Colleagues at the SEO agency, I have been attempting, although I find it difficult, to come up with blog topics for the businesses I work with.
Together with the occasional “I have an idea” moment, I am having trouble coming up with ideas for loyal clients for whom we have answered most of the important questions.
Could you please share how you come up with ideas for articles?
When I search for this, I find suggested resources, but I am not sure how to use them to generate original or clever ideas.
Generating blog topics for businesses can be challenging once most questions are answered. Utilize brainstorming sessions with colleagues, explore industry trends and customer FAQs, and use tools like keyword research to uncover niche topics or fresh angles for content that resonates with your clients’ audiences.
For loyal clients, revisit past projects and see what knowledge gaps exist. Are there unanswered questions or hot trends in their niche you can tackle? Keyword tools can be your friend too, but focus on those long-tail keywords or trending topics to create something fresh. Finally, our clients are a goldmine, Chat with them about their challenges and what content would help their audience. Remember, original content can be a new twist on an existing idea.
Revisit your client personas to understand their target audience’s pain points and interests. Create content that specifically addresses these aspects.
Competitor Analysis:
Research your clients’ top competitors to see what kind of content they are producing. Identify unique angles or additional insights you can provide without directly copying their ideas.
Industry Trends:
Stay updated on industry trends and news relevant to your clients’ niche. Create blog posts that analyze these trends and their impact on the industry.
Using Resources to Generate Original Ideas:
Keyword Research Tools:
Utilize keyword research tools to explore related searches, long-tail keywords, and common questions. These can help spark interesting blog post topics.
Long-Tail Keywords:
Focus on long-tail keywords, which are more specific and often less competitive, to target a niche audience with valuable content.
Answer the Public:
Use Answer the Public to identify questions people are searching for online related to your target keywords.
Content Idea Generators:
Use online tools to generate content ideas. These tools should serve as inspiration, not to be copied directly.
BuzzSumo:BuzzSumo helps identify trending content and topics.
Portent’s Content Idea Generator: Creates headlines based on a seed keyword.
Transforming Inspiration into Original Content:
Unique Angles:
Once you have a seed idea, brainstorm ways to present it from a fresh perspective. Consider creating case studies, infographics, or videos instead of traditional blog posts.
Data & Insights:
Back up your content with data and industry insights to add credibility and make your content more valuable to readers.
Storytelling:
Incorporate storytelling elements into your content to make it more engaging and relatable.
Additional Tips:
Internal Brainstorming:
Schedule brainstorming sessions with your SEO team to bounce ideas off each other.
Client Collaboration:
Involve your clients in the brainstorming process. They may have valuable insights into their target audience’s needs and interests.
Track Your Results:
Analyze which types of content perform best for your clients. Use metrics like traffic, engagement, and conversions to understand what resonates with their audience and tailor your future content accordingly.
Coming up with fresh blog ideas, especially for long-term clients, can feel like squeezing water from a stone sometimes. But fear not, fellow SEO warrior, there are ways to rekindle that content spark! Here’s how I brainstorm blog topics:
Look at the Data:
Google Trends: This free tool shows what people are searching for online. Type in topics related to your client’s niche and see what’s trending. This can spark ideas for articles that address current interests.
Client Analytics: Dive into your client’s website analytics and see what blog posts perform best. Can you expand on these popular topics or create sequels?
Competitor Research: See what your client’s competitors are writing about. Not to copy, but to find gaps you can fill with unique content.
Repurpose Existing Content:
Ebooks to blog posts: Break down chapters of an ebook your client might have into a blog series.
Webinars to blog posts: Recap a recent webinar or presentation into a digestible blog post.
Client FAQs: Turn frequently asked client questions into a blog post addressing them all.
Engage with the Audience:
Social media listening: See what questions or topics your client’s audience is discussing on social media.
Client interviews: Chat with your client about industry trends or challenges they see. This can spark blog post ideas based on their expertise.
Think Outside the Box:
Industry newsjacking: tie current events to your client’s niche and offer a unique perspective through a blog post.
Listicles and “how-to” posts: People love easy-to-digest content. Create listicles or “how-to” posts related to your client’s offerings.
Infographics and visuals: Eye-catching infographics can break down complex topics into an engaging blog post.
I’ve been in the same boat trying to generate fresh blog topics for our SEO clients. While I’ve had a few “aha” moments, I often struggle to come up with new ideas, especially for our long-term clients. To tackle this, I started using tools like AnswerThePublic and SEMrush to find trending questions and keywords related to our clients’ industries. I also review competitors’ blogs and customer feedback to identify gaps we haven’t covered. Collaborating with the clients themselves for insider insights and hosting brainstorming sessions with the team have also proven helpful. These strategies have significantly boosted my ability to generate engaging and relevant content.