Continuing right along with our 12-Step Creativity Program, today we’re going to learn how to brainstorm for new content and new ideas for your Web site. Once you learn the mechanics, it will become easier for you to come up with new and innovative content that will keep your potential customers on YOUR Web site instead of hitting the dreaded back button.

Brainstorming for content or ideas begins with one simple idea or a concept. Look at the graphic for today’s post. Do you see the red circle in the center of the page with the #1 in the center of it? The word Idea is written under it.

We begin our brainstorming with this one simple idea (or problem, concept, type of Web site, etc.). Working with our idea partner or partners, we expand on that idea. Maybe we add a twist to the original idea, which I did in green to the left of the red circle. From there, you can see how new orange ideas have sprouted out from the new twist.

Looking back at the original idea, we could also create a satellite of brand new ideas, which is designated in red with additional ideas branching off from there to the right.

The blue branch at the bottom of the page indicates ideas built on to the original idea. In some cases, additional ideas can be created based on those ideas.

You can easily see how many ideas you could have with a good energy producing brainstorming session. The beauty of working with a group of people is that everyone comes in to the session from a different path in life, with different experiences and with different strengths. They see the business or problem from a different perspective. Everyone can add something of value.

You can brainstorm by yourself, with one idea partner as we discussed in Day #7, or with a group of people.

Here’s what you can’t have in a creativity or brainstorming session. Naysayers. They will kill your creative energy.

They have their definite place in the business world (grin), but they just aren’t “idea generation” people in the sense of what we need here. They belong in room #2 where they can figure out how to implement the ideas generated by the idea people.

All ideas are good when you brainstorm. Write all of your ideas down . . . every single one of them. Remember that sometimes it just takes a twist of an idea to make it a killer. Or, you may not be able to implement the idea today, but it might work next year or within a 5-year plan. Don’t discount any idea. Be outrageous. If you think it, write it down.

Be CURIOUS. Ask yourself questions about the topic. What does your target audience want to know? What would benefit them? What if . . . ? Why? How to . . . How can . . . ? Are videos or audios appropriate? What would make the audience return over and over again? Ask your customers. If your product was no longer available, what impact would it make on our world? Think about the value your product has to our world. Create content about that value.

In a brainstorming session, tell everyone to uncross their arms. I always laugh when I do so, but body language is important. You want them open for the experience.

Here’s the thing. If you allow yourself to feel this experience, the results can be unbelievably amazing. Tomorrow we’re going to brainstorm together.

Robin

P.S. If you’re just now joining us in our 12-Step Creativity Program, please start at Day #1. It’s very important to start at the beginning.