How to Get Ideas for Your Next Blog, Social Media Post, or Newsletter
Overcome writer's block and simplify content creation
One of the best ways to grow your online reach and get more clients and students as a mindfulness teacher is to provide your target audience with great content...
I know, that’s a lot easier said than done. Where do you find the time or even the inspiration to put together social media posts - not to mention blog posts and email newsletters on a consistent basis?
And why invest the time when there’s already so much mindfulness-related content out there? Here are a few reasons why consistently sharing great content will help you have a greater impact in the world.
1. Establish credibility and trust
Having your own content within your specific mindfulness niche positions you as an expert with your target audience. It shows that you know what you’re talking about and it helps bring mindfulness to even more people.
It’s a way for you to provide value even before your ideal clients and students have had a chance to work with you.
When they see you as someone who’s knowledgeable about your topic, they’re much more likely to think of you when they’re ready to take that mindfulness class or one-on-one coaching.
2. Save money on advertising
Creating great content can help you save money because you don’t have to rely on advertising so much. Here’s why: when you share a blog on your website, it stays on there forever (or until you take it down). It actually gains momentum over time as more people visit it.
If you’re using the right keywords, the blog boosts your ranking in search engines, driving more traffic to your website organically. The more people find your website organically, the less you have to spend on putting ads out there.
3. Share across all outlets
One piece of content can easily be repurposed and shared across multiple channels. You can take a blog post and use snippets from it as social media posts. You can write a short email newsletter that links out to your blog post.
This helps you gain traction with people who come across your website from different sources. Some might only hang out on Instagram while others hang out on LinkedIn. Some can’t wait to read your emails and will be excited to click on the link to your blog from there.
To help you overcome writer’s block and “time” block, here are a few ideas you can put to use right now so that you can produce content that your target audience will love.
5 Ways to Get Ideas for Writing Engaging Mindfulness Content
1. From your current students/clients
What questions do you get most when you start working with people to teach them mindfulness?
Brainstorm at least 10 questions that people ask you about anything mindfulness-related: meditation, what they feel during body scans, breathing, yoga, the attitudes of mindfulness, real-life problems and challenges they face, most common objections to not meditating etc.
Have you addressed these in your content already - can you approach from a different angle?
2. From other content you’ve been reading
List the last two mindfulness books you read or are currently reading. What are some new insights you recently come across that surprised you or that you were able to apply into your life and experienced positive changes? Write about those.
What content have you saved or bookmarked on social media lately? Can you expand on that or add your unique touch?
Educate yourself on a new topic you’ve been curious about. Reinforce that knowledge by writing about it and sharing it with others.
3. Latest scientific research on the brain/neuroplasticity
Look up trustworthy websites that have the latest brain research. Take some of the most interesting articles that apply to mindfulness and translate them into common language that your readers will be able to understand and find of value.
4. Current news and happenings in the world
Relate the current happenings in the world to many mindfulness. How can it help your readers see things differently rather than react according to old patterns?
5. Figure out what your audience wants to know more about
From social media groups or forums where they hang out (FB/LinkedIn/Quora)
Keyword search tools: enter relevant mindfulness keywords related to your niche (perhaps mindfulness for stress, workplace, teens, parents, teachers etc.) to see what your target audience is searching for. When you see existing content that seems popular, use the headline idea to write about something similar but of course in your own unique way. Here are some websites for keyword research:
UberSuggest (click on Content Ideas on the left side of the page once you type in a keyword)
Once you start writing:
Keep your target audience in mind. Write in a manner they can relate to and will understand.
Be aware of your intent. Is it to educate, increase awareness of your brand, nurture new leads, get more email subscribers, get people to sign up for your latest program?
Include an appropriate call to action so that your blog post helps you achieve your intended goal.
How to make time for content creation
First, it’s important to set aside a set time in your calendar just to create content. If you leave it up to inspiration, the muse might come when you’re in the middle of a forest with no internet connection.
But if you say that every Friday, for example, you’ll sit down for 2 hours specifically to plan out and write content for the upcoming week, the muse notices. You'll see how the ideas will start flowing together. If you don't allow the perfectionist to get the best of you, your mindfulness business and clients will thank you.
So pick a date that you will sit down with the muse every week and treat it as important as you'd treat any other business meeting. This is, after all, an essential part of growing your business.
“This is the other secret that real artists know and wannabe writers don’t. When we sit down each day and do our work, power concentrates around us. The Muse takes note of our dedication. She approves. We have earned favor in her sight. When we sit down and work, we become like a magnetized rod that attracts iron filings. Ideas come. Insights accrete.” - Steven Pressfield
Save time by scheduling posts in advance
Once you've created your posts ahead of time, you can use a social media scheduler to save yourself the time or hassle of positing every day/week. There's plenty of tools out there so here are a few you can check out:
Another idea is to create a folder in your computer where you store all your content ideas or content drafts in one place. Then on your designated marketing day, you simply copy and paste what you already have and post it.
Get ahead with this FREE content creation calendar
If you need help planning out your content topics and ideas for the next quarter, check out this blog post for practical tips and grab my free Content Calendar Template below.
For more mindful marketing tips to help your grow your reach, visit the Mindful Marketing blog and other resources.