Ever sit down to create content and think: I’ve literally said everything there is to say about this topic… my niche… all of it? How am I supposed to find new content ideas?
If so, you’re not alone.
I’m a content strategist, and my team and I write 100+ blog posts per month inside our boutique content marketing agency. That means we’re constantly hunting for fresh content ideas that are still actually relevant to selling our clients’ offers (and our own). And honestly? Sometimes it’s not easy.
Because “new content ideas” are everywhere… but a lot of them are the kind of generic, surface-level topics you could type into ChatGPT and immediately think, Okay… but how does this help me sell anything?
So in this post, I’m sharing nine real ways to find new content ideas that are truly worth creating—ideas you can use across blogs, YouTube, Pinterest, social media, and anywhere else you show up online. These are the same approaches I use for my clients and in my own business. Let’s dive in.
Table of Contents
Quick Intro (Nice to Meet You!)
If you’re new here: I’m Kara, and I run The Kara Report, a boutique content marketing agency that helps small business owners get found online through search-driven marketing. Our work is primarily focused on:
- SEO blog content (Google, AI search experiences, and wherever people search)
- Pinterest (another powerful search-driven platform)
The goal is simple: if someone searches for it, we want you to be found.
1) Turn one topic into a content series
This isn’t groundbreaking for new content ideas, but it’s so effective: create a content series.
If you’re constantly asking, “What do I post this week?” a series gives you built-in structure. Instead of publishing one big roundup and calling it done, you can turn one strong topic into a multi-part set of content.
Here’s what I see all the time: we run out of ideas because we go too wide instead of going super niche.
A single blog post usually contains multiple mini-topics inside it. When you zoom in and go more microscopic, you suddenly have way more to work with.
Example:
A post like “9 Pinterest trends to watch in 2026” is great on its own… but each trend can become its own deep-dive post.
Why this works (especially for SEO)
If you publish a “cornerstone” post (like the roundup) and then publish supporting posts (each deep dive) that link back to the cornerstone, you’re signaling depth and value—both to Google and to AI systems surfacing information.
It also gives your audience more to binge, and it expands your footprint around that topic.
2) Mine your own archives
You already have content. A lot of it. And I’d bet you’ve forgotten most of it.
I do this for myself and for clients constantly. For example:
- A 2023 blog post can become a podcast episode
- A podcast episode can become a YouTube video
- An older video can be updated and republished with a new angle
Your old content isn’t “done.” It’s raw material.
What counts as “archives”?
Not just blogs. Think:
- Old Instagram carousels
- Emails and newsletters
- Podcast outlines
- Launch copy
- Workshops, trainings, mini-lessons
- Captions that performed well
Even if your opinion hasn’t changed, I guarantee you have a sharper, clearer way of saying it now. And that’s enough to make it fresh again.
3) Use AI as a starting point (but bring your own strategy)
Yes—you can ask ChatGPT for content ideas.
But you’ll get better output when you give it real context, like:
- Who you are
- What you sell
- Who you’re targeting
- What outcome you help them get
- What platforms you’re using
- What your offer actually does (and doesn’t) include
Used this way, AI can be a great starting point.
One way I like to use it
I like using ChatGPT to generate keyword/topic ideas—then I vet those ideas in a real SEO tool.
Important note: AI doesn’t truly have the full dataset to reliably evaluate what a “great SEO keyword” is. So treat it as idea generation, not final decision-making.
I personally use KeySearch right now and run AI-generated ideas through it to check whether they’re worth pursuing.
4) Answer real questions people are asking (and go beyond your DMs)
This one is basic… and it’s also becoming more important than ever.
As AI tools become the first “search stop” for many people, we’re seeing more nuanced, specific queries. People want answers tailored to their situation—and the creators who win are the ones who respond to what people are already trying to figure out.
If you can answer the questions your people are asking you, you’ll never run out of content.
“But nobody asks me questions…”
Totally fine. If your DMs are quiet (or your Instagram question box is a ghost town), go where the questions already are:
- Facebook groups
- Reddit threads
- Blog comments
- YouTube comments
- Competitor reviews
- “People also ask” on Google
These are gold mines for content ideas people are actively searching for. Don’t neglect them.
5) Borrow ideas ethically (spot the gaps, don’t copy)
Let’s be clear: this is not “copy your competitors.”
This is observe what’s already being discussed, then create something original that adds value.
Look for:
- Friction (where people feel stuck)
- Strong opinions
- Confusion
- Repeated questions
- Content gaps (things people want but aren’t getting)
Places I love for this:
- Threads
- Quora
- YouTube comment sections
- Amazon reviews
- Any platform where people talk openly
Then ask yourself:
- What do I have to say about this?
- What’s my perspective that’s missing?
- What can I add that makes this more useful, more honest, more actionable?
That’s how you create content that’s relevant and original.
6) Share behind the scenes
Some of the best new content ideas are simply an extension of what you’re already doing.
Behind-the-scenes content can include:
- Your workflows
- Your process
- Client results (with permission)
- Your project management board (ClickUp, Notion, Trello, etc.)
- How you make decisions
- What you’re testing and why
This kind of content builds trust because it creates transparency—and it doesn’t run out, because you’re always doing something.
One thing I’ve noticed in my own business: I feel most “starved” for content ideas when I’m not really doing much. When I’m experimenting and building and trying things, ideas show up naturally.
If you’re planning your next season of content, think about what your audience will be thinking about—like goal-setting in Q1, planning strategies for the year, or deciding whether a platform is still worth it.
7) Share mistakes and lessons (people binge this kind of honesty)
If you tell people what didn’t work, it’s like a magnet.
Because there’s a lot of “manufactured vulnerability” online—people pretending to be real without actually sharing anything meaningful.
I’m not saying to start exposing secrets or airing out your life. Instead, think of it like sharing discernment:
- “I used to do this, now I do this.”
- “I tried this—here’s why it flopped.”
- “This surprised me.”
- “Here’s what I’d do differently next time.”
That combination of expertise + humanity builds authority, because it shows you’re actually in the arena doing the work.
8) Reframe existing content for different audiences
If you serve more than one type of client, you can often teach the same strategy in different ways.
Instead of constantly starting from scratch, take one strong core concept and reframe it for different groups.
Example approach:
- “SEO for coaches”
- “SEO for wedding professionals”
- “SEO for photographers”
- “SEO for service providers”
Same foundational strategy, different framing, different examples, different language.
This also helps if you don’t want to be locked into one industry (especially if focusing on one niche would mean working with a bunch of direct competitors). Reframing lets you create multiple content buckets without reinventing the wheel.
9) Bust myths and share hot takes
Some of your best-performing content can come from calling out bad advice.
Not for the sake of being controversial—but because being clear about what you stand for is memorable and useful.
Examples:
- “Blogging is dead.” → Not true. Here’s what’s working.
- “You must post weekly to grow.” → Not true for everyone.
- “This is the only strategy that works.” → Usually a red flag.
Sometimes I’ll scroll Threads, see something I genuinely disagree with, and that sparks some of my strongest content—because it’s real. People can’t replicate your actual opinions and lived business experience. AI can’t create that for you.
The key is: don’t manufacture hot takes. Share what you truly believe, and back it up with reasoning and experience.
Bonus: The fastest way to find content ideas is to start creating
Here’s the truth: you get clarity from action, not more planning.
A lot of people get stuck in strategizing mode, waiting to feel ready, waiting to feel clear… and clarity doesn’t come that way. It comes when you take action and learn from what happens.
And if you don’t have content to repurpose yet? That’s your sign to go make some.
Which of these new content ideas are you trying first?
If content creation has felt heavy, I hope this gave you a real reset—and a practical plan.
Here’s the full list again:
- Create a content series
- Mine your archives
- Use AI as a starting point (then vet)
- Answer real questions
- Borrow ideas ethically
- Share behind the scenes
- Share mistakes + lessons
- Reframe for different audiences
- Bust myths + share hot takes
- Bonus: Start creating—clarity follows action
If you want help planning your 2026 blog strategy (or want someone to do it for you), that’s exactly the kind of work my agency supports. Otherwise, use this post as your roadmap and start building your next batch of content.
Now tell me: which one are you trying first? Comment on the Youtube video and let me know!
