17 Untapped Ways to Find New Content Ideas

17 Untapped Strategies to Uncover Fresh Content Ideas

Are you struggling to come up with new content ideas for your blog, YouTube channel, or podcast? Look no further. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explore 17 innovative techniques to generate a wealth of fresh, engaging content topics that will resonate with your audience.

At IncRev, we’ve used these strategies to consistently produce high-quality content that drives thousands of monthly visitors to our site. Let’s dive in and discover how you can tap into these powerful ideation methods.

1. Leverage Google Image Tags

Google Image search is an often overlooked goldmine for content ideas. Here’s how to use it effectively:

1. Enter a broad topic into Google Images
2. Examine the suggested tags Google provides
3. Combine tags with your original search term for unique angles

For example, searching “Paleo diet” might yield tags like “meal plan” or “breakfast”, leading to targeted content ideas like “Paleo diet meal plan” or “Paleo diet breakfast recipes”.

2. Mine the Facebook Ad Library

The Facebook Ad Library offers a treasure trove of proven content ideas. Here’s how to utilize it:

1. Search for a Facebook page in your niche
2. Analyze their current ads, especially boosted posts
3. Identify content themes that are performing well

Pay special attention to the language used in these ads – it can provide valuable insights into effective content promotion strategies.

3. Tap into Reddit with the Keyword Research Tool

The Reddit Keyword Research Tool is a powerful resource for uncovering trending topics. Here’s how to use it:

1. Enter a relevant subreddit
2. Review the list of keywords people are discussing
3. Use the provided search volume data to prioritize topics

This tool offers a unique perspective on what your target audience is actively discussing, helping you create timely and relevant content.

4. Analyze “Best By Links” Reports

Use SEO tools like SEMrush or Ahrefs to identify your competitors’ most linked content. This strategy helps you:

1. Discover topics with high link-earning potential
2. Identify content formats that resonate with your audience
3. Create improved versions of already successful content

For example, our analysis of 1 million Google search results was inspired by a competitor’s highly-linked study, and it has since earned links from over 3,600 domains.

5. Explore Emerging Trends with Exploding Topics

Exploding Topics is a free tool that scans the web for rapidly growing trends. Use it to:

1. Identify new topics in your niche
2. Get ahead of the curve on emerging trends
3. Create content on topics with less competition

Being an early adopter of new topics can give you a significant advantage in search rankings and social shares.

6. Mine Your Blog Comments for Ideas

Your audience’s comments are a direct line to their interests and questions. Use them to:

1. Identify recurring themes or questions
2. Develop content that directly addresses reader concerns
3. Gauge interest in potential topics

Remember, if one reader is asking a question, many other likely have the same query.

7. Analyze Competitors’ YouTube Channels

YouTube can be a goldmine for content ideas. Here’s how to leverage it:

1. Visit a competitor’s YouTube channel
2. Sort their videos by “Most popular”
3. Analyze the topics and formats of their best-performing content

This strategy works for generating ideas beyond just video content – use it for blog posts, infographics, or podcasts as well.

8. Explore Product Hunt for Emerging Niches

Product Hunt can help you identify growing trends and user pain points. Use it to:

1. Review top products in your niche
2. Identify common problems these products solve
3. Create content around these emerging needs

Don’t forget to check out their “Ask” forum for direct user questions and concerns.

9. Leverage Your Google Analytics Landing Pages Report

Your own analytics data can be a powerful source of content ideas. Here’s how:

1. Review your top-performing landing pages
2. Analyze what makes these pages successful
3. Create more content on similar topics or in similar formats

This strategy helps you double down on what’s already working for your specific audience.

10. Implement the Content Relaunch Strategy

Don’t always focus on creating new content – updating and relaunching existing content can be highly effective:

1. Identify older posts with declining traffic
2. Update the content with fresh information and insights
3. Relaunch the post as if it were new

This approach can significantly boost organic traffic to existing pages with minimal effort.

11. Create Annual Guides

Yearly guides can help you rank for competitive keywords with less competition:

1. Choose a broad topic in your niche
2. Create a comprehensive guide focused on trends for the coming year
3. Update and republish annually

This strategy allows you to target high-volume keywords while providing fresh, timely content each year.

12. Build a Content Swipe File

A swipe file is a collection of content that inspires you. Use it to:

1. Collect interesting content from various sources
2. Draw inspiration for new content ideas or formats
3. Adapt successful concepts to your niche

Remember, inspiration can come from outside your industry – keep an open mind when building your swipe file.

13. Utilize Google’s “Searches Related To” Feature

This often-overlooked feature can help you find long-tail keyword ideas:

1. Perform a broad search related to your topic
2. Scroll to the bottom of the results page
3. Review the “Searches related to” suggestions

Pro tip: Click through multiple levels of suggestions to uncover even more niche topics.

14. Target Super Low-Competition Keywords

Find untapped, low-competition keywords using SEO tools:

1. Analyze a competitor’s top keywords
2. Filter for very low keyword difficulty (e.g., <20)
3. Further filter for keywords with commercial intent (e.g., CPC >$2)

This approach helps you find valuable keywords that are easier to rank for.

15. Explore the A/B Rankings Keyword Questions Tool

The A/B Rankings Keyword Questions Tool scrapes “People also ask” sections from search results. Use it to:

1. Identify common questions in your niche
2. Create content that directly answers these queries
3. Improve your chances of appearing in featured snippets

This tool provides direct insight into what your audience is asking, helping you create highly relevant content.

16. Analyze Podcast Titles and Descriptions

Popular podcasts in your niche can be a great source of content ideas:

1. Browse podcast directories for shows in your industry
2. Review episode titles and descriptions
3. Look for recurring themes or unique angles

This method helps you identify topics that resonate with your target audience.

17. Review Conference Agendas

Industry conference agendas are goldmines for content ideas:

1. Find upcoming conferences in your niche
2. Review their session topics and descriptions
3. Identify trending themes and hot topics

Conference organizers spend significant time researching what their audience wants to learn about – leverage their efforts for your content strategy.

Bonus: Leverage Pinterest Suggest

Pinterest’s search suggestions can provide unique content ideas:

1. Enter a broad keyword into Pinterest’s search bar
2. Review the suggested search terms
3. Look for ideas that differ from Google’s suggestions

This approach can be particularly effective for visual or lifestyle-oriented content.

Conclusion

By implementing these 17 strategies, you’ll never run out of fresh, engaging content ideas. Remember, the key to successful content creation is understanding your audience’s needs and interests. Use these techniques to uncover those insights and create content that truly resonates.

At IncRev, we’ve used these exact strategies to grow our traffic to over 500,000 monthly visitors. If you’re looking to take your content marketing to the next level, consider partnering with our expert team. We can help you implement these strategies and develop a comprehensive content plan tailored to your unique business goals.

Frequently Asked Questions

How often should I be creating new content?

The frequency of content creation depends on your resources and audience needs. Quality should always take precedence over quantity. For most businesses, publishing 1-2 high-quality pieces per week is a good target.

How do I know if a content idea is worth pursuing?

Consider factors like search volume, competition, relevance to your audience, and potential for engagement. Use tools like Google Trends or SEMrush to gauge interest and difficulty. Ultimately, if the topic aligns with your audience’s needs and your business goals, it’s likely worth pursuing.

Should I focus on creating content for search engines or for my audience?

Always prioritize your audience. While SEO is important, creating valuable, engaging content for your readers should be the primary goal. Search engines are increasingly sophisticated at recognizing high-quality, user-focused content.

How can I make my content stand out in a crowded niche?

Focus on providing unique insights, data, or perspectives. Use your own experiences and expertise to add value. Consider different content formats or combining multiple formats (e.g., blog post with an embedded video) to create more comprehensive resources.

How do I measure the success of my content?

Key metrics include traffic, engagement (time on page, comments, shares), conversions, and backlinks. Set specific goals for each piece of content and track relevant metrics over time. Remember that some content may take weeks or months to reach its full potential.