Ideas are all around you. All you have to do is listen for them. That seems so simple, yet in our hectic world, we’re often too busy to stop and listen.

Listen to your clients. What are they telling you? What words do they use? Each word could be an entryway to a new idea for you.

Don’t jump to take action or offer advice until you listen carefully. Remember not to be negative.

A client may tell you that he wants to market his products to an off-the-wall brand new target audience, and you may think it’s the worst idea since the introduction of “New Coke,” but don’t open your negative mouth. Listen. What is the client’s reasoning? Will this new audience open additional keyword windows and revenue streams into the site? Brainstorm back and forth. It just may be worth pursuing. After all, no one knows the client’s business better than the client.

Support the creative needs of others. Don’t shoot their ideas into the dirt. Learn what challenges they’re facing by listening.

Together, you just might make some of those wild ideas work.

Robin

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Here’s a typical scenario:

You have a Web site, and you know you need content.  Your Web site’s success depends on it. You’re trying to follow Matt Cutts’ advice (video here)on the three points of a successful Web site: crawlability, quality content, and a hook to get someone to link to you. But the “quality content” is giving you problems. A lot of them.

The dilemma is, you can’t think of any original content to write for your site. You sell used books online. Other than the books, what else is there to write about?

Plus, you’re a entrepreneur, not a writer. This presents a small problem too.

Let’s take this “problem” and come up with a solution. 

Our goal: original content for a used online bookstore and some help in writing it. 

What are the steps we have to take in order to come up with creative content ideas?

First, what do we need to know about the Web site?

1. What is the focus of the site? This is fairly easy in the case of the used bookstore, but it’s not so easy if the Web site sells a highly specialized piece of equipment. We need to understand what products or services the site offers. The more you understand, the better off you’ll be when you try to brainstorm for content. In the case of the bookstore, we assume this isn’t an affiliate store, but never assume. Know for sure.

2. Who are the target audiences? Every Web site has more than one target audience. Each target audience can be addressed with specific content just for them. Collectors are willing to pay a lot of money for first edition copies in excellent condition, and so are fans who are looking for autographed books. Writers are also a target audience for a used book store, and those who don’t want to pay full price for new books. Who else?

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Picture used with permission
of David Singer of Vidisco

I saw a little plaque the other day that read,

“Life isn’t about finding yourself . . . Life is about creating yourself.”

Think about that for a moment. We always hear people talk about “finding” themselves–whether it’s their place in life, their perfect career, who they want to be when they “grow up,” or whatever.

But when it comes right down to it, isn’t life about how we create ourselves? In essence, we mold ourselves into the person we want to be.

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My good friend and fellow SEO, Richard Burckhardt, from The Web Optimist, which offers views on search engine optimization, recently tagged me on a “Why I Blog” string. What a cute idea! Since I’m all about ideas, here I am!

1. I blog because I’m a writer, and writers have to write. It’s deep in my heart and soul. I can think of so many Web site content ideas for your sites and can help you make those content ideas compelling so that your readers/visitors will want to link to them (building link popularity).

2. I blog because I’m a teacher, and I love to teach. I can’t help it. Everything I see, I want to teach about it. I’m extremely passionate about the fields of writing and search engine optimization, and I want to share my passion with you.

3. I blog because I’m a creative person, and I want to help others become creative too. Creativity unlocks the doors that are otherwise nailed shut, and it motivates us to have more ideas for MORE content!

4. I blog because it is fun! What’s wrong with having fun?

5. I blog because I like to do things that are different. Blogging isn’t different, but this blog is different. It doesn’t look like most blogs, and I don’t treat it like most blogs, at least like most SEO blogs. I like to take the “usual” and add a twist to it, and blogging gives me that ability.

6. Blogging allows me to express my opinion publicly without being flamed. Wow! How cool is that?! (No, I’ve never kept anyone from posting anything nasty here, but I’ve always said that kindergarten flamings won’t be tolerated here.)

7. I blog because I love writing to YOU. You give me inspiration, and you make it all worthwhile.

Richard, thanks for giving me the opportunity to post reasons why I blog!

Marshall Sponder, the Web Metrics Guru, TAG, you’re it!

Robin 

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Image Courtesy of
www.dogloverdesigns.com

First, notice my beautiful Easter bonnet with the little bunny juggling Easter eggs? How cute is that? The graphic artist is Hilary Rinaldi, who creates all of hats I wear on this site. Thank you Hilary! You are the inspiration for today’s post. One of Hilary’s site’s, Dog Names Woof, is where you can go to help find a name for your new pet.

I think it would be fun to come up with ideas for pet sites, since we have Hilary’s little bunny up there to inspire us (and me in the Easter bonnet, of course).

My idea is quite simple, really.

What if (which is a GREAT way to start idea generation, btw) Martin created a little technical gadget for us on our pet Web site. Our visitors could simply fill in the blanks.

This idea is all about your dog’s bark.

My dog, __________’s, (dog name) bark (and leave a lot of blank space for the person for fill it in). ________________ (dog name) is a ________________ (dog breed).

For example:

My dog, Captain Hook’s, bark could be bottled and dropped off in Iran as weapons of mass destruction. Captain Hook is a Miniature Pincher.

My dog, Tinkerbell’s, bark reminds you of the Energizer Bunny. Once she gets started, she won’t quit . . . ever. Tinkerbell is an English Bulldog.

Have a contest, send out a press release, have winners and give them gifts, but give everyone who enters a 10% discount to products you sell, etc. Let everyone send in pictures of their pets to go along with their contest entries, etc. This would make it even funnier. This little technical gadget becomes content, viral marketing, traffic, a hook, builds link popularity, adds cash to your back pocket, etc. Wasn’t the gadget worth building?

Now, tell me about YOUR dog’s (or dogs!) bark. I have six dogs, so I have a lot more to go.

You can also give me more ideas for pet sites, whichever way you want to go. I’m open to any and all ideas. Just keep those ideas coming!

Robin

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