Content marketing involves creating and sharing relevant content for your audience, whether that’s on your website, social media channels, or other online sources. That content helps you connect with your audience and helps them get to know, like, and trust you, which is a great place to start in developing a business relationship. Your content can also help educate your audience about some key things you need them to know.
But how do you come up with ideas for all that content? Sometimes the ideas are free flowing, and other times the creative tap runs dry and you’re on the hunt for new content marketing ideas that will resonate with your audience. Don’t worry, it happens to all of us… it’s just part of the creative process.
Luckily, we have some ideas for you to keep the creative tap flowing, whether you need content for blogs, social media, website, or other digital channels.
Keep a running list
The best ideas for content rarely appear when you’re sitting at the computer staring at a blank page and trying to come up with something to say. That’s where a running list of content ideas is helpful. That random idea you had driving between appointments? Jot it down. A key question a client asked you the other day? Jot it down. It doesn’t even have to begin as a formal list. A list on your phone or in a notebook or even on a scrap of paper is a good place to start. Voice memos work too if you have an idea you want to remember later!
Think about frequently asked questions
What are some questions you often get asked? Write some of them down and see if you can turn them into content. FAQs are often great resources for blog topics, as they can help educate your customer, showcase your expertise, and help you get ahead of some of those questions. Plus, you will then have an easy place to direct customers when a specific question comes up.
Ask your customers
Remember, you can always just ask! Depending on your industry, a simple email or social media post asking what content would be most valuable for your customers could be really helpful. Remember, your audience is there, and you can engage with them. They may have some great ideas for the types of content they would like to see from your organization.
Look at similar companies in other areas
If you’re really stuck, do some digging, and look at companies like yours in other cities or states. See what they’re talking about online. Could you benefit from talking about these topics? Will any of it resonate with your audience? Don’t plagiarize, of course, but you can always use other companies for inspiration on topic ideas.
It’s always easier to plan topics for your content marketing before you sit down to write content (or before you task someone else with writing it). By keeping a running list of topic ideas, thinking about frequently asked questions, talking to your customers, and looking at similar companies in other areas, you can be more prepared with relevant ideas for content marketing for your business.
If you need help brainstorming content marketing topics and developing a content marketing calendar, reach out to the StoryPath team for a consultation.