Go to Google Scholar
This is a place where you can search for topics in academic journals. For example, if you’re serving the weight loss market, then you might search these journals to learn the latest about metabolism, nutrition and exercise. In turn, what you learn may lead to some great product and content ideas.
For example, let’s suppose that researchers uncover how a certain food or supplement raises the metabolism. You can create a diet based on this research and put it on sale as soon as possible. By the time news of this research spreads, you’ll have a product in place and ready to go.
Start your search here: https://scholar.google.com/.
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Use Focus Groups
Another way to get feedback (and in turn generate ideas) is to make use of focus groups. This is where you bring together about a half a dozen people in your niche to talk about issues, challenges, and desires.
The advantage of a focus group is that you get to tap into the “hive mind,” which is often more powerful and creative than talking to people individually. That’s because the group feeds off of one another’s ideas, which really boosts creativity.
Attribute Listing
If you’re generating product ideas, then this is a great method for getting creative. The idea here is to take a product and break it down into its attributes/features/benefits. Once you’ve completed this step, then brainstorm how to improve each of these attributes.
You can do this with your own products, of course, but you’ll generate even more ideas if you do it with your competitors’ products.
Search Social Media
Social media is just brimming with good ideas that are ripe for the picking. Here’s how to harvest them:
- Scan hashtags. This is a good way to get ideas about what’s hot right now in your niche, but collecting popular hashtags over time also gives you an “evergreen” look at what interests your niche.
- Search Facebook groups. Enter your niche keywords (such as “gardening”) into the Facebook search box, and then visit the top groups. Spend time reading both new and old posts, and you’re sure to generate plenty of new ideas.
- Seek out competitors’ pages. You can search various social media platforms to find your competitors’ walls, pages and accounts. Follow them to generate new ideas daily. Don’t forget to check out the comments on popular posts to get even more ideas.
- Study ads. Facebook runs a lot of ads in the sidebar as well as within the content. If you’re not seeing ads relevant to your niche, then like a few pages or groups related to your niche. These ads are bound to give you great content, product and even sales ideas.
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Use Google Trends
Google Trends is a unique type of keyword tool that lets you gauge the interest in a particular keyword over time and in different areas of the world. This tool also helps you generate ideas, as it provides related search terms and topics.
Start your search here: https://trends.google.com/trends/.
Daydream
Generally, people talk negatively about those who daydream. However, daydreaming is a powerful way to generate ideas. Simply get relaxed (such as in a recliner), close your eyes, and think about the topic around which you’d like to generate ideas. It’s a good idea to have a note-taking app or paper handy so that you can write down all your ideas as they come to you.
Fill in the Blanks
This is a brainstorming exercise where you answer broad questions as quickly and possible. (And, depending on the question, you should also provide as many answers as possible.)
Here are example fill in the blank questions:
- The best way to solve [specific problem] is to _________.
- [Some specific product] would be better if ___________
- If I could create any [solution, product, etc.], I would create something that _______________________.
- Here are the problems I’d like to solve in my niche: ________________________________________
- My prospects and customers need something that ________________________________________
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Wishing
The idea behind this idea-generation strategy is to start by “wishing” what you want to create in the niche, irrespective of whether it’s doable. Then brainstorm ways to turn these wishes into a reality. Better yet, task your team with finding ways to turn these wishes into reality.
For example, Thomas Edison is known for inventing the light bulb. Turns out he didn’t actually come up with the idea of the light bulb itself. Instead, he just took someone else’s discarded idea and “wished” he could make it work. Then he got down to the task of turning the light bulb idea into a reality.
Collaborate
Two heads are better than one, three are better than two… and so on. That’s because everyone who comes to the table to brainstorm and collaborate all bring their own unique perspective, experiences and skills. If you want to generate a lot of ideas, then gather together a diverse group of friends and start brainstorming.
Clear Your Head
Sometimes the best way to generate new ideas is to just stop thinking about it for a while. Instead, clear your head by doing something else entirely. For example:
- Take a bath.
- Do yoga.
- Go for a walk.
- Wash the dishes.
- Do yardwork.
- Head to the gym.
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Ask a Child
Got a tough problem? Ask a child how to solve it. Better yet, ask multiple children. Children tend to be very creative, so you’re likely to get answers that will help spark your own creativity.
Browse Video-Sharing Sites
Enter your search terms on sites like YouTube and Vimeo. These videos will give you a wide range of ideas, including:
- Ideas for articles and other text content.
- Ideas for free videos.
- Ideas for paid videos.
- Ideas for ways to present information.
As always, be sure to read the comments under popular videos, as this may give you even more ideas.
Keep Reading: How To Use Different Techniques: Ask Your Customers
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