Simple ways to come up with content ideas (fast): an in-depth guide
Need to come up with content ideas - fast? In this in-depth guide, we’re going to work through a selection of activities and approaches that’ll give you the boundaries that you need to get those ideas flowing again.
There’s a big problem with limitless options and potential.
It’s limitless. Duh.
And as much as I love the broad open spaces and creative freedom that comes with being an entrepreneur/small business owner, sometimes it’s a coffee-went-down-the-wrong-pipe-and-now-I’m-coughing-up-a-lung type of paralysing.
It’s this strange paradox:
— You can create anything… so instead you get overwhelmed and make nothing.
— You have the opportunity to try live streaming… so you feel like you should (even though video makes you nauseous).
— Content can look however you want… so you play it safe and send boring-ass emails because you’re afraid of running out of ideas and failing miserably.
So what’s the answer to this strange everything-is-possible-so-I-get-nothing-done paradox?
Sometimes, you need to go all MacGyver on yourself and create something new using only a Swiss Army knife and a paperclip.
NO, NOT LITERALLY. Put that down before you hurt yourself. Sheesh woman.
What I mean is: You need to limit your options in order to create more ideas. Because giving yourself boundaries + limits is often all you need to get the creative juices flowing again.
Think about it.
Say that you’re trying to pull together a photo for Instagram and, no matter WHAT you try, it’s just not working. What if you grabbed five items from around the house and tried to think of five photo ideas using just those items? Suddenly, because you’ve limited your options, the ideas start coming.
So, we’re going to work through a couple of activities and approaches that’ll give you the boundaries that you need to get those ideas flowing again.
You ready to get started?
Let’s do this!
We’ll cover the entire content idea process from generating and fleshing out ideas, to busting through blocks + beating resistance.
And because this guide is pretty in-depth, here’s a table of contents so that you can jump ahead to specific sections if you prefer. (Just click the links below!)
Chapter One: Generate Ideas
Stuck for ideas? START HERE first (use your brain rather than looking outward).
Pride and Prejudice is easily one of my favourite novels, so you can imagine how excited I was to see it on the curriculum for Year 12 (senior year) English Literature.
I mean. We got to watch the BBC TV mini-series in class. The one with Colin Firth. (Eeek!! Yasss!!! Best. Day. EVER.)
(Also, yes. I know that I’m supposed to be talking about how to generate content ideas but I promise that this story is relevant, Your Honour.)
So I was actually pretty excited about the essay that we had to write. (Yep. I was one of those students). Back at home, I whipped open my laptop, my trusty highlighted + marked copy of P&P by my side, notes strewn across the kitchen table and… nothing.
Absolutely stinkin’ nothing.
I had NO idea what to write or even where to begin (even though I can basically recite the book backwards to you) so I started typing random things, hoping it would spark something.
Colin Firth is amazing as Mr Darcy.
Mr Collins is a jerk.
Still nothing? Ok, I’ll keep trying...
What is with the Keira Knightly movie version? Why is Mr Bennet always losing his orchids? For that matter, why is he the only character with an American accent? When they’re English? Why do the Bennet’s look so poor - they’re not meant to be!? I mean, I guess it’s kind of ok to watch… if you can entirely forget about the book and just enjoy it as a random rom com. BUT WHY IS THERE A MUDDY PIG IN THE HOUSE? THAT I CANNOT FORGIVE.
ANYTHING. OH PLEASE ANYTHING.
I felt like stretching my arms overhead, face towards the sky + screaming WHHHYYY, all melodramatic-like.
Sound familiar?
It’s the worst. thing. ever. when you know that you have a lot to say only to have your brain go blank as soon as you open that fresh new document.
To have that pristine, white, fresh document stare back at you with a remarkably good poker face and know that this isn’t going to be a hand that you win.
And, sure. Whilst you’re probably not writing an essay on Pride and Prejudice (but kudos to you if you are!), how often do you experience this scenario when creating content for your business?
— Staring at an empty screen when trying to write a blog post
— Finally sourcing the *perfect* photo for Instagram… and then drawing a blank on the caption
— Having the BEST IDEA EVER for a new course or program… and then not knowing where to start
Answer: You experience this scenario more often than you’d like to. Because no matter how well you know your subject/niche/area of expertise, sometimes your brain can be a bit slow to catch up.
What happens next? When you’re stuck trying to think of new content ideas, do you...
— Google like a mad woman?
— Scroll through Instagram for inspiration?
— Sit staring blankly (yet hopefully) at the glaringly white document that you’ve had open for the past 15 minutes?
And sure, while sometimes those tactics do work (if by “work” you mean forcing yourself into that whole tortured artist mould), that’s hardly a great way to live your life. What if there was a better + simpler way?
In this first chapter, we’re going to look at how to find good content ideas. But here’s the kicker - we’re going to tackle this subject a little differently to what you may be expecting…
So if you’re sick of pushing your content back, week after week, because you can’t think of anything to write (even though you *really* know your stuff)…
Instead of mindlessly turning to Google, here’s four strategies that you can try so that you can best use *your* brain to come up with awesome content ideas:
1. Don’t think with your head only
Let me explain.
It’s all too easy to sit there and mull things over (and over) in your mind, tapping absentmindedly at the keyboard. Unfortunately, trying to WILL an idea into existence isn’t going to work, so let’s get back to basics.
Put pen to paper: Yep, putting pen to paper can often be all your brain needs to kick itself into gear. Get out of that digital document and crack open your trusty notebook!
Use a mind map: Your brain doesn’t naturally think in a bullet list, so a mind map can help you connect ideas and discover new ones. (We’ll cover this tactic in more detail in Chapter Two.)
Visuals: Use props like post-it notes or cards etc. to visually arrange information (also more on this in Chapter Two).
“Your mind does not think like a computer, it thinks with the objects (including computers) and people around you.”
2. Look outside your industry
I love finding quirky copywriting examples on product packaging or in a newsletter from my favourite skincare brand. Be inspired by the way that brands have fun + how they use their voice in product descriptions or how they use Twitter (Innocent Drinks and Wendys are great examples).
3. Read fiction
Why fiction specifically? Because doing something completely different helps to refuel your creative tank PLUS you’re learning storytelling skills by osmosis (aka without realising it).
And the fiction part is important here - the idea is NOT to cram your head full of extra to-dos from a business or self-help book. Those are great, but the idea here is to give your brain the space it needs to come up with it’s OWN brilliant ideas.
The point is: Read something different, shake things up + get out of your regular routine by falling into a good book.
4. Do mindless/autopilot tasks before brainstorming content ideas
Research shows that your brain works on the original task in the background. (Which is why you have good ideas in the shower or just before you go to bed.)
Try this: Think about the content that you need to create, have a look over any notes you already have, and then go do something like cleaning, prepping dinner or the laundry (an autopilot task) before you sit down to brainstorm.
Not only will you have a clean house and dinner prepared, you’ll ALSO have a tonne of awesome content ideas! (We’re solving ALL THE THINGS here. You can thank me later 😉)
5. Sleep on it
The idea behind this sleep-on-it approach is that you let your brain figure stuff out while you sleep, and then capture those ideas FIRST THING before they’re tainted or forgotten (because you’ve reached for your phone/social media/the news/life in general).
Try out chess prodigy Josh Waitzkin's process for working on bigger problems:
— Brainstorm
— Mindless task
— Sleep
— Braindump thoughts first thing in the morning (in a similar fashion to Morning Pages)
6. Tap back into what you’ve already created
How often do you hit publish on a new blog post, send an email or post to Instagram… and then dust your hands of that piece and walk away?
My guess? Probably 87.69% of the time.
First, do a quick search of your blog with keywords about the topic that you’re trying to write about (or similar topics) and see what you’ve already created. Read through everything, let it percolate for a bit. Sit on it. Let your thoughts gather. Go and do something else for a while (we’ve touched on this in #4 above already).
And then open your laptop again and see if it’s easier to write about your topic now.
7. And maybe most important of all… follow your curiosity
As you’re staring at that blank screen, ask yourself: Is there anything I’m interested in? Anything? Even a teeny tiny bit?
“What is creative living? Any life that is driven more strongly by curiosity than fear.”
What would happen if you gave yourself permission to explore this idea that creating content doesn’t have to be hard? That you can find serenity in the process? That you can actually ENJOY the process?
Start tapping away at the keyboard + write about something that interests you (no matter how slight). Write with no expectation. Write with abandon. And see where it takes you.
So long blinking cursor!
Here’s an insider secret for you: The more you write + create, the easier it gets.
Yes, turning to Google and getting inspiration from the interwebs can be helpful. But it’s also helpful to give your brain the best chance possible to come up with ideas on its own!
That way, you’re creating something that’s uniquely you - before you’ve been influenced by the voice, content or ideas of other business owners or random people on the internet.
You DO have good ideas. Sometimes you just need to give your brain a helping hand to show you where the good ones are hiding.
(And what about those times that aren’t so easy? Save this post to Pinterest for when the blinking cursor has you in its clutches + you need a little help wiggling free. I’ve got your back.)
Chapter one: action
Create a simple, go-to SOS plan. Scroll back through the ideas that we talked about above and write out three “if this, then that” statements so that you have a plan for the next time you get stuck!
For example:
“If I get stuck staring at a blank page, then I’ll get up, do an autopilot task (like tidying a room) and then go back to my computer after 10 minutes.”
“If I’m struggling to come up with ANY content ideas at all, then I’ll pick out a few fiction books, put them on my bedside table and read 10 pages/for 10 minutes every day to refuel my creative tank.”
Keep reading or back up to the table of contents.
Chapter Two: Flesh Out Ideas
My three fave strategies to kick your reluctant brain into gear.
It feels like a betrayal when your brain comes up with a great content idea and then goes, “Yep, that’s all I got” when you sit down to flesh it out.
SERIOUSLY. I worked for this great idea and then you just peace out, brain?!
So before you slam your laptop shut in a theatrical fashion (just me?), let’s take a moment to unpack some strategies that’ll help kick your reluctant brain into gear (in a way that’s fun + doesn’t involve you bribing yourself).
Because there’s an easier (and let’s be honest, waaay more fun) way to brainstorm your idea so that you don’t end up with a few lonely words on an expansive white page.
The key is to work WITH your brain and not against it. You’re not taking your brain hostage and screaming your demands down a burn phone – “No Netflix until you brainstorm this entire book out, brain!” - ok?
So if you’re stuck fleshing out your idea, here’s a few of my favourite ways to brainstorm the details of your content idea:
1. Draw a mind map
Yep. As we touched on in Chapter One, a good old pen and paper mind map is one of the best ways to brainstorm ideas because it mimics the way that our brain stores and retrieves information.
In fact, research has shown that using pen + paper stimulates cells at the base of the brain called the reticular activating system (RAS). Without getting too sciencey, this bunch of brain cells act as a filter for your brain when it’s processing information. In other words, by physically writing something down, it tells your brain, “Hey look! This is important stuff. Focus on THIS!”
So grab a piece of paper, write your major theme/idea in the middle, and then start branching out with whatever comes to mind.
The more you scribble, the more your brain will start to make connections between these sub-ideas. Plus, you’ll find yourself coming up with other topics that you might not have thought of just tapping away at your laptop. (Especially if you typed it out in a linear list - that’s not good brain juice.)
The main point with a mind map is to not censor yourself. I mean it. Even if you think that an idea is totally stupid, write it down anyway. Remember, you’re trying to work with your brain to make connections between different pieces of information - so give it the chance to do it’s thing.
(Plus, you’re doing content YOUR way now, remember? That means that you have control and you don’t have to use every single content idea that you come up with, ok?)
2. Try post-it notes
Another method that’s great for fleshing out those ideas (and one that I love to try when I get stuck) uses post-it notes. It’s a great one to try because:
— It uses pen and paper (which, as we’ve already seen, has been shown to help you be more creative + get your brain working)
— It’s visual (which adds another learning approach into the mix)
— You can easily move ideas around and change things if you don’t like them
— It uses post-it notes. Duh.
Here’s how it works: Write out your major themes/ideas on a few post-it notes, stick them to the wall and then start writing any sub-topics that come to mind. (Again, don’t censor yourself here. No idea is a stupid one.) Then stick the post-it notes to the wall under their relevant theme, or off to the side if they’re a wildcard idea (more on that in a sec).
The post-it note method is also great for brainstorming content ideas for bigger projects - like organising chapters in your book, testing the flow of modules for your course, and making sure that you focus on what matters in your next live workshop.
3. Remember that structure isn’t set in stone
There’s various ways that you can structure your content, and having these in mind beforehand can help new ideas to surface.
HOWEVER. Being too strict in the planning phase can also stop new ideas from surfacing. (Which is not what you want!)
What I mean: Don’t limit yourself to thinking “I’m brainstorming ideas for my blog” or “These ideas are ONLY for my online course”. Because if you DO think that way, you’ll start to discredit ideas solely because they don’t fit the content type (or structure) that you have in mind. And that’s doing yourself a disservice.
Keep an open mind, and see where your ideas take you! An idea will TELL you what the best structure or format for it is - you just have to listen. Broaden your scope + give the idea the space it needs to let you know the answer. And then, you know. Actually be paying attention to what the idea’s saying and all that jazz 😉
And let’s just be real for a sec.
Struggling to flesh out your ideas often comes down to resistance. And you’ll experience this scenario WAY more often than you’d like to. (More coming up in Chapter Three.)
But here’s an insider secret: The more you write + create, the easier it gets.
So keep going. You got this.
Chapter Two: ACTION
Pick one of the fleshing-out-idea methods mentioned above and schedule some time in your calendar to give it a whirl. Go in with an open mind, try something new + see how it works. You can always adjust + tweak the process later on, but for now, just give something new a try!
(Need more help? Try The Resistance Buster Journal: Show those resistance mind gremlins the airlock and get back to creating awesome things. Coming soon!)
Keep reading or back up to the table of contents.
Chapter Three: Bust Through Blocks
A little pep talk to show you what’s *really* going on with your creative/writing/brain block.
How many times have you told yourself that you’re not “creative” or that you’re not a “writer”?
My guess? Multiple times. And that’s just today…
Here’s the thing... you don’t need to be the next Picasso, van Gogh or Brené Brown to make something that’s worth sharing.
Because a “creative” is simply someone who:
— Creates
— Makes things
— Writes
— Produces work
AKA someone who shows up without judging their work to make magic happen.
Taking time for creative work and prioritising it, even when you’re “too busy” or you think that you’re “not a creative person”, slowly but surely strengthens your creative muscles.
And when you show up on a more frequent basis (aka regularly flex those creative muscles), it helps you to create with more abandon. Because all of a sudden there’s less pressure on one particular piece being “perfect”, which encourages you to create more, which makes you a better writer and communicator over time.
(Huzzah! So many wins right there that I’ve lost count.)
But what about the moments/days/weeks/months that you’re just NOT feeling it?
When you feel like missing your session at the creative gym? When you sit down at your laptop and the blinking cursor does what it does best? Blink. Blink. Blink.
In those moments, I’d suggest you push up your sleeves and pull a few little tricks out. In other words: ask yourself what gives you that childish thrill. Then go do those things.
Why? Because you’re too caught up in your head and you need to loosen up a little. (That’s said with love, friend.)
So if you’re feeling stuck and need a bit of creativity-boosting inspo, then here’s some of my favourite things that help me get back in the zone when my calm is being damaged:
1. Read fiction
If you’re in a bit of a creative funk and content has been especially hard to create lately try cracking open a good fiction book. (And maybe set aside the business and self-help books for a bit.) Sometimes your creativity just needs a good dose of Austen or the latest light-hearted murder mystery (totally a genre by the way).
2. Write fiction
Every now and then, I bust out the fiction writing. Sometimes it’s a teeny tiny micro story. Sometimes it’s a random analogy (see Chapter Four). And sometimes it’s contemporary science fiction (like the fiction story I’m currently dabbling in).
My point? Do something different and get outside of your comfort zone. Try it anyway.
3. Eat/drink what you feel like
Like chocolate almond milk. Random, I know, but this gives me a jolt of fun childhood memories. (Plus, chocolate and almonds are good for you so drinking them together is just being efficient, right?)
Feel like pasta? Eat it. Feel like a chicken + vegan cheese toasted sandwich? Here’s the sandwich press.
Listen to what you actually feel like eating and eat that thing. Sometimes a little pleasure is all you need to unlock those creative juices.
4. Watch something predictable
There’s just something about the expected storyline of serialised shows that’s comforting and reassuring. (E.g. Like NCIS - the bad guys do bad things, the good guys find them, the good guys get justice.) But sometimes these shows surprise you (hello, thickening plot!) which can get the creative juices flowing and help you develop storytelling skills. Win, win!
5. Dance (or just move)
Sometimes nothing else puts a smile on your face like dancing like a crazy woman to The Fitness Marshall. Try it out and tell me you don’t feel better after 3-5 mins of busting a few (albeit uncoordinated, if you’re anything like me) moves to Head & Heart or Summer Feelings.
Bottom line? Little things add up and daily habits make a BIG difference in the long term.
CHAPTER THREE: ACTION
Here’s what’s going on with your creative/writing block: Your brain is screaming out for you to do something for the pure childish thrill of it. So loosen up, go do that thing and then get back to work.
Keep reading or back up to the table of contents.
Chapter Four: Beware the Curse of Knowledge
Read this when you feel like it’s all been said before.
Does this sound familiar?
“I often fear that what I share will be “common knowledge” to others and that no one will find value in what I have to say. This causes me to procrastinate SO hard!! 😳🙈
“But, I know it’s silly. Because no one has my specific experiences, my background, or my voice. I have to give myself a lot of pep talks! 😉”
Unfortunately, it’s common to feel like you have nothing new to add to the conversation.
Or that it’s not worth creating a blog post/program/course/service because someone else has already done it… and it’s 50 million times better than what you could do, so why bother anyway?
Here’s the thing: You’ve forgotten what it’s like to be a beginner.
(Why, hello, Curse of Knowledge.)
So the next time that you feel like:
— All that you’re sharing is common knowledge
— It’s not good enough
— You’re not good enough
— Or that it’s all been said and done before
I want you to remember this…
1. We’re all at different stages of the journey
Imagine, for a moment, that you’re on a ladder. (Stick with me here.)
It’s scarily high and you have to focus on putting one foot forward. And then the other. Slowly climbing the ladder, keeping your grip tight so that you don’t fall.
You look up and can see all the people that are ahead of you. So. Many. People. It seems ridiculously unfair that there’s so many of them. How will you ever get where they are?!
The woman just ahead hears you (CRAP. Did you say that out loud?!). She turns, smiles, and helps pull you up to the next rung on the ladder. “Thanks,” you say. “I was wondering how I’d do that alone.”
You suddenly realise that the reason she’s ahead of you (the reason all those other people are ahead of you), is only that she’s been climbing the ladder for longer than you have. She has more experience. And that’s why she can help you. She knows exactly where you’re at because she’s been there before. She understands.
An idea sparks in your mind, and you turn and look behind you. You see a woman struggling a few rungs below you, heavy with all the extra baggage that she’s carrying. You realise you can help her. She looks up.
You smile and say, “You know, it wasn’t that long ago that I was right where you are now.”
(She looks slightly incredulous.)
You smile again. “I’m serious, ok? Despite what everyone’s saying, you don’t really need that blue bag. Or the red one. And if you move the yellow to your other shoulder, you’ll be able to balance the weight more easily.”
Slowly, she lets the blue bag drop. She waits (maybe she thinks that you’re lying?). But she immediately feels lighter, almost ready to move to the next rung. She quickly lets the red bag drop, and it’s barely off her shoulder before she’s moving the yellow bag from her right to her left shoulder. She bounces gently, feeling the even weight of the bags. You lean forward and extend your arm, offering her a hand up. She smiles, takes it, and quickly moves up to the next rung.
“Thanks,” she whispers. “I was wondering how I’d do that alone.”
Ok. It’s a very simplistic story (based on an analogy I heard years ago from artist and designer, Dave Conrey). But here’s the point:
“Your prior experience can help somebody else who’s currently struggling with that same problem. You may not be at the top of the ladder, but you sure can help the people at earlier stages in the journey.”
The reason that you know the answer (illustrated here as: drop the blue and red bags, move the yellow) is because you’ve BEEN there. You’ve done it. You’re living proof that the solution works. You didn’t fall off the ladder and you’re still climbing upwards.
So even if you feel like there’s a million other business owners ahead of you and that you’ll never catch up, I want you to remember that there’s just as many behind you that you can help, right now.
All you have to do is turn, offer a hand, and help them up. Because we’re all in this together, right?
2. Understand the stage that they’re at and what they need
Going too intense, too fast will freak your people out and push them away. (Sheesh! It’s so complicated! I CAN’T DO THIS.) And that’s not what you want!
Remember: Your audience is not where you are right now.
Let me repeat that again for the people at the back:
Your audience is not where you are right now.
And again, nice and slow to reeeally help it sink in:
“Your. Audience. Is. Not. Where. You. Are. Right. Now.”
Simplify everything, because the more you know, the less clearly you write.
Everything that you create needs to be about helping your audience/clients/people where they are right now.
I know that you know this, but just to be extra clear… That doesn’t mean speaking down to them. It’s about talking to and with them. You’re working side-by-side, helping them to do better, feel better, and be better.
3. Recognise the power of small wins
You don’t have to solve all of their problems on Day One, ok?
Stop putting so much pressure on yourself.
Small wins encourage people. They show you that maybe you can do *this seemingly impossible thing* after all.
No matter how “small” the success that you’re helping people to achieve in a piece of content, it’s still a win. Aaand you’re showing your people that you’re an encourager and that you can help them. That you’re the one to get them from where they are now, to where they want to be.
Whenever you get stuck on a piece of content, wondering if it’s “good enough”, ask yourself: Can this piece help one person?
If so, chances are that it’ll help a lot more than that!
Remember, there’s nothing wrong with keeping your content clear and simple. In fact, your content will be more useful + helpful when it is clear and simple. (Never forget that!)
Creating content is an act of service to your community. Focus on that aspect and everything else will fall into place.
CHAPTER FOUR: ACTION
“It isn’t what we say or what we think that defines us, it’s what we do.” – Jane Austen, Sense and Sensibility.
How can you take what you’ve just read and apply it to YOUR content creation process? Maybe you need to remember to keep things simple and not try to solve all your clients problems on Day One. Maybe you need to remind yourself that you can still help people even when you’re not as far along as you’d like to be. Whatever it is, write down your own personalised reminder and keep it somewhere that you can see it!
Keep reading or back up to the table of contents.
Chapter Five: Content Idea Kit
For when you need content ideas, stat!
Before we wrap this (content) party up, here’s a couple of bonus resources for you to try out.
Think of this chapter as your emergency content idea kit for when you’re stuck in Overwhelm Central and need content ideas, on-demand, stat!
Included in this chapter:
7 ways to create blog posts
If your blog is feeling a bit (or a lot) blah, neglected or you’d just like to explore some other options + approaches… then here’s 7 different ways to create blog posts for you to think about + try. (These ideas also work for newsletter content!)
50 content ideas for social media
You know those times you sit down to write an Instagram post or plan out some social media content and nothing happens? Yeah. Those moments suck. Whip out this list of 50 different content ideas and have social media content for days, weeks and months to come!
7 ways to create blog posts
Have you boxed yourself in? Let’s break out!
Before we dive into some of the options for your (perhaps neglected) blog or email newsletter, I want to mention that if you like the traditional approach of a written blog – THEN GO FOR IT.
As I talk about in the Content Her Way Planner, there’s NO need to fix something if it’s not broken. But if your blog is feeling a bit (or a lot) blah, neglected, or you’d just like to explore some other options and approaches… then here’s 7 different ways to create blog posts for you to think about and try.
1. Combine your blog with your podcast
Like Amy Porterfield does - in fact, Amy mentioned that she found it really hard to stick to blogging consistently (AND actually enjoy it) until she started her podcast and made that her main regular content type.
2. Combine your blog with Youtube
I do this - I love writing and video, so I combined the two! That way, I still get to write out my scripts + the content that goes on my blog and in my newsletter. But I also get to film videos. It’s the best of both worlds for me.
3. Use Instagram to write mini-blog posts
Like Kathryn Hofer of Modern Planner has done in the past - It’s become a bit of a trend to use Instagram in place of your blog. So if you prefer short n’ sweet pieces, using Instagram or Facebook as your blog could be the best option for you!
4. Written Q&A to share a client story, interview, etc.
Do you remember how popular these used to be?! Now, they’re almost a retro throw-back in the age of video content. So if that retro vibe suits your brand + you love the written word, text-based Q&A’s (like this one) could be for you!
5. An open letter to your industry, clients or niche
These are super fun to write (or film) and are perfect for when you feel yourself getting fired up about a particular topic! Here’s one I wrote after scrolling across a post on Instagram that got me really fired up. And here’s another I filmed after several people questioned (with disbelief) why I “wasted” money + time + energy doing a Bachelor of Science when I don’t even “use” my degree right now.
6. Get personal + talk about/share a lesson that you’ve recently learned
No matter how big or small, people love behind-the-scenes and seeing how you react to what life (and business) throws at you. Talk about that time you quit social media or almost blew a speaking engagement because the audience was different to what you expected. Share. Real. Life.
7. A comic-based blog
Like The Awkward Yeti - This comic is hilarious and an awesome pick-me-up on an often soul-sucking Facebook feed. Cassey Ho of Blogilates also has a comic series on Instagram that you can check out for inspo. And violinist Lindsey Stirling created a comic to go along with her Artemis album (so cool!).
Neglecting content + not prioritising it is a sure-fire sign that something is wrong.
And often, fixing the problem is as simple as tweaking what you’re already doing to something more enjoyable.
It all comes down to remembering that it’s your content and that you can make it look however you want.
Pick one of the options I covered above...
All of them…
None of them...
Or send your posts via carrier pigeon...
Who cares what everyone else is doing. What works for YOU?
50 content ideas for social media
For those times when your brain is stuck, fried or notably absent.
Get new social media content ideas by watching the two embedded videos below. Huzzah!
Chapter Five: Action
Have a read/watch through the content ideas above and make a commitment to try one new idea this month. Have fun experimenting and see where a new content format takes you!
Keep reading or back up to the table of contents.
Before You Go: A Final Reminder
The most important thing to remember.
Now, before you go all gung-ho and get over-excited with all of your brilliant new content ideas, I want you to remember…
What you can achieve depends on the resources that you have available.
Yes. Simple, I know. But it’s also remarkably easy to get caught up in the moment and overcommit yourself.
And since YOU’RE not booking a first-class ticket to Burnout-Ville, I want you to take a moment first and look at your experiences, background + strengths. And NOT to what everyone else is doing.
Why? Because nothing will tire you out faster than doing work you hate.
If it’s not fun for you, you’ll give it up. Aaand your peeps will feel that you aren’t 100% into it. (Whomp, whomp.)
You also want to look at the amount of time that you can (realistically) allocate to content creation.
Maybe you're someone who actually LOVES video and can film them with ease... but it takes you two days to write a single blog post. And then another day to edit it. (So in your case, it makes sense for you to do video.)
And what about support?
Are you on a single-woman mission? Or do you have a VA or team members? This will influence how much you can achieve in a set amount of time.
(Psst. Learn more about creating a simple + fun content process HERE.)
The key here: Don’t try to do ALL THE THINGS at the same time - and I’m speaking from experience here! Pick what brings you joy and save your sanity, because it’ll pay off in the long run.
IF YOU LOVED THIS IN-DEPTH GUIDE, YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE the planner collection!
Want to add more simplicity and fun to your business by doing content your way? Check out my planners and workbooks and say hello to content that’s simple, fun and actually does something for you.