As a freelance writer or content provider, sometimes finding fresh article ideas is more difficult than writing. Let's look at five ways to generate article ideas.
When working as a writer, part time or full time, providing writing to content writing sites, most writers have to come up with their own ideas for articles. Writing is usually the easy part, but coming up with what to write about, and even worse, running out of article ideas, can be quite problematic.
Let’s look at a few ways to generate article ideas that might also increase page views.
Article Idea Tip #1
Join discussion groups or question and answer groups, like Mylot or Yahoo! Answers, and you will find that many people are discussing and asking the same questions. If people are asking about it, it likely means there is a need for more information on that topic – so find it and write about it!
Article Idea Tip #2
Yahoo! Buzz, Google Zeitgeist, DogPile SearchSpy, Google Trends, MSN Search Insider, and others provide useful information about what is currently a hot topic as far as internet searches. If you can write an article on one of these topics that are highly searched for, but provide some type of a unique spin, you’re almost assured to find reader interest and page views.
Article Idea Tip #3
Ask family and friends what things they would like to read about, and then do a bit of research and write about it. Be sure to send that person a link to the article once it is online.
Article Idea Tip #4
Refresh or expand an existing article that is evergreen. Sometimes information changes, and when that happens, a follow up article that talks about the changes from a previous article can bring people to the new article, brand the writer as an expert who keeps up to date on their topics, and bring new readers to the older content again too.
If the information hasn’t changed, consider writing a new article that expands or adds to the existing article, providing additional information on the same subject, and if possible, link to the older article in the new one.
Article Idea Tip #5
People use the internet to look up information on just about everything these days. Whether it’s information about a new drug, how to do something, where to buy something… whatever it is, if the writer had to search for it for themselves, chances are someone else will likely be searching for it too.
Anytime a writer searches for something on the internet for themselves, that time researching that personal thing can be turned into an article. Why not take advantage of that time spent looking it up and take a bit more time to write an article about it?
Lastly, one final bonus tip to help generate article ideas: read.
When stuck and unsure of what to write about, simple start by finding a favorite content site and start reading. It won’t take long before an article or someone else’s opinion sparks that creative urge to respond, either agreeing or disagreeing, and instead of responding, write an article about it.
If a great article provides basic information and sparks curiosity to look up more, research that additional information and write a new article based on that specific additional information. Nothing sparks a writing streak like reading other content and expanding on it, just always be sure to do your own research and write it as a completely unique article, giving credit to sources where necessary.
Following these tips, freelance writers can generate article ideas in an easy and fun way, while providing education and information both for themselves and their readers.
