Writers are always wondering where the next idea will come from. I never have that problem, to be honest. Here are some tips that may help you keep your idea file full:
When you’re reading a book, magazine, or newspaper, use a 4 X 6 index card for your bookmark and always have a pen or pencil close by. When an idea pops into your head, write it down. If you see anything that will help your writing, write that down, too. Notice punctuation, if that’s your sore point. Write down little tips to help you remember how it goes.
Notice headlines. Be aware of what’s dragging you into the story, and think about how you can use it to solve a problem in your niche. Here’s an example:
On today’s Excite.com, one headline reads:
” When will housing prices stop falling?”
How does that relate to Internet biz? If your niche is finance, think about it. You could write about how to stop foreclosures, about avoiding bankruptcy, about credit counseling. All of these are topics of interest now. Things that people are searching for. Can you see the potential?
Here’s another headline:
” On Labor Day, readers seek some work advice”
If you’re in the resume business or anything relating to job search or workplace related issues, people are looking for answers. Maybe an article about how to dress for success, how to rate your boss, or how many jobs are available online. There are so many ideas you can gather from this one headline. And again, it’s something people are interested in right now. They either want to improve their working conditions or they want more money because times are so tight. Use that and write an article that solves problems.
Just think about what’s on people’s minds when you’re writing an article. You can put an alert in at http://google.com/alerts and be notified of any stories popping up that have your keywords in them. You can have Google tell you about news stories, blog entries, group discussions, and you can have them notify you immediately or once a week. But imagine the ideas that will generate for you.
Use your imagination!
When you hear something that strikes you, write it down. When you’re in the video game niche and are in the store, listen to what people are saying. Notice what they seem to be most interested in. Here’s one for you: Scientists have recently discovered that playing video games might be beneficial to people with ADD or ADHD. Now, there’s a targeted market! Write about that.
Years ago, when I first started writing, I had to travel to the library and hope to find books related to the topic I was writing about. Then, I’d have to truck them home, have them sitting around in a huge stack on the floor and then, have access to them for only 3 weeks before I had to schlepp them all back to the library. I couldn’t research foreign newspapers. I couldn’t have access to government documents or many primary sources. And forget images! That was a total pain in the patoot.
But now, you have the Internet. Ideas… what to write about… Ideas are everywhere! Just look around you, and something will call out to you. Be observant, take notes, and have fun! Coming up with great ideas will mean that people enjoy reading what you write, and they’ll come to your website and when they do, rest assured that they’ll be interested in your product. Now, all you have to do is come up with a great sales letter and you’ll be raking in the dough. Article Marketing is very powerful.
Pat Marcello is SEO of Overcome Everything, Inc. and a professional writer. Pick up her free report on marketing articles for the search engines at http://pats7secrets.com/
Tags: article marketing, articles, seo, writing
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