5 Best Places to Find Article Ideas

One of the most challenging parts of being a content writer is coming up with fresh, new article ideas, day in and day out. Some of the sites that I write for offer lists of titles that must be chosen from, eliminating this problem. However, residual income sites, and even some upfront pay sites such as Bright Hub, require that you come up with your own article titles.

You should already know how to find profitable keywords for your web articles, but where do you begin looking for these keywords? What do you type into that little blank box to get the ball rolling? I've got a few suggestions for you. These are all places that I use regularly to find article ideas, and they have all worked well for me. Hopefully you can find some inspiration in them, too!

1.) Ezine Articles

This is a tip I picked up a while ago, and I've found it works very well for finding article ideas in all topics. Simply visit the Ezine Articles website, choose a category that you're interested in, and browse through the recent articles. Now, it's important to note that you shouldn't just steal someone else's keywords, but use them to find a profitable keyword for yourself, and then base your new article around this keyword. There's no shame in using a keyword someone else has already used, however (and its almost impossible not to), but make sure you write the article from a fresh angle.

For example, if I open up the Finances category, and find there are numerous articles written on the subject of "free cash grants," I wouldn't automatically go out and start writing an article about free cash grants. Instead, I would plug this phrase into Google Adwords and analyze the related keyword phrases to find a good one. A keyword phrase such as this one should garner oodles of related keywords, and you can use any of them that meet your requirements.

2.) Forums

Forums are one of the best places to get article ideas. Why? Because they represent the information that people want or need, but don't have or can't find. This is a perfect need for you to fill with your content, and if you do it timely enough, also a good place to plug your article. However, make sure you choose forums based on your interests or favorite writing topic, and don't be spammy about it. My recent post regarding the IRA website is a perfect example of this tactic.

Someone posted a query about the company on the WAHM forums, which I then researched and posted on the blog. Of course, for SEO articles, you'll need to take the idea you got from the forums to Google Adwords and find a related keyword to use. However, this can help you get started with a topic idea, and the related keywords should help you find a suitable phrase. Just remember, every idea you get from a forum may not be a winner. If you can't find an appropriate keyword phrase to use for the article, just abandon it and move on.

3.) Other Content Sites

Okay, I might be treading on thin ice here, but give me a chance to explain. If you write for other websites that provide lists of titles for you to write, you can use these titles to get your own keywords. You should NEVER steal the keywords or article titles, but instead use them to find your own unique keywords.

For example, if you notice that there are numerous titles being released on one topic, chances are that this is an in-demand topic and you can probably find your own keyword and angle to cover it. If you see umpteen articles being requested containing the word "bamboo," then try that word in Adwords and see what you get. You might be able to find something very unique that hasn't had much written about it, such as "How to Care for Bamboo Cutting Boards."

But, please, use caution here. Never, ever, ever, ever, steal a title from a content site!!! You can use them for trends and ideas, but make sure it's unique enough to call your own!

4.) Google Alerts

Google alerts is a fantastic tool for content writers who need to come up with regular article ideas. Although I wouldn't recommend getting all of your ideas here (unless you write strictly news stories, or seasonal or pop culture articles), you can find some great timely topics. If you are unfamiliar with how to use google alerts, see this fantastic post written by Lisa Angletti for in-depth instructions.

The main benefit of using Google Alerts for article ideas is that you get the latest, hottest information on the topic or topics of your choosing in real time. If a huge story in your niche (or favorite writing topic) has just been published, you'll be able to get in on the action before the masses spam it all over the place.

5.) Books

Yes, I know. You've heard it a thousand times, but how do you actually go from an interesting book to a keyword-based web article? Well, here's how I do it. I write many articles on natural medicine and I have TONS of books on the subject that I often reference in my work. Usually, if I'm running short on keyword ideas, I'll pull out a good book and begin skimming through it. For this example, I'll use on of my favorite aromatherapy book. It has sections on each different essential oil and carrier oil.

So, all I do now is open Google Adwords and begin with the first section of the book. It's about sweet almond oil. I plug this into Adwords and look around to see if anything catches my eye. Perhaps I could write an article about the benefits of sweet almond oil, or maybe an article on using sweet almond oil in aromatherapy. Maybe instead of "sweet almond oil," I find that the keyword "almond sweet oil" has better numbers, and I can use that as the title for my article.

The possibilities are endless, but the keyword phrase makes the ultimate decision. If the keyword is extremely saturated, or doesn't pay well, or I can't find a related keyword that makes sense and meets the requirements, then I'll move on to the next section of the book and see if I can get any ideas there.

I Want to Hear From You! What Are Your Favorite Places to Find Article Ideas?