One of the toughest parts of being a content creator is coming up with new ideas. You know that you need to consistently create high-quality content that provides value to your community. But, there are days when the idea well runs a little dry, so today I have a few ideas for you on how to generate content ideas so you’re never at a loss for them.

Here are 7 tips for generating content ideas:

Tip #1: Keep an idea list

As a creative business owner, you are constantly generating new ideas. These may be ideas for products, blog posts, articles, or even books. Keep a running list of these ideas so that when you’re ready to sit down and create, you have a several options to choose from.

Tip #2: Brainstorm with others

Brainstorming with other creative people can be a wonderful thing. When you find yourself feeling stuck, reach out to someone in your circle and brainstorm together. You’ll be amazed at the topics and ideas you can come up with over coffee and a chat sometimes.

Tip #3: Let yourself be inspired

Here’s a secret: when it comes to generating content ideas, you don’t have to do all the work yourself. If you let yourself be open to be inspired by what others are doing, you can come up with your own ideas that relate to books you’ve read, or videos you’ve watched or even conversations you’ve had.

Tip #4: Step away from the computer

There’s a lot to be said for stepping away from the computer to generate new content ideas. Get outside, take a walk, visit an art gallery or museum. Spend an afternoon in a coffee shop either talking to people, or just observing, and you’ll come up with ideas you can use in your business.

Tip #5: Experiment with new things

One of the best ways to come up with new content ideas is to experiment and play with with new formats, angles, and directions. Letting your thoughts go and seeing what you can come up with is a great way to overcome any blocks you have.

Tip #6: Ditch the perfectionism

It is so easy to get caught up in the need to be perfect when you’re creating something. But the reality is that there’s no such thing as perfection. Stick with the idea that “done is better than perfect” and get your creations finished and out there.

Tip #7: Trust your instincts

Most of us don’t trust our instincts, and I don’t know about you, but for me it never works out when I go against a gut feeling. So, if you have a strong thought about something you want to create, trust your instincts and create it!

Final Thoughts

As you can see, coming up with new content ideas doesn’t have to be all that hard. I think we tend to make things harder than they have to be because we think that idea generation has to be some complicated process. Instead, pick a tip, try it out, and see what you come up with!

This is Part 5 in a 10-part series on Using Content in Your Marketing Strategy. Other posts in this series include:

1. 7 Reasons to Make Content a Key Marketing Strategy for Your Creative Business
2. 6 Good Reasons for Using a Content Calendar
3. Got Creators Block? 5 Common Reasons Why This Might Happen to You
4. 7 Tips For Getting to Know Your Community
5. 7 Tips for Generating New Content Ideas (this article)
6. 8 More Tips for Generating New Content Ideas
7. Four Ideas for Creating a Content Idea List Using Data
8. 8 Tips for Using Social Media to Gather More New Content Ideas
9. Five Reasons to Outsource Content Creation
10. 6 Tips to Prevent a Content Creation Crisis