Great Content Ideas - How To Write What Will Get Read

Discussion in 'Copywriting' started by hypnosis, Feb 27, 2009.

  1. #1
    Hi there,

    I have a question - how can I come up with great content ideas? Content that will be of interest to the reader.

    I'm talking 300-1000 word articles, that people like to read and maybe even share with others.

    I know being a great writer is one way, but I'm sure there are methods how you can research and find out what is of interest to people.

    Thanks,
    Bob
     
    hypnosis, Feb 27, 2009 IP
  2. jhmattern

    jhmattern Illustrious Member

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    #2
    Having a genuine interest in the topic certainly helps when you're trying to keep it interesting. But you can also use tools like the Adwords sandbox to find out what terms in a niche people are actually searching for. If a lot of people are searching for something, you can make the reasonable assumption it's something people actually would want to read.
     
    jhmattern, Feb 27, 2009 IP
  3. NICKY Nitro

    NICKY Nitro Well-Known Member

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    #3
    Telling compelling stories that the reader can relate to is one way of doing it...another approach is to write about controversial topics. One thing is certain though, if the headline and the first couple of sentences does not grab your readers by the eyeballs...they're gone!

    A research on the topic you are writing about is a MUST! Apart from that you have to know the psychology of your typical reader. You have to find out what they read, how they read it and how they want it delivered.

    My advice to you is to check the forums, blogs and social networks where your potential readers hang out and check some forums where copywriters hang out. You will learn a great deal of writing techniques and methods if you do so.

    Best of luck! ;)
     
    NICKY Nitro, Feb 27, 2009 IP
  4. pinch-penny

    pinch-penny Active Member

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    #4
    One of my favorite resources for article topics is Yahoo Answers. I just browse to areas that pertain to my niche and look at the kinds of questions people are asking. Sometimes the actual question becomes the headline of my article, other times the question just points me in a direction for a theme to write about.
     
    pinch-penny, Feb 27, 2009 IP
  5. jiosis

    jiosis Well-Known Member

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    #5
    That's a great tip. I think the other option would be to check a forum (like here) and see which discussions gain more attention.
     
    jiosis, Feb 27, 2009 IP
  6. blazinrachel

    blazinrachel Peon

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    #6
    it's not easy to write. you have to be really good. if you want them to be interested in your site. try link bait.
     
    blazinrachel, Feb 27, 2009 IP
  7. mspennylane

    mspennylane Active Member

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    #7
    I always use Yahoo Answers too. It is amazing how quickly you will be inspired from a quick browse there. Apart from that, you should probably start by writing on topics that truly interest you. Think about why you are interested in that, and whether your readers will be too.

    You can also challenge yourself to write about seemingly mundane events or topics and write them in a style that makes them interesting. This is a way of practicing a skill that you can hopefully apply to your later articles. I often note down topics in a notebook, then I will randomly pick one to write about. Sometimes it sounds impossible to make a certain subject interesting, but with a bit of brainstorming and practice there is usually a way!
     
    mspennylane, Feb 28, 2009 IP
  8. koan

    koan Well-Known Member

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    #8
    Clever idea. btw, your "My Blog" signature link doesn't work.
     
    koan, Feb 28, 2009 IP
  9. hawashp

    hawashp Peon

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    #9
    I recommend to rewrite articles using synonyms
    and deleting and adding

    This is the best way to build content for people who want to earn online
    not to start from scratch
     
    hawashp, Mar 1, 2009 IP
  10. jhmattern

    jhmattern Illustrious Member

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    #10
    Yeah. Brilliant. And it's also illegal in many parts of the world. Any content provider worth their salt will be able to actually write. Only those who can't will steal. Fortunately for those with morals, karma's a real bitch.
     
    jhmattern, Mar 1, 2009 IP
  11. hawashp

    hawashp Peon

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    #11
    This advise for those who want to earn online from adsense
     
    hawashp, Mar 2, 2009 IP
  12. jhmattern

    jhmattern Illustrious Member

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    #12
    And it's still illegal, no matter what they're hoping to gain from it (monetizing actually makes it worse in a legal sense). And reread what the OP is actually asking - how can they come up with content ideas for what will get read. They're not asking about how to throw together a crap site with stolen content to earn adsense revenue. They're asking how to write real content for the benefit of actual readers.
     
    jhmattern, Mar 2, 2009 IP
  13. daremkd

    daremkd Peon

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    #13
    Rewriting articles and adding and deleting is not always regarding as stealing i think the difference factor matters a lot, especially if you also delete and ADD it would make it more like sourcing if you note the original creators...

    and in a way that answers the op question as you can come up with great ideas (although not entirely your own) trough this way

    neither do such sites have to be "crap: i know a few popular sites who do this and trow in maybe half totally unique articles but their sources are quite unknown or have a reach in different segments of the net and niche, so to the readers of their sites so it will not easily get noticed nor be shun upon

    anyway their are many methods of coming up with great quality ideas i am not condoning nor motivating anyone to take that route or another

    to answer the Op one, of the ways is delicious.com and other bookmarking sites such as digg,reddit and su to get great articles who gain popularity from there and track down what sources they use if applicable then devise your "own" articles based upon that idea and take it a few steps further add own ideas and content and make it above all unique

    this just one wat there are countless ways..try google trends and then combine with above method for example..
     
    daremkd, Mar 7, 2009 IP
  14. jhmattern

    jhmattern Illustrious Member

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    #14
    Rewriting articles is copyright infringement. Period. Sourcing small amounts from multiple articles and adding to it is not. They're two entirely different things, which you're now trying to treat as nearly equal.

    And yes... if you can't be bothered to do more than rewrite someone else's work, stealing their effort because you're a lazy sod, I'd call that crap no matter what it ultimately looks like.

    And like it or not, this is a U.S.-based forum where that kind of "writing" is illegal. Do not go around promoting illegal activities to new writers who may not know any better here.
     
    jhmattern, Mar 7, 2009 IP
  15. daremkd

    daremkd Peon

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    #15
    sorry for saying but rewriting is offered here on DP and it isnt regarded as a infringement of rules(illegal is another matter which i wouldnt touch with a 50 feet pole to make a judgement about(im not a lawyer))...as far as i am aware :)

    but as i said i don't condone nor motivate anyone to do so..

    btw disclaimer i am not a writer in the strict sense but a linkbaiter
     
    daremkd, Mar 7, 2009 IP
  16. stilloutthere

    stilloutthere Peon

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    #16
    Being offered here doesn't make it legal.

    And even if it were legal, doing rewrites by just substituing synonyms usually produces an article that is absolute nonsense. And I don't think they get read.
     
    stilloutthere, Mar 7, 2009 IP
  17. jhmattern

    jhmattern Illustrious Member

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    #17
    Rewriting is allowed here on DP, because in many cases they're asking for rewrites of PLR content which they own a license to that allows them to rewrite it. If you see people asking writers they hire in a thread to rewrite content they don't have the rights to, use the report post button. It would fall in line with our rules against things like warez.
     
    jhmattern, Mar 8, 2009 IP
  18. baurebu999

    baurebu999 Peon

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    #18
    It will probably take a while until you get into the groove. I just strated writing for my own website and it still doesn't come easy. Keep at it.
     
    baurebu999, Mar 8, 2009 IP
  19. sarah_harvey

    sarah_harvey Active Member

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    #19
    I will tell you about an article I wrote as a freelancer for one site. It was simple. The site was a game portal and I decided to write an article about "Character Assassination" and the only way I knew the readers of the site would find it interesting, is if I added a little story to it.

    So I thought long and hard, and then it hit me. Write about an assassin. I play a game called "Black Hawk Down" and there was one memorable time where I was a sniper in a situation that was literally insane.

    So that is where my story came from.

    I wrote it and then posted it and even the Site Editor was impressed with the article. Later I posted the same article on Associated Content (this was way back before I got married) and needless to say it wasn't popular there, but then again it wouldn't interest "normal" people, however for a gaming portal it was absolutely perfect and I had many people that loved it and wanted me to write more.

    So cater for your hobby/niche and keep it relevant and you will have a winner.

    You can see the story at associated content here:

    http://216.241.164.182/article/41330/character_assassination.html
     
    sarah_harvey, Mar 9, 2009 IP
  20. kolours

    kolours Peon

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    #20
    Giving due respect to all the advisers over here, i' am really impressed with the suggestions of jhmattern and sarah. As a new member of this community, poeple like jhmattern really gives right direction to the beginner's. And i think if one is serious about the work. Then, one should learn to be "honest" and "hard worker."
     
    kolours, Mar 9, 2009 IP