How to Come Up With Content Ideas For SEO

Cooking Up Content Ideas

Whipping up a content calendar that hits the SEO sweet spot can feel like a juggling act. Here, we’ll explore two solid methods: spying on the competition and brainstorming questions.

Spying on the Competition

Spying on the competition means peeking at what your rivals are doing to see what’s working for them, where they’re falling short, and where you can outshine them. This method helps you create content that stands out and truly speaks to your audience (SEMrush).

1. Spot Your Rivals

• Direct Rivals: Sell the same stuff you do.
• Indirect Rivals: Sell different stuff but to the same crowd.

1. Check the Vital Stats

• Monthly Organic Traffic

• Domain Authority

• Top Country by Traffic

• Average Time on Site

• Top Keywords

• Backlinks

  Metric	Rival 1	Rival 2	Rival 3
  Monthly Organic Traffic	50,000	45,000	60,000
  Domain Authority	75	70	80
  Top Country by Traffic	USA	UK	Canada
  Average Time on Site	4 mins	3 mins	5 mins
  Top Keywords	100	85	110
  Backlinks	2,000	1,800	2,500

1. Snoop on Their Content

• Content Types
• Quality and Length
• Formats (blogs, videos, infographics)
• How They Attract Users
• Influencers and Content Team

1. Turn Intel into Gold
   Use what you’ve learned to beef up your own content strategy, playing to your rivals’ strengths and exploiting their weaknesses.

For more on this, check out our article on content ideation strategies.

Brainstorming Questions

Brainstorming questions is all about thinking up the questions your audience is asking. This way, you can create content that hits the nail on the head.

1. Find Common Questions

• Use tools like AnswerThePublic or Google’s People Also Ask to see what folks are curious about.

1. Sort the Questions

• Group them into themes to make content creation easier.

1. Create Content That Answers

• Write blogs, make videos, or design infographics that answer these questions.

1. SEO Magic

• Make sure your content is SEO-friendly with the right keywords and phrases.

  Question Category	Example Questions
  Product Info	What are the top features of [Product]?
  How-To Guides	How do you use [Product] effectively?
  Troubleshooting	Why isn’t [Product] working?
  Comparisons	How does [Product] stack up against [Rival]?
  Benefits	What are the perks of using [Product]?

By tapping into these questions, you can churn out a ton of content ideas that your audience will love. For more brainstorming tips, visit our page on content brainstorming techniques.

Using these methods—spying on the competition and brainstorming questions—will keep your content fresh, relevant, and SEO-friendly. Get ready to see your organic traffic soar with creative content ideas that hit the mark.

Content Ideation Techniques

Coming up with fresh content ideas for SEO can feel like trying to catch lightning in a bottle. But don’t sweat it—there are some killer brainstorming techniques that can help you spark creativity. Let’s dive into three methods: hybrid brainstorming, mind map brainstorming, and starbursting.

Hybrid Brainstorming

Hybrid brainstorming is like the best of both worlds. You start solo, jotting down your ideas without any interruptions. Then, you bring those ideas to the group, where everyone can chime in and build on them. This way, you get a mix of independent thought and collaborative magic.

Steps for Hybrid Brainstorming:

1. Solo Time: Each person writes down their ideas on their own.
2. Group Huddle: Everyone shares their ideas with the group.
3. Polish and Shine: Together, you refine and expand on the best ideas.

Mind Map Brainstorming

Mind mapping is a visual way to organize your thoughts. You start with a central idea and branch out into related subtopics. It’s like creating a tree of ideas, making it easier to see connections and come up with a ton of content possibilities.

Steps for Mind Map Brainstorming:

1. Central Idea: Write your main topic in the center of a blank page or digital tool.
2. Branch Out: Draw lines from the central idea to subtopics.
3. Keep Branching: Add more branches and sub-branches to explore related ideas.

Starbursting

Starbursting is all about asking questions. You use the 5 W’s and 1 H (Who, What, Where, When, Why, and How) to dig deep into a topic. This technique helps you look at a problem from every angle, uncovering new perspectives and ideas.

Steps for Starbursting:

1. State the Topic: Clearly define what you’re brainstorming about.
2. Question Time: Ask questions starting with Who, What, Where, When, Why, and How.
3. Explore Answers: Use these questions to explore different aspects and potential solutions.

Using these techniques, you can whip up a solid content calendar that’s perfect for SEO-focused topics with good search volume. Want more tips? Check out our guides on content brainstorming techniques and content ideation tools.

Spying on the Competition: Your Secret Weapon for Killer SEO Content

Want to crush it with your SEO content? Time to peek over the fence and see what your competitors are up to. By snooping on their content strategies, you can spot their hits, misses, and everything in between. Let’s break it down.

How to Steal (Legally) from Your Competitors

Competitive content analysis is like having a cheat sheet for your SEO game. It helps you stay ahead and create content that your audience will love. Here’s how you do it:

1. Find Your Rivals: Make a list of both direct and indirect competitors.
2. Check the Numbers: Look at stuff like monthly organic search traffic, domain authority, top countries by traffic, average time on site, top keywords, and backlinks.
3. Spy on Their Content: Dive into their content categories, quality, length, formats, user acquisition strategies, influencers, and content team setups.

Find the Gaps and Fill ‘Em

Content gap analysis is all about finding what your competitors have that you don’t. Then, you swoop in and create even better content. Here’s how:

1. Use the Right Tools: Tools like SEMRush, Ahrefs, and The Hoth are your best friends here.
2. Spot the Missing Pieces: Look for topics your competitors cover that you haven’t touched.
3. Outdo Them: Create content that’s more detailed, better researched, and packed with unique insights or fresh data.

By following these steps, you’ll not only fill the gaps but also boost your SEO game. Want more tips on planning your content? Check out our articles on content ideation tools and content planning and ideation.

Ready to turn your competitors’ strengths into your own? Let’s get started!

Content Planning Strategies

To come up with killer content ideas for SEO, you need solid content planning strategies. This keeps your content creation organized, efficient, and aligned with your marketing goals.

Why Content Planning Matters

Content planning is the backbone of a good content marketing strategy. It sets up a framework for creating content that doesn’t miss the little details, leading to more high-quality leads and a packed sales funnel (Teamwork.com). Here’s why content planning is a game-changer:

• Consistency: Keeps your content flowing regularly, so your audience stays hooked.
• Efficiency: Cuts down on repetitive tasks, freeing up time for more important stuff.
• Strategic Alignment: Makes sure your content matches your marketing goals and what your audience wants.
• Resource Allocation: Helps you use your resources wisely to produce top-notch content.

Tools to Make Content Planning a Breeze

Using content planning tools can help you stay consistent, automate tasks, and save time. Here are some top tools to keep your content planning on point:

These tools help you:

• Stay Consistent: Keep your content rolling out on time across different platforms.
• Automate Tasks: Cut down on manual work for publishing and scheduling content.
• Plan Strategically: Take advantage of key moments like holidays and events for creating timely content.

For more details on content planning and ideation tools, check out our article on content ideation tools.

By using these tools in your content planning, you can streamline your process and make sure your content creation is both effective and efficient. For more tips, see our guide on content planning and ideation.