Don’t Waste Time Staring at a Blank Screen Hoping for Inspiration
A white page with a blinking cursor can be scary. You sit down to write next week’s content and stare blankly at the screen until 1 min, 1 hour or even a whole morning has passed without getting any work done. It’s not uncommon for people to think that writer’s block is a myth (a.k.a. procrastination). You should just start writing (or typing) and you’ll come up with something—it doesn’t always work that way. We know writer’s block is real. Creating great content doesn’t happen by accident or under duress. Go back to your content strategy and find a new approach to creating valuable content.
Find a New Place to Write
A change of scenery can be just the thing to get your fingers moving again. Working at your local coffee shop or library can be motivation to write content. If those places aren’t an option, take your notebook and pen to the park and write like we used to do it. Use the time to come up with new ideas or to make new connections between your industry and the community.
Do Something Different for 15 to 20 Minutes
If you can’t think of anything to write, stop trying to force your ideas. Tackle another project that involves different parts of your brain. If you have the freedom to do something unrelated to work, jumpstart your ideas by coloring, playing with a puzzle or doing another craft you enjoy. If you must stay focused on work, go to your to-do list and do one of those projects you’ve been avoiding for some time. You might be surprised how quickly you can get that done. What’s more, the sense of accomplishment will drive you to get back to writing and do a better faster job of it.
Have a Conversation with a Colleague
If you need ideas, talk to the people in your industry who are on the frontline with customers. Ask salespeople about the questions that customers always ask. Ask about problems or frustrations. Maybe even talk about something unrelated. Get a new perspective by reaching out to someone else.
Use a Tool to Generate Ideas
There are dozens of online resources to help you find new ideas. You’ll quickly realize that you’re not the only one who faces writer’s block. No one would invest in creating these smart, useful online resources if the need wasn’t widespread:
- Answer the Public
- BuzzSumo Content Discovery
- HubSpot’s Blog Ideas Generator
- Impact Blog Title Generator
Go to Your Competition, and then Do Better
Browse through your competitor’s websites. Search for competitors in other cities to look at what content they’re offering. It’s okay to get ideas from them, just make sure you kick it up several notches! Use your own voice to make it personal to your brand.
Hire a New Writer(s) or Content Agency
Different writers bring new and exciting ideas to the table. Bringing in someone else to your writing team can help spark your imagination and take the pressure off you to constantly churn out new content. Partner with a content agency for flexibility and affordability. MintCopy has a team of SEO writers and content strategists who are ready to provide content that resonates with your audience. Discuss your needs with our team. Let us show you how we can boost your content marketing efforts with our copywriting services.
Use our online form to get in touch. You can also follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter to stay up-to-date with the latest content marketing trends.
Resources:
- https://business.twitter.com/en/blog/6-tips-for-nailing-your-chatbot-content-strategy.html
- https://landbot.io/blog/chatbot-content-marketing
- https://www.syte.ai/blog/your-chatbot-content-strategy-cheat-sheet
Sheetal Pinto is the founder of MintCopy, a content agency that has been helping businesses communicate effectively since 2008. With a passion for words and a knack for SEO, she’s worked with companies around the world to craft copy that not only engages but ranks. Whether it’s blog posts, website content, or social media updates, Sheetal has a talent for turning complex ideas into compelling stories. When she’s not optimizing content or editing for clarity, she’s probably daydreaming about the perfect headline or debating the Oxford comma. With over 16 years in the business, she’s seen the digital marketing and SEO content landscape evolve and grow. Sheetal’s mantra? Fresh copy, refreshing results!
