I trust you’ve heard the phrase, “There’s nothing new under the sun”? Well, that couldn’t be more true than it is for content marketing. And the thing is, to gain the benefits of this tactic, you need to write a lot of articles.

So why not jump-start your process with a little help from those who have blazed the trail before you? Here are a few ways to find inspiration for your articles.

Google Alerts

One way I use to find ongoing inspiration is to set up a Google Alert for my selected keywords and keyword phrases. When setting up yours, be sure to make them a comprehensive search so you’ll receive inspiration from all over the web. This little tip brings inspiration directly to your email inbox regularly. And you can decide if it comes in daily, weekly, or even as it happens.

Keyword Phrase Research

Speaking of key words and key word phrases, you’ve done your research in that arena, right? I mean, you should never guess what people are searching with when there are plenty of key word tools you can use to uncover exactly what words and phrases they are using.

You should be using key words and phrases in your articles anyway, but also when you find those longer keyword phrases, they can inspire you with a topic — or even topics — for your articles.

Looking for a hungry target market that is ready to buy? Find keyword phrases that include the following keywords: “How to,” “Review” or “Tips.”

EzineArticles.com

EzineArticles.com is probably the most top ranked article directory, so it can be an excellent source of inspiration. When you read enough of what others have written about your topic, you’ll find that the same information is regurgitated over and over. This is a good thing!

Now you know what information people want to know. So take that information and re-write it in your own words, giving it your own unique spin and personality. (Do not plagiarize – copy another’s words and claim that they are your own – that’s illegal and very bad for business to boot!)

Take a look at what others have written and discover what’s missing. How can you improve on the information already provided?

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