community might never allow you to pitch for business as they’re the ones responsible for the integrity of that group.
So there you have it – five ways to find content ideas for your business to use on blogs or social media posts. Of course, this is just the starting point; once you have your list of topics, it’s time to get creative and come up with angles and stories that will capture your audience’s attention.
If you need help with content strategy or creation, don’t hesitate to pop an email to debbie@themarketingshop.ie to arrange a discovery call. In the meantime, what are you waiting for? Start brainstorming some great topic ideas for your next blog post or social media update!
Debbie Ringwood is a Marketing Specialist with over 20 years of experience in B2B and B2C Marketing. She is a Graduate of the Marketing Institute of Ireland and the Digital Marketing Institute. She is a Canva Community Canvassador, Linkedin Certified Marketing Insider and META Certified Community Manager..
Debbie supports, coaches, and trains businesses in Marketing, Social Media, Canva & WordPress along with her team, working with businesses at different stages of their journey.