Stuck for content ideas? Try these handy sources

If you are going into business as a web designer or developer, you’ll need no introduction to the power of content. You’ll most likely be a strong advocate for including a blog in any new website template you sell to a client and you’ll understand how important good content is when it comes to your beautiful site really working hard for your client and delivering conversions.

Content is of course a powerful weapon on your own website – especially if you have just taken up our web site business opportunity and want to win new clients quickly or build SEO rankings. Annoyingly, this is often when writer’s block kicks in! After just a few posts it can be hard to think of fresh ideas to populate your blog and fill your social media channels with compelling information.If you’re sat staring at an annoyingly blank page and flashing cursor, try a few of these tips to generate stellar content ideas every time. #1 Buzzsumo Buzzsumo has both free versions and a paid subscription but, you can start off with the free option to see if it’s a tool you get on well with. Buzzsumo acts like a content search engine of sorts – you tap a topic, keyword or company name into the search bar and it will bring up a list of the most shared posts on that topic. This should provide plenty of inspiration and food for thought if you’re facing writer’s block. #2 Quora Quora is a forum style website where intent users can ask questions about anything and everything. This is especially helpful when it comes to generating Q and A style posts but can also be used to generate content ideas that you know your readers are truly interested in. #3 Blog and social media comments If you don’t have an active community developed around your own brand as yet, you can use your competitor’s social media and blogs when content sleuthing. Look at what kind of comments they are receiving – are there recurring questions? If so, note them down for a possible blog. Or particular topics and posts that generate the most engagement? Those should be recorded for future content development too. #4 Google Trends Google Trends records trending search phrases and will show which stories are trending globally or in a location of your choice. You can browse the most popular articles on the web as a starting point for your own content or, type in a keyword and then look at the break out phrases – these are new variations on that phrase that are growing in popularity. Developing content ideas around those means you’re getting an early start on optimisation in those areas and means you’re well placed to serve user interests.