10 Content Idea Generators To Overcome Writer's Block
Content Strategist
Ah, the dreaded writer's block—every writer's unwelcome companion that just loves to pop in unannounced, like that one relative who never seems to understand the concept of "too early on a Sunday."
Writer’s block is hard to overcome.
Writers are their own critics at times, and often they lack inspiration and are overwhelmed by the huge amount of inspiration surrounding them.
Fortunately, there are ways to at least try to overcome it and receive the help you need.
Now, it’s time for you to stop staring at that blank page and read this article. I’ll review seven of the best content idea generators (that I’ve personally used) and give you tips on how to use them best.
Disclaimer:
At Yahini, we spend a ton of time testing, researching and using various tools to figure out which ones are worth recommending, evaluating them based on what they’re supposed to do and how well they meet our criteria. We do not accept payment for featuring a tool in our articles or linking to a site. Our recommendations are 100% authentic and unbiased, because we believe you deserve nothing less.
Table of Contents
Build your content strategy and briefs from the ground up: Yahini
You know how making content briefs can feel like you're trying to pull a rabbit out of a hat, but you're not a magician?
Yahini is pretty much your magic wand here.
People usually drop a ton of cash on one-size-fits-all content briefing tools only to get the same output as everyone else in their niche.
Yahini, on the other hand, gets you custom, strategy-level briefs fast. Just toss in your site’s URL, a bit about your product, and boom – you’ve got a content plan that actually makes sense for your business.
Here’s how it works:
- Start with your URL.
- Add at least 3 competitors so Yahini can learn about their content and gain more context for the market.
- Share a few relevant topics and your main audience. Yahini’s work starts with knowing who you’re talking to and what you’re talking about.
- Choose your main keywords and keyword clusters from Yahini’s keyword recommendations. Filter by volume, competition, and funnel stage. Yahini also has a priority score for each keyword.
- Now you have a full content workbook created! Start generating a brief for each keyword. These briefs are created by advanced prompt engineering by experienced content writers and strategists, taking into account the best practices for content at every stage of the funnel.
Curious to see it in action?
Watch the full demo video here or get some free credits to use it yourself.
Look for answers to come up with the questions: Also Asked
When creating content, there’s usually a whole iceberg of questions and topics you’re missing.
Also Asked helps you uncover these questions and shows you exactly what people are asking about your main topic.
You’ve got three free searches to play with every day. Use the search bar to type a question, a keyword, or even a brand name (note that you can get specific with language and regin to really tailor your results).
Then, it’s time to either go deep with the questions or explore just the tip of the iceberg. You’ll get to see a web of related questions, where you get to see what’s really on people’s minds.
You can export your findings in PNG or CSV format if you find something useful.
Generate content ideas with AI: HubSpot
HubSpot’s blog ideas generator is integrated with the HubSpot CMS (if you’re using it) and gives you keyword suggestions and search volume analysis in partnership with Semrush.
It’s kind of a combination between telling you what topics work for your audience and giving you the data on whether or not these keywords are worth targeting.
And for those of you who dread the blank page, HubSpot also has an AI text generator.
Discover what’s already out there: Ubersuggest
Ubersuggest is not really one of my top favorite tools (and that’s because of all the beef with Neil Patel and him plagiarizing content), but I see it work for people who are on a budget and just want to get a few fresh ideas here and there.
It helps you discover the most magnetic content in terms of social shares and backlinks, and also gives you a list of keyword ideas that keep your content trendy and fresh.
Keep in mind that you do need to have an account, and some of their most sought-after features are paid.
Generate some article titles on the go: Portent
If you’ve got your article all ready to go, but you can’t publish it because… well, you don’t have a title yet, then use Portent.
Start with the “heart” of your content – find that one noun and topic that your article speaks about the most. Stick to the singular and give proper nouns their capitalization.
Then, hit generate. If the headline is almost there but not quite, use it as a starting point and tweak it until it’s perfect.
Research the most sought-after topics in your niche: Semrush
The Semrush Topic Research tool is perfect for finding ideas, popular questions, and winning headlines.
You start by researching a topic. Then, you can apply filters to zoom in on topics that are relevant and gaining traction in your industry.
There’s also a gap analysis feature that uncovers goldmines your competitors have overlooked – such as keywords or topic ideas that they haven’t tackled yet.
However, I found that you should browse for subtopics instead of topics if you want better results. This gives you more wiggle room and yields a much better output since you won’t be fighting with your competitors for the same topics.
Analyze your headline: Advanced Marketing Institute
Ever wondered why some headlines grab you by the heartstrings while others barely warrant a glance?
The answer is usually their emotional resonance.
The Advanced Marketing Institute’s Headline Analyzer reveals your title's EMV (Emotional Marketing Value) and identifies whether your words touch your audience’s intellectual, empathetic, or spiritual sides.
You just need to add your existing headline, and the tool will analyze it and give it a score (%). This is a percentage that reflects the emotional “punch” your words are packing. Higher scores mean your headline has a greater emotional appeal.
However, take this with a grain of salt. The tool doesn’t really consider your audience and definitely not your product. So, an emotional headline might not always make sense for your specific case.
You ask, we answer. Here’s more about content idea generators
What exactly is a content idea generator?
A content idea generator is a type of software that helps writers like you and me come up with new and engaging topics for our content.
How do tools for content ideas work?
Most content idea generators work by taking user input, such as keywords or a general topic area, and using an algorithm to produce related topics, titles, or questions that could inspire new content.
Are there any free content idea generators?
Tons of apps out there provide free content idea generators as a way to incentivize you to use their full product. These are often more than enough for generating ideas.
Can content topic generators help overcome writer’s block?
Definitely. Although you might not use their output 100%, they’re great for providing you with fresh ideas.
Do content idea generators produce unique content ideas?
It depends. Most blog post idea generators function by either repurposing existing ideas in a way that might be more relevant or appealing to your specific needs, or by suggesting ideas that have already been explored to some extent. These tools typically rely on algorithms that scan the web for related topics and keywords, which means the ideas they generate might not always be entirely unique.
However, some tools take a different approach. Yahini, for instance, incorporates input from content strategists—real humans—who provide insights and ideas based on their expertise and current trends rather than solely relying on what's already available online. This human element can introduce a level of originality and creativity that purely algorithmic tools might not achieve.
Are there content idea generators specific to certain industries or niches?
No. Usually, content idea generators are general, meaning they can be used for every niche or industry. There’s definitely not a need specifically for a content idea generator for construction companies, for example.
Can content idea generators also help with SEO?
Yes, a lot of content idea generators are designed with SEO in mind, but most of them just look for trending topics or keywords, and, as we all know, having a topic or keyword in mind is not enough for SEO.
Generally, you need to be aware of more than that: you need to know your audience, their specific pain points, and the stage of the funnel you want to write for.
So, what’s a good content idea generator for me?
There you have it – 7 content idea generators for when you’re stuck in that writer’s block we all hate.
Now, there is no such thing as a perfect tool for generating content ideas; it all depends on your goals and mood at the moment. You can browse tools that simply give you a few ideas, or you can go for tools that give you whole new perspectives on your content.
Yahini offers you the strategic advice you need to create a content strategy from the ground up. Its AI has been trained by seasoned content strategists, providing you with expert-level content briefs right at your fingertips.
Ditch the generic outlines! Sign up now.
- Need a 24/7 content strategist? See how Yahini can help you craft perfect SEO content briefs.
- Any questions? I’m happy to help! Just reach out to us!
- Not ready yet? Learn more about Yahini here.