by Edwin 18 comments

How To Use Forums To Generate Content Ideas

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forum content writing exciting ideas imageHave a blog? Ever ran into writer’s block when it comes down to writing new content?

Every day people are literally asking and posting millions of questions online.

Why not use their questions as content ideas on your own site? It’s a simple concept, but it really starts the flood and gets your brain flowing.

Down below, I made a video where I showed everything you need to do to begin using forums as a content writing factory.

I recommend getting a pad or opening your favorite text editor on your computer and starting to write down as many ideas as you can.

This will help get all your thoughts organized and in one place.

Video recap:

  1. Find a forum
  2. Go through the topics and pick the one you like. These will be the general subject of what you want to write about.
  3. Inside the topics scroll down and pick a thread you like. Look and see if others have input anything on it.
  4. Begin writing!

How to Find Forums in Your Niche

Simply use this Google forum authority code (just type it into your search box):

INSERT NICHE OR MARKET HERE+forum

Marketing Takeaway

As you saw above, forums are filled with content ideas. You could literally die in all the possible post ideas you can pick from.

  • What do you think of my method?
  • Have you ever used it before in the past or something similar?

Leave a comment below and tell me you think!

traffic generation cafe comment below

{ 18 comments }

Laure November 2, 2012 at 6:13 pm

This is a great, simple article, straight to the point.
You can also answer the question in the forum to build your visibility as an expert. Then use the question/answer to write your blog post.
Great website Ana! I’m looking forward to learn more!

Ana Hoffman November 3, 2012 at 3:50 pm

Thanks, Laure.

Mike Cleveland March 25, 2012 at 1:55 pm

Edwin,

this is a great video. It is very useful. I hope to use the info for finding ideas for my blog in the coming days. Thanks much for sharing.

James Mark August 10, 2011 at 3:09 am

i think twitter search to come up with great content ideas.

Ileane April 13, 2011 at 2:18 am

Hi Edwin, I’m really delighted to see that you have a YouTube Channel. The video in this post is fantastic and I’ll be sure to check out your other vids. I’m a member of Lisa Irby’s Website Babble forum and I find lots of great conversations going on over there too. I joined Digital Point but I haven’t had time to explore it yet.
My question is this – once you find the topic based on forum discussion, do you research the keywords to find out their SEO value? When I’ve done that in the past I find that the search volume is very low, so I gave up on doing any research.

Kimi@wordpress 3 videos April 13, 2011 at 2:03 am

Hi Edwin,

Nice to read your post in Ana’s blog!

Being in the forum, especially high traffic forums can give us alot of benefits, I got sales and also free backlinks from one forum I am a member of, since being in the forums need a lot of work LOL..

Another advantage is of course getting ideas as you mentioned above.

Thanks.

Adrienne April 12, 2011 at 12:13 pm

Hey Edwin, great to see you over here writing a post for Ana…

Loved the topic and really cool ideas you shared. I knew about this some time back but to be honest with you, I don’t visit a lot of forums so this totally slipped my mind as far as finding great topics to write about. But that’s what I like about you my young friend… You always share some really cool tips on your blog. Guess I definitely needed this reminder.

Enjoyed the post and will see you soon.

Adrienne

Alex April 10, 2011 at 11:56 pm

Awesome Edwin.

Its the simple things in life that are often the best, and you definitely showed a simple way – and did it in an easy to digest format too!

Now tell me, what happens when you have too many ideas and no time to write them all … LOL

Nishadha April 10, 2011 at 9:38 pm

Forums are a good place to get ideas but they don’t necessarily give the amount of traffic you can expect for those ideas. It is always a good idea to run it through the keyword tool and get an estimation of traffic the post can get and then pick the best one out of the lot.

PrasantN April 8, 2011 at 1:51 pm

I actually do this and the more i do the bigger my list of topics grow. with this tip i would add reading will also throw lot of thoughts in your mind and make sure to note it down before you forget.

thanks

Jens P. Berget April 8, 2011 at 12:03 pm

Edwin,

Great idea. I have been an active member of DigitalPoint, and I have received a lot of good ideas from it. And I have become friends with a lot of people as well, and even outsourced some of my work to people at the forum.

- Jens

Ian Belanger April 8, 2011 at 8:22 am

Hey Edwin,

Finding new topics to write about is always a problem for new bloggers. Forums are an excellent way to find out what questions people need answers for.

Thanks for sharing your ideas Edwin and have a great day!

Copywriting Dean April 8, 2011 at 7:22 am

Cheers, I’ve used forum posts for ideas before. But I didn’t know that you could search google with +forum. Thanks for that.

Another strategy I’ve used is posting a short, rough draft version of a blog post in a forum. Then a week or so later turning that in to an expanded, final draft blog post that I publish to my blog. If the forum post gets any attention it’s easy to channel people over to the discussion at your blog.

Justin | Mazzastick April 8, 2011 at 5:34 am

Edwin, Great idea, I have one forum that I am active on and there are literally tons of questions on there that people need answers to.

My belief is that if one person is asking, and needs answers to their question, then so do others.

It’s a better alternative then going to someone’s blog and re-writing their topic.

Sam @ Weekend Getaways April 8, 2011 at 3:18 am

Hi Ana,

I agreed with you, now after reading this post no-one can say that they don’t know what to write next. Edwin has just given a magic stick by using it you can find the new ideas!!! ;)

Tim April 7, 2011 at 12:16 pm

Hmmm, good to meet people of like minds and probably age group. I just got into the twenty…thing last week and I’m glad meeting bloggers my age and a little older.

Keep it rolling mate. I’ll see you on your blog!

Tim

Riya April 7, 2011 at 10:15 am

Hi Edwin,

It’s really a fantastic idea to choose your next post and I think not many people think about it.

Shanda Oakley April 7, 2011 at 9:34 am

I’m loving all your ideas!!!! Thanks. Going to search forums today.

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