As marketers, we often find ourselves hitting a creative wall. However, new ideas are essential for keeping your audience engaged and your brand relevant. So, how do you continually generate novel content marketing ideas? Here are several expert strategies to help you rejuvenate your content approach.

Audit and Analyze Your Existing Content

Before diving into new content creation, it’s crucial to understand what has already been done and how it has performed. Conduct a comprehensive audit of your existing content and strategy. Identify which pieces resonated most with your audience and which fell flat. This analysis will provide valuable insights into content gaps and areas ripe for innovation.

Conduct Surveys and Interviews

Your customers and industry leaders are untapped reservoirs of inspiration. Conducting surveys and interviews can yield a wealth of information. Ask your audience about their pain points, preferences, and ideas. This direct feedback not only helps you create content that addresses their specific needs but also fosters a sense of community and engagement.

Practical Steps:

• Create Online Surveys: Utilize tools like SurveyMonkey or Google Forms to gather quantitative data.
• Conduct Interviews: Schedule interviews with key clients or industry experts. This can be done through video calls or in-person meetings.
• Analyze Feedback: Look for recurring themes or unique insights that can be translated into compelling content.

Stay on Top of Industry News

By staying abreast of the latest news and trends, you can create timely content that resonates with your audience. Newsjacking, or the practice of aligning your content with current events, can significantly boost your engagement rates.

Practical Steps:

• Follow Industry Publications: Subscribe to leading industry magazines, blogs, and news sites.
• Use News Aggregators: Tools like Feedly can help you keep track of the latest articles and trends in your field.
• Set Up Google Alerts: Receive notifications for specific keywords related to your industry.

Switch It Up: Experiment with New Formats

Diversifying your content formats can breathe new life into your content marketing strategy. Don’t limit yourself to blog posts and social media posts. Explore various content types to see what resonates best with your audience.

Practical Steps:

• Short and Long-Form Videos: Platforms like YouTube and TikTok offer vast potential for video marketing.
• Visual Blogs: Break up your blogs with engaging and strong visuals. This will help draw in readers and keep your content memorable.
• Interactive Quizzes: Use tools like Typeform to create engaging quizzes that captivate your audience.
• Out of the Box: How can you push past the noise to create something different? Comic book, fact vs fiction, fun and usual ways to use your product, hide and seek puzzles of your product…you get it!

Leverage Internal Team Insights

Your team is a goldmine of fresh perspectives and ideas. Encouraging collaboration and open communication within your organization can lead to innovative content concepts.

Practical Steps:

• Brainstorming Sessions: Regularly schedule team meetings focused on generating new content ideas.
• Cross-Department Collaboration: Engage team members from different departments to gain diverse insights.
• Idea Submission Systems: Create a system where team members can submit content ideas at any time.

Getting Inspired by Others

Dive into other industries and take a peek to see what your competitors have going on. Use it as inspiration to build out your own ideas based on what’s working well for other companies.

Practical Steps:

• Competitor Analysis Tools: Use tools like SEMrush or Ahrefs to monitor your competitors’ content strategies.
• Benchmark Reports: Regularly review industry benchmark reports to understand current trends.
• Adapt and Innovate: Think about how you can put your own spin on successful content tactics used by companies, even in completely different industries.

The Path to Continuous Innovation

Finding new content marketing ideas is an ongoing process that requires a mix of creativity, analysis, and strategic thinking. By auditing your current content, engaging with your audience, staying informed about industry trends, experimenting with new formats, leveraging internal insights, and monitoring competitors, you can consistently generate fresh and engaging content ideas.

Remember, the goal is not just to follow trends but to set them. By implementing these strategies, you can position your brand as a thought leader in your industry and keep your audience engaged and loyal.

Looking for more ways to improve your content marketing? Download our Toolkit: Power Up Your Content Marketing