<!-- Context: content-creation/workflows | Priority: medium | Version: 1.0 | Updated: 2026-02-15 -->

# Content Ideas

Frameworks and techniques for generating endless content ideas and overcoming creative blocks.

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## Ideation Frameworks

### SCAMPER Method

Apply these prompts to existing content or topics:

**S - Substitute**: What can you replace?
- "Instead of X, what if we tried Y?"
- "How would [different industry] approach this?"

**C - Combine**: What can you merge?
- "What if we combined [topic A] with [topic B]?"
- "How can we blend [format 1] and [format 2]?"

**A - Adapt**: What can you adjust?
- "How can we adapt [successful content] for [new audience]?"
- "What worked in [context A] that could work in [context B]?"

**M - Modify**: What can you change?
- "What if we made this [bigger/smaller/faster/slower]?"
- "How can we present this differently?"

**P - Put to other uses**: What else could this be?
- "Who else could benefit from this?"
- "What other problems does this solve?"

**E - Eliminate**: What can you remove?
- "What if we simplified this to just [core element]?"
- "What happens if we remove [common element]?"

**R - Reverse**: What if we flipped it?
- "What if we did the opposite?"
- "What if we started with the end?"

---

### Mind Mapping

**Process**:
1. Write main topic in center
2. Branch out with related subtopics
3. Branch further with specific ideas
4. Look for connections between branches
5. Identify content opportunities

**Example**:
```
                    [Content Creation]
                           |
        +------------------+------------------+
        |                  |                  |
    [Writing]          [Video]           [Social]
        |                  |                  |
    +---+---+          +---+---+          +---+---+
    |       |          |       |          |       |
  [Hooks] [SEO]    [Scripts] [Editing] [Threads] [Reels]
```

---

### Question-Based Ideation

**What Questions**:
- What is [topic]?
- What are the types of [topic]?
- What mistakes do people make with [topic]?
- What's the future of [topic]?

**How Questions**:
- How to [achieve result]?
- How to [avoid problem]?
- How to [do task] faster/better/cheaper?
- How I [achieved result]?

**Why Questions**:
- Why [common belief] is wrong?
- Why [topic] matters?
- Why [approach] works better?
- Why you should [action]?

**When Questions**:
- When to [take action]?
- When to avoid [approach]?
- When is the best time to [action]?

**Who Questions**:
- Who should [take action]?
- Who is [topic] for?
- Who are the experts in [topic]?

**Where Questions**:
- Where to [find resource]?
- Where do [people] go wrong?
- Where to start with [topic]?

---

## Content Idea Sources

### 1. Audience Questions

**Where to find them**:
- Comments on your content
- DMs and emails
- Social media mentions
- Q&A platforms (Quora, Reddit)
- Community forums
- Customer support tickets

**How to use**:
- Answer questions directly
- Create comprehensive guides
- Address common misconceptions
- Bundle related questions

---

### 2. Trending Topics

**Tools**:
- Google Trends
- Twitter/X trending
- Reddit trending
- TikTok discover page
- YouTube trending
- Industry news sites

**Approach**:
- Add your unique angle
- Connect trend to your niche
- Timely response (strike while hot)
- Evergreen spin on trend

---

### 3. Competitor Content Analysis

**What to analyze**:
- Their most popular content
- Topics they cover frequently
- Gaps in their content
- Comment sections (what people want)
- Content formats they use

**How to differentiate**:
- Go deeper on the topic
- Different angle or perspective
- Better examples or data
- More actionable advice
- Different format

---

### 4. Your Own Experience

**Content from experience**:
- Lessons learned
- Mistakes made
- Experiments and results
- Behind-the-scenes
- Day-in-the-life
- Tools and processes
- Before and after

**Why it works**:
- Authentic and unique
- Builds trust
- Relatable
- Proof of expertise

---

### 5. Keyword Research

**Tools**:
- Google Keyword Planner
- Ahrefs
- SEMrush
- AnswerThePublic
- Google autocomplete
- "People also ask" boxes

**What to look for**:
- High volume, low competition
- Long-tail keywords
- Question-based keywords
- "How to" searches
- Comparison searches

---

### 6. Content Remixing

**Remix strategies**:
- Update old content with new info
- Change the format (blog → video)
- Different angle on same topic
- Combine multiple pieces
- Break down comprehensive guide
- Expand on brief mention

---

## Content Idea Templates

### List-Based Ideas

- "[Number] ways to [achieve result]"
- "[Number] mistakes to avoid with [topic]"
- "[Number] tools for [task]"
- "[Number] examples of [topic]"
- "[Number] lessons from [experience]"
- "Top [number] [things] for [audience]"

---

### How-To Ideas

- "How to [achieve result] in [timeframe]"
- "How to [task] without [common obstacle]"
- "How to [task] like [expert/pro]"
- "How I [achieved result]"
- "How to get started with [topic]"
- "How to [task] on a budget"

---

### Comparison Ideas

- "[Option A] vs [Option B]: Which is better?"
- "[Tool A] vs [Tool B]: Honest comparison"
- "[Approach A] vs [Approach B]: Pros and cons"
- "Why I switched from [A] to [B]"
- "[Topic] then vs now"

---

### Problem-Solution Ideas

- "Struggling with [problem]? Try this"
- "[Problem]? Here's why it happens"
- "The real reason you're [experiencing problem]"
- "How to fix [problem] in [timeframe]"
- "[Problem] solved: [solution]"

---

### Myth-Busting Ideas

- "[Number] myths about [topic]"
- "Why [common belief] is wrong"
- "The truth about [topic]"
- "Debunking [misconception]"
- "What nobody tells you about [topic]"

---

### Personal Story Ideas

- "How I [achieved result]"
- "I tried [thing] for [timeframe]. Here's what happened"
- "My biggest mistake with [topic]"
- "What [experience] taught me about [topic]"
- "From [starting point] to [end point]: My journey"

---

## Evergreen vs. Timely Content

### Evergreen Content

**Characteristics**:
- Stays relevant long-term
- Consistent traffic over time
- Foundational topics
- How-to guides and tutorials

**Examples**:
- "How to write a blog post"
- "Beginner's guide to [topic]"
- "Essential tools for [task]"
- "Common mistakes in [topic]"

**Benefits**:
- Long-term traffic
- Compound value
- Less frequent updates needed
- SEO value

---

### Timely Content

**Characteristics**:
- Relevant for short period
- Spike in traffic, then drops
- Trends and news
- Seasonal topics

**Examples**:
- "2024 trends in [industry]"
- "New [tool] review"
- "What [recent event] means for [audience]"
- "Holiday gift guide for [audience]"

**Benefits**:
- Captures immediate interest
- Shows you're current
- Viral potential
- Timely engagement

---

### Balanced Approach

**80/20 Rule**:
- 80% evergreen (long-term value)
- 20% timely (immediate relevance)

**Why**:
- Evergreen builds foundation
- Timely captures attention
- Balance sustains growth

---

## Overcoming Creative Blocks

### When You're Stuck

**Change your environment**:
- Go for a walk
- Work from different location
- Take a break
- Exercise

**Consume content**:
- Read in your niche
- Watch videos
- Listen to podcasts
- Browse social media

**Talk it out**:
- Discuss with colleague
- Explain topic to someone
- Voice record thoughts
- Join community discussions

**Use constraints**:
- Set a timer (10 minutes)
- Limit to 3 ideas
- Choose random topic
- Use a template

---

### Idea Generation Habits

**Daily practices**:
- Save interesting content
- Note questions you get
- Track what resonates
- Review analytics
- Engage with audience

**Weekly practices**:
- Brainstorm session (30 min)
- Review saved ideas
- Analyze top content
- Check trending topics
- Plan next week's content

**Monthly practices**:
- Content audit
- Competitor analysis
- Audience survey
- Trend research
- Strategy review

---

## Content Idea Bank

### Building Your Idea Bank

**What to capture**:
- Content ideas (topics, angles)
- Headlines and hooks
- Interesting quotes
- Data and statistics
- Examples and case studies
- Questions from audience
- Trending topics

**Where to store**:
- Note-taking app (Notion, Evernote)
- Spreadsheet
- Project management tool
- Voice memos
- Bookmarking tool

**How to organize**:
- By topic/category
- By format
- By priority
- By funnel stage
- By status (idea, in progress, published)

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### Using Your Idea Bank

**Regular review**:
- Weekly: Review and prioritize
- Monthly: Organize and clean up
- Quarterly: Identify patterns

**When planning**:
- Pull from bank for content calendar
- Combine related ideas
- Prioritize based on goals
- Schedule creation

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## Content Idea Checklist

Before committing to an idea, ask:

- [ ] Is this relevant to my audience?
- [ ] Can I add unique value or perspective?
- [ ] Do I have expertise or experience with this?
- [ ] Is there search demand or interest?
- [ ] Can I create this with available resources?
- [ ] Does it align with my goals?
- [ ] Is the timing right?
- [ ] Can I make it actionable?

---

## Usage

Use these frameworks when:
- Planning content calendar
- Overcoming creative blocks
- Brainstorming new topics
- Expanding content coverage
- Finding unique angles
- Building content pipeline

**Remember**: The best content ideas come from understanding your audience's needs and adding your unique perspective. Quality over quantity always wins.
