Some people can turn creativity on and off like a faucet, accessing an endless well of inspiration and imagination with ease. We’d be lying if we said we weren’t at least a little jealous. See, for most of us, creativity tends to be a fickle, fleeting thing, coming and going more or less as it pleases.
Most often, this manifests as a lack of inspiration in the brainstorming phase, the inability to come up with compelling content even in spite of knowing what your readers are interested in. The bad news is that there’s no way to avoid this kind of thing entirely. The good news is that if you know where to look, you can overcome this roadblock when it surfaces.
Here are a few of our favorite sources of inspiration to help you more effectively research, brainstorm, and create compelling content.
Quora
Quora is definitely one of our favorite resources. It’s great for topic research. It’s also excellent for audience research. This Q&A community hosts content on almost anything imaginable.
If someone has asked a question, you’ll likely find it here. Are you stuck on how to address a specific search query? Or are you simply looking for new content ideas? This is the perfect place to explore.
The Rise of Quora Advertising: A 2025 Perspective (Improvado) highlights Quora’s diverse and highly engaged user base. Consequently, this makes it a powerful platform for both research and marketing.
Furthermore, the article underscores the platform’s trustworthiness and content diversity. Therefore, this reinforces its usefulness for discovering audience interests and questions.
Other, similar resources include Yahoo! answers and Reddit.
Competitor’s Blogs
They say imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. Therefore, if you’re trying to figure out where to focus your content marketing, it might be worthwhile to look at the competition.
Note that we are not in any way suggesting that you directly copy them. Plagiarism is one of the worst things you can possibly do as a writer, and you should avoid it at all costs.
Instead, examine the topics your competition covers. Then, consider if there are areas where you can improve upon their work. Essentially, approach content marketing like any other area of your business. Do what your competitors do, but do it better.
Friends and Colleagues
Last but certainly not least, never underestimate the value of your contacts, both personal and professional. Even if someone isn’t your target audience or in your field, having someone to bounce ideas off can be incredibly valuable. They’ll likely bring a unique perspective to the table, with insights you hadn’t previously considered.
A good brainstorming session is an incredible way to get the creative juices flowing.
Writer’s Block is Only Temporary
Struggling with a creative block can be incredibly frustrating. But if you know where to look, inspiration is usually only a few clicks away. And if the above advice doesn’t help, there’s one more thing you can do to get the juices flowing.
Take a break. Get up from your computer and go for a walk. Do something relaxing, fun, and energizing.
When you return to your work, you might be surprised at how much better you’re able to focus.
