You sit down, ready to batch some content, and suddenly… nothing. Your brain is a blank slate. No fresh ideas, no witty hooks, just you, staring at the cursor, waiting for inspiration to hit.
Sound familiar? You’re not alone.
Content creation burnout is real, but here’s the good news: there’s a way to never run out of content ideas again.
Whether you’re feeling uninspired or just stuck in a rut, these tried-and-true strategies will help you refill your idea bank ASAP.
9 Content Creation Tips, So You Never Run Out of Content Ideas
1. Do a Mind Map
When you’re stuck, it’s usually not because you have no ideas, but because you’re overthinking. A mind map helps you visually break things down and uncover topics you didn’t even realize were in your head.
Start by writing your main content pillar in the center of a page. This could be something like “Wedding Photography” or “Web Design.” From there, branch out into subtopics.
If your pillar is Wedding Photography, your subtopics might include:
- Wedding Day Posing
- Editing and Presets
- Client Experience
- Location
- Behind-the-Scenes
Now, take each of those subtopics and break them down even further.
Under Wedding Day Posing, you might have:
- How to Pose Camera-Shy Couples
- Posing Prompts That Create Natural, Candid Moments
- The Best Poses for Big Wedding Parties
- How to Make First Look Photos Feel Authentic
Under Editing & Presets, you could have:
- How to Create a Consistent Editing Style
- Lightroom Presets: Should You Buy or Create Your Own?
- How to Edit a Dark & Moody vs. Light & Airy Style
- The #1 Editing Mistake That Ruins Wedding Photos
If your pillar is Web Design, your subtopics might include:
- Website Strategy
- User Experience (UX) Design
- Design Tools & Platforms
- Branding & Visual Identity
- Website Copywriting
From there, your ideas could look like this:
Under Website Strategy, you might have:
- The 5 Pages Every Website Needs
- Homepage Mistakes That Could Be Losing You Clients
- How to Plan Your Website Layout Before You Hire a Designer
- DIY vs. Custom Websites: Which One is Right for Your Business?
Under Design Tools & Platforms, you could do:
- Showdown: Squarespace vs. Showit vs. WordPress—Which one is right for you?
- Must-have web design tools every creative business owner needs
- How to customize website templates to make them feel unique
- Canva vs. Adobe: Which is better for DIY web design?
- My favorite fonts and design elements for modern websites
By the time you finish, you’ll have 20-30+ content ideas just from this one exercise. The key is to write freely. Don’t overthink whether an idea is “good enough.” Often, the most obvious topics are the ones your audience needs the most.
2. Get Some Fresh Air (Without Your Headphones)
Sometimes, the best thing you can do is step away from the screen. Take a walk without listening to a podcast, scrolling your phone, or filling your brain with more noise. When your brain isn’t processing new information, it finally has the space to connect the dots between things you’ve already learned.
3. Browse Pinterest for Inspiration
Pinterest is a goldmine for content ideas. Search for broad topics like “wedding photography tips” or “website design trends” and check out related searches for more ideas. Look at popular pins—what types of content are people saving and engaging with?
Pro Tip: Don’t just copy trends—use them as a jumping-off point to create something unique to your brand.
4. Keep a Swipe File for Inspiration
A swipe file is just a fancy way of saying: save content that sparks ideas. Whenever you come across a headline that makes you want to click, a post that gets tons of engagement, or a unique way of explaining something, save it.
Think of it as your personal content mood board, full of things that make you think, “Ooh, I could create something like this.”
You can use Notion, Google Docs, Pinterest or even a simple Notes app to store ideas. Next time you feel stuck, pull from your swipe file for instant inspo.
5. Research What’s Trending
If you want your content to stay relevant, you need to stay ahead of the curve.
Use tools like Pinterest Trends to see what’s gaining traction in your industry, Google Trends to find search trends and seasonal content ideas, and the Instagram and TikTok Explore Pages to spot emerging content formats that are getting engagement.
A little research goes a long way in keeping your content fresh and aligned with what people are actively searching for.
6. Write Morning Pages or Start a Journaling Practice
Some of your best content ideas are probably already in your head—you just need a way to pull them out.
Morning pages is a practice where you write three pages, longhand, every morning, without overthinking or filtering your thoughts. Get whatever is in your brain out so new ideas can flow.
This isn’t a structured journal entry. There’s no right or wrong way to do it.
You can write about random thoughts, what’s on your mind, or even complaints about how you feel uninspired. The magic happens when you let your thoughts wander, and suddenly, you’ll stumble onto ideas that were buried in the back of your mind.
Even if you don’t do full morning pages, journaling is an incredible tool for content clarity. Try free-writing about your audience’s biggest struggles, your experiences in your industry, or something you’re currently learning. You’ll be surprised how many content ideas come from your own reflections.
7. Give Yourself Permission to Write an Ugly First Draft
Perfectionism kills creativity. If you’re stuck, just start writing, even if it’s terrible. Set a 10-minute timer and free-write on your topic. No editing, no second-guessing. Once the timer’s up, revise and refine.
Most people struggle with content because they expect every idea to be genius from the start. Give yourself permission to start messy, and you’ll have way more ideas to work with.
8. Work With Your Cycle (Not Against It)
This one is specifically for women business owners who have a monthly cycle:
Women’s energy and creativity fluctuate throughout the month, and when you start working with your cycle instead of fighting against it, content creation becomes so much easier.
The follicular phase (right after your period ends) is your brainstorming and idea-generating superpower. This is when your energy starts increasing, and your brain is more open to new possibilities. If you need to map out your content calendar or plan new launches, this is the time to do it.
The ovulatory phase is your most magnetic and social time. Your confidence is high, and communication flows effortlessly. This is the best time to batch video content, record podcasts, go live, or write sales copy because your messaging will be clear and compelling.
The luteal phase (the week or so before your period) is when your energy starts dipping, but your attention to detail is sharp. This is the best time for editing, refining, and optimizing. If you’ve already written blog posts or emails, this is the phase to fine-tune them before publishing.
The menstrual phase (your actual period) is when your body naturally craves rest and reflection. Instead of forcing yourself to create, use this time to review analytics, check what’s working, and brainstorm adjustments to your strategy. This is also a great time for deep journaling or introspective content ideas that feel more personal and thoughtful.
9. Poll Your Audience & Speak to Their Deepest Desires
If you’re struggling to come up with content ideas, there’s one group of people who already know exactly what they want: your audience. Instead of guessing, ask them.
The easiest way? Polls and Q&As.
Drop a poll on Instagram Stories, send an email asking what they want to learn more about, or post an open-ended question in a Facebook group or community where your audience hangs out. You can also use Instagram DMs, surveys, or just straight-up ask in a post:
- “What’s your dream outcome when it comes to [your niche]?”
- “If you could wave a magic wand and fast-track your success in [your topic], what would it look like?”
- “What’s one goal you really want to hit this year but feel stuck on?”
This is also prime material for sales content because if someone deeply desires something, they’re already searching for ways to make it happen. Enter: you. Create posts, blogs, and even offers that speak directly to what they want.
Use these strategies, and you’ll never feel stuck staring at a blank screen again.
Which tip are you trying first? Drop a comment and let me know!
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