10 Ways to Come Up With New Content Ideas and Optimize Them

Coming up with new content ideas can feel exhausting sometimes, right? 

I’ve been there – staring at a blank screen, trying to think of something interesting to write about that actually matters to my audience.

It can be a challenge.

But here’s the thing: it doesn’t have to be. 

Over time, I’ve figured out a strategic approach that consistently helps me generate quality content ideas that resonate with my target audience and drive real business results.

And you’re probably wondering, “How?”

Well, I’m here to spill all my secrets. In this guide, I’ll walk you through my tried-and-tested process for brainstorming the best content ideas. The same process that helps me stay creative and relevant.

Ready to make content creation easier and way more effective? 

Let’s start reviewing ways to come up with new content ideas!

1. Conduct Audience Research like It’s Your Holy Grail!

I can’t stress this enough: understanding your audience is where all great content ideas start. 

When I first started creating content, I assumed I knew what my audience wanted. 

Spoiler alert: I was wrong. 

That’s why now, my process always begins with thorough audience research for each topic and segment I write about.

To do this, I always start by creating a detailed buyer persona:

• Go deep into their demographics, psychographics, and behaviors.
• Give your persona a name, age, occupation, income level, interests, and pain points.
• This persona should feel like a real person you’re trying to connect with, not just a bunch of stats on a page.

I use SEO tools like SEOBoost’s Topic Reports to help me do that. 

It helps me analyze top ranking pages and related keywords the audience already engages with.

It analyzes competitor data to see what’s already working in your niche.

What I like the most about using topic reports at this stage is that they identify key phrases and words associated with specific keywords. This helps me better understand the types of searches my audience makes and draw conclusions about why.

Once you’ve built your buyer persona and gathered insights from your tools, you’ll have a goldmine of content ideas to work with. 

And trust me, this groundwork makes all the difference.

2. Engage with Your Audience

If there’s one thing I’ve learned about generating content ideas, it’s this: your audience holds the key. 

When I first started, I underestimated how powerful direct engagement could be. Now, it’s one of my go-to strategies for finding content ideas that actually matter to people.

I listen to my audience through social media posts, emails, or even live interactions to actively encourage open dialogue.

You can also invite them to share their questions, concerns, and suggestions as a general practice.

Seriously, just ask! 

You’d be surprised how many ideas pour in when you make it clear you’re listening.

One thing that happens when you do this is you get the opportunity to create a lot of user-generated content (UGC).

You can run campaigns that invite your audience to share their experiences, tips, or creative expressions. This not only provides authentic content ideas but also boosts engagement and loyalty.

Plus, UGC is pure gold for building credibility and trust.

Here’s an example of a UGC created by a LinkedIn content creator explaining their use case for AIOSEO’s Broken Link Checker.

Lastly, pay attention to comments on your blog posts, social media posts, and YouTube videos. Look for recurring topics, pain points, or even offhand questions that could spark new content ideas.

3. Review Analytics for Content Ideas

If you’re not diving into your analytics, you’re missing out on a treasure chest of content ideas. 

I’ve learned this the hard way. It’s like having the answers right before you but not knowing how to read them. 

But once you figure it out? Game-changing.

To do this, start by identifying your top-performing content. Use tools like Google Search Console and Looker Studio to determine the best ranking.

Find the pages with the most views, shares, comments, and conversions.

Using this data, spot the trends. Which topics, formats, and styles are getting the most love? Note them down because that’s your blueprint for future content ideas.

You can also use data from SEO analysis tools to identify content gaps. Look for keywords or topics that are getting hits but aren’t fully covered by your content.

Then, use SEOBoost’s content audit feature to analyze them. Enter your focus keyword and the URL of your existing content.

SEOBoost will analyze your content based on over 25 ranking metrics, identifying gaps you might have missed.

Once you have identified those gaps, start brainstorming content that fills those voids.

And honestly, this saves me so much time compared to manually combing through data.

4. Check Blog Comments for Content Treasure Hunting

Here’s something I’ve realized over time: Your blog’s comment section is like an untapped goldmine for content ideas. 

I used to skim over comments, thinking they were just casual feedback. 

Big mistake! 

Now, I actively go digging there, and it never disappoints.

To make the most of blog comments, I look for recurring themes.

To do this:

• Pay attention to comments that touch on similar topics or ask related questions.
• If multiple people are asking the same thing, it’s a clear sign you need to create content around it.
• Turn user questions into blog posts. For instance, if someone’s repeatedly asking, “How do I optimize content without sounding robotic?”  – Boom! You’ve got yourself a new topic to write about.
• Use comments to identify pain points. This means utilizing negative comments or constructive criticism as feedback for better marketing opportunities.

5. Steal Content Ideas from Google’s “People Also Ask”

You know that “People Also Ask” section that pops up when you Google something? 

Yeah, that’s one of my favorite hacks for generating content ideas. It’s like having a sneak peek into what your audience is actively searching for.

Browse the questions carefully to turn this little Google feature into a content idea machine. 

Type in a keyword related to your niche and scroll down to the “People Also Ask” section. You’ll find a list of commonly searched questions your audience is curious about.

You can also expand questions for more ideas. Click on the questions to reveal even more related queries. Keep expanding until you’ve gathered a hefty list of potential topics.

If you see the same question repeatedly, it’s worth creating a comprehensive blog post about it.

When you find high-interest topics, don’t just answer them briefly; turn them into in-depth guides. This positions you as an authority and increases your chances of appearing in the coveted Featured Snippets.

I usually combine these findings with LowFruits to identify low-competition keywords around these questions, ensuring my content is helpful and easily discoverable.

6. Spy On Your Competitors

Sometimes, the best way to develop new content ideas is to see what’s working for your competitors. 

I’ve made it a habit to watch my competitors’ blogs, websites, and social media channels. 

And you know what? 

It’s like having a cheat sheet to what your audience already loves.

I always use competitor analysis tools to conduct competitor content audits.

Tools like Semrush are your go-to here. Just pop in your competitor’s URL, and it generates a comprehensive report for you.

Using this, you get details like their top-ranking pages, traffic overview, organic traffic value, and keyword gaps.

That last part? Pure gold. 

Those keyword gaps are opportunities just waiting to be capitalized on.

Apart from Semrush, I regularly use SEOBoost’s Topic Reports to understand the competitor content for specific keywords.

It helps you understand where your competitors excel and where they’re failing. What content formats are performing best for them?

Most importantly, where are they missing out? Those gaps are your openings.

I structure newfound ideas using this data into well-researched, optimized content pieces.

Just remember, competitor research isn’t about copying what works – it’s about finding what’s missing and filling that gap better than anyone else.

7. Keep Up with Trending Content Topics and Formats

Staying relevant means staying on top of trends. And let’s be real, nobody wants to read outdated content. 

That’s why I make sure to always keep an eye on what’s trending and what’s working.

I do this through keyword and topic research, using SEO tools like SEOBoost’s Topic Reports and Semrush to find trends in your niche.

If you’re using Topic Reports, all you have to do is enter a keyword you want to rank for, and SEOBoost will analyze the top 30 SERPs and generate a complete topic analysis.

This analysis will show relevant phrases, words, alt texts, and outbound URLs associated with that keyword. 

Using this data, you can highlight the trending content topics.

You should also observe high-performing content formats. For example, are listicles performing well? How about in-depth guides or video content?

Notice what formats consistently perform well and consider adapting or expanding upon those formats.

If you want my secret hack, use Google Trends or Reddit to see what topics are gaining traction.

8. Mine Social Media for Content Ideas

If you’re not using social media for content ideas, you leave so much potential on the table. 

Social media isn’t just for promotion anymore. It’s a direct line to your audience’s wants, needs, and pain points. And I’ve found some of my best content ideas right there.

Here’s how I tap into social media gold:

• Follow hashtags, industry influencers, and thought leaders on Twitter, LinkedIn, and Instagram.
• Keep an eye on conversations and trending topics in your niche.
• When you notice specific topics generating buzz, creating content around them is your cue.
• Analyze popular topics, get sentiment analysis, and discover what your audience is truly interested in.

Apart from this, I’ve found that consistently posting and engaging on the right platforms (LinkedIn, for me, because that’s where my audience hangs out) helps me understand what my audience engages with most.

9. Create Topic Clusters

Topic clusters are your best friend if you’re serious about consistently generating new content ideas. 

It took me a while to fully grasp their power, but once I did, it completely changed how I approach content planning. Instead of isolated posts, you create a web of interconnected content ready to rank.

To do this, I identify core topics and list the most relevant topics for your audience and business. These should be broad enough to cover various subtopics but specific enough to stay focused.

For example, if I’m creating content around “SEO Content Writing,” my core topics might include:

• Keyword Research
• On-Page SEO
• Content Optimization
• Link Building

Once I have my core topics, I break them down into subtopics.

You can also brainstorm content types for each subtopic:

• Blog posts, videos, infographics, podcasts – whatever your audience prefers.
• Mix and match content types to create a well-rounded cluster.

After you’ve created topic clusters, create a content roadmap.

Once I have my roadmap, I know exactly what content to create next and how it fits together. It’s like having a clear blueprint instead of just throwing content out there and hoping it sticks.

10. Refresh, Recycle and Reuse Existing Content

Generating new content ideas always meant coming up with something entirely fresh. 

This is when I realized – why not breathe new life into the gold you’ve already created? 

Recycling and updating older content has become one of my most reliable strategies for keeping my content library relevant and valuable.

Here’s my process for making the most of older content:

• Start by reviewing your existing content library to identify evergreen content.
• Focus on pieces that have performed well in engagement, shares, and conversions.
• Once you’ve identified the best candidates, update them with new statistics, perspectives, or fresh angles.

While writing and optimizing content, you can also use SEOBoost’s Content Optimization feature to identify gaps in your existing content’s on-page SEO score and improve them.

Here’s how it works:

• Write, edit and optimize your content in the editor-style interface.
• The AI-powered tool assigns an overall SEO content score and recommends real-time improvements.
• You get specific guidance on readability, word count, headers, multimedia use, and more.

Once your content is updated, don’t let it just sit there. Promote it!

Share it through social media, email newsletters, and relevant industry platforms.

Trust me, this process has saved me countless hours of brainstorming and writing from scratch. Plus, I often end up with better-performing content than the original version.

Key Takeaway

I’ll reiterate what I said at the start of this article – generating new content ideas doesn’t have to be daunting. 

You can consistently develop new content ideas by understanding your audience through research and direct engagement, analyzing analytics to spot trends and gaps, monitoring your competitors, and tapping into trending topics. 

And remember, building topic clusters and refreshing older content using tools like SEOBoost can further enhance your strategy. 

The key is staying organized, relevant, and, most importantly, listening to your audience.

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Alina Zahid Content Writer

Alina is an SEO professional with specialized knowledge of content marketing. When she’s not busy researching and creating awesome content for SEOBoost, she can be found practicing piano, writing fiction and traveling.

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