It can be difficult at times to think of topics to write about. You aren’t the only person to sit, pen poised ready to write something amazing, but your mind is completely blank. We have all been there.
Having a plan of content ideas all mapped out gives you a starting point when it comes to creating your marketing content.
A great place to start is to create a plan of topics. These can be used to write articles or blog posts for your website. Doing this will help your website rank better in search engine results, can be used to help customers, generate new enquiries and can be broken down to create a social media content plan.
Don’t worry it is easier and less time-consuming than it might sound.
First: Create a list of topics to write about
Second: Write your posts (or get someone to write them for you!
Lastly: Share these across your marketing channels, with your customers and break them down into mini posts for your social media.
Here are some suggestions to help you create ideas for your content plan:
- Conduct keyword research.
One way to generate ideas for your content plan is to conduct keyword research. This involves using keyword research tools, such as Google Keyword Planner or SEMrush, to identify the keywords and phrases that your target audience is searching for. This can help you create content that addresses their questions and concerns.
Google Search is another valuable tool that can help you generate content ideas by showing you the most popular search queries related to your industry or product. By typing in a keyword or phrase related to your business, you can see the autocomplete suggestions that appear in the search bar, which are based on the most common queries that people type into Google.
For example, if you are a small business that sells healthy snacks, you can type in “healthy snacks” on Google and see the autocomplete suggestions, such as “healthy snacks for kids” or “healthy snack recipes.” You can then use these suggestions to create content that addresses these specific topics and questions.
In addition to autocompleting suggestions, you can also use Google Search to see the “People also ask” section, which shows the most common questions related to your search query. You can then use these to create content that answers these questions and addresses the concerns of your target audience.
- Use content idea generators.
There are many content idea generators available online that can help you generate ideas for your content plan. These tools use algorithms to generate content ideas based on keywords, topics, and other criteria. Some popular content idea generators include HubSpot’s Blog Idea Generator and Portent’s Content Idea Generator.
- Monitor industry news and trends.
Staying up-to-date with industry news and trends can also help you generate ideas for your content plan. Set up Google Alerts for keywords and topics relevant to your industry, follow influencers in your industry on social media, and read industry publications to stay informed.
- Brainstorm with your team
Brainstorming with your team can also be a great way to generate ideas for your content plan. Set aside time for a brainstorming session and encourage your team to share their ideas and perspectives. This can help you come up with fresh and creative ideas for your content plan.
- Read books on content marketing.
Reading books on content marketing can also provide you with insights and inspiration for your content plan. Some popular books on content marketing include “They Ask You Answer” by Marcus Sheridan, “Epic Content Marketing” by Joe Pulizzi, and “Everybody Writes” by Ann Handley.
- Ask customers what questions they had about your products or services or industry sector and use these in your content plan.
You can also use websites such as Answer The Public which is a free online tool that provides you with a visual representation of the questions and search queries that people are typing into search engines related to a specific keyword or topic. This tool can help you identify the most common questions and concerns that your target audience has about your industry or product.
For example, if you are a small business that sells healthy snacks, you can enter “healthy snacks” into Answer The Public and see the most common questions and phrases that people are searching for related to this topic. You can then use these questions and phrases to create blog posts, videos, or social media content that answers these questions and addresses the concerns of your target audience.
By using Answer The Public you can generate content ideas that are based on the questions and concerns of your target audience. This can help you create content that resonates with your audience and drives engagement and traffic to your website or social media channels.
By using these methods and tools, you can generate ideas for your content plan and ensure that you are creating content that resonates with your target audience and aligns with your marketing goals.
Create micro content from your blog posts.
Once you have generated a content plan you can then break that down further into smaller bitesize content that can be used for your social media channels. A great example of this is to write 1 blog post and then create multiple social media posts from the content you have created. This saves you time and effort!
How to create multiple social media posts from 1 blog post.
One blog post can create multiple content ideas by leveraging the content within the post and repurposing it into different formats or topics. Here are some ways to create multiple content ideas from a single blog post:
- Break it down into smaller pieces.
If your blog post is lengthy or covers multiple topics, you can break it down into smaller pieces and create multiple blog posts. For example, if your blog post is about “10 Ways to Improve Your Website’s SEO,” you can break it down into individual posts that cover each of the 10 ways in more detail.
- Create a video or podcast.
You can also create a video or podcast based on your blog post. This can help you reach a different audience and provide a more engaging format for your content. For example, you can create a video that summarises the key points of your blog post or a podcast where you discuss the topics in more detail.
- Create social media posts.
You can also create social media posts based on your blog post by pulling out key points or quotes and turning them into social media graphics or posts. This can help you promote your blog post and reach a wider audience.
- Create an infographic.
If your blog post contains data or statistics, you can create an infographic that visually displays the information. Infographics are highly shareable and can help you reach a wider audience on social media.
- Create a series.
If your blog post covers a broad topic, you can create a series of posts that dive deeper into each subtopic. This can help you create a more comprehensive resource for your audience and keep them engaged over time.
- Update and republish.
If your blog post is outdated or needs to be refreshed, you can update it and republish it with added information. This can help you improve your search engine rankings and provide your audience with fresh content.
Summary
Creating a content marketing plan can help your business by providing a roadmap for creating valuable content that attracts and engages your target audience, ultimately driving more traffic, leads, and sales.
The key to successful content marketing is having a plan of content ideas all mapped out, which will give you a starting point when it comes to creating your marketing content. Once you have generated a content plan, you can break it down into smaller bitesize content that can be used for your social media channels. This can be done by leveraging the content within the blog post and repurposing it into different formats or topics.
If you would like help from generating a plan to content creation and scheduling then let’s chat.