Having a process also allows you to think of ideas that may not be easily apparent. What's one thing you do to help come up with new ideas? How can you incorporate this into a repeatable framework (for yourself as well as those you collaborate with)?
I have a pretty standard process for the industries I work/have worked in (higher ed and healthcare). If I'm given a general topic but no angles, I do some preliminary research/social listening to see both what the latest news on the topic is as well as what the target audience wants to know/may be struggling with. I also look for content gaps -- angles that competitors may not have covered that would be beneficial to the audience. This helps me come up with different angles to approach the topic from.
If I'm not given a topic, I do the same thing, but I start one step further back and use initial the research/social listening stage to see what topics are new/being discussed/in need of content before I then hone in on the angles.
I was wondering if you or anyone on the forum can bring some insights on this topic:
Who is typically involved in the creative process? Do you involve other functions (SEO, Paid, Business Development, Outreach, PMs, etc) or just the copywriters? What are some of the best practices there?
I like to gather lots of information from various sources and then walk away from it to let my brain process it in the "background." I'll often come up with ideas when I'm not trying, especially when I'm doing the dishes or some other mindless activity. Sometimes, I wake up in the morning with the solution. I'm most creative in the morning, so I try not to have meetings during that time unless they are brainstorming sessions. I'm more analytical in the afternoons but less creative, so that's when I edit and do administrative tasks.
Almost all ideas come from my dream, my entertainment channels such as TV shows, movies, music lyrics, read books, etc., and also stories that I listening in daily life from others people. That so I often practice myself in the habit of observing and listening to create a lot of inspiration to built personas. Moreover, I spent time surfing social media to got more ideas during writing.
I set up all of this to become a to-do list every day and take note ideas when it comes from in my brain so I can't do without couple paper + pen or simply Note on the smartphone.
I sit quietly in a room with no distractions and let my mind flow in its own direction. It starts to think about the recent movie I watched or the recent book I read, or even a person I met. my mind digs a little deeper and searches for an inspiration from them. Thats how I generate my content ideas.
Some of the methods touched on in the lesson are my current go-tos, like the people also ask section and checking out competitors. Ask the Public is one I recently started using and it's very helpful for expanding on certain topics
To generate new ideas i use to continuously think about the topic of the content like i put up many questions regarding the topic in my mind and i think of the answers as if i have to teach a person who know nothing about the topic.
When I am browsing on Instagram I tend to pay close attention to all types of ads, whether I am interested in the product or not, and I save ones that have elements that I believe can be incorporated in my own advertising, which I sometimes share with my colleagues. Going forward, I can set aside time to be more intentional about looking for ads on multiple platforms for inspiration as part of my Gathering Raw Material step in the Ideation Process.
When I brainstorm solo, I have to get away from your normal work space...somewhere you can think out loud, unrestrained, away from any distractions, cellphones, people.
