Blog post ideas are everywhere if you know where to look and how to capture them without copying. The goal is not to swipe someone else’s angle word for word, but to spot patterns, unanswered questions, and proven formats, then rebuild them with your own reporting, examples, and point of view. In practice, that means setting up a simple “idea pipeline” that turns signals from search, social, and your audience into publishable drafts. Once you have that pipeline, you stop guessing and start shipping.
Blog post ideas start with an ethical line in the sand
Before you “steal” anything, define what you will not do. Copying structure, topic selection, and framing is fair game in content marketing, but lifting wording, unique examples, or proprietary visuals is not. A useful rule is this: borrow the question, not the answer. If another post inspired you, add original reporting, a new dataset, a different audience, or a clearer step by step method so the final piece stands on its own.
Use these quick decision rules to stay clean. If you can remove the source article from the internet and your post still makes sense, you are likely safe. If your outline matches theirs section for section, you are probably too close. When in doubt, cite the source and link to it, then expand with your own examples and updated context.
- Ethical borrow: topic, headline pattern, content format, question list, framework shape.
- Not OK: paragraphs, unique stories, screenshots, original charts, distinctive phrasing.
- Best move: add your own data, interviews, experiments, or templates.
Define key terms early so your ideas convert
If you write for creators and marketers, many “idea” posts fail because they skip definitions. Readers bounce when they cannot map your advice to metrics and deal terms. Add a short glossary near the top of your drafts and reuse it across posts. It also helps you spot new article angles, because each term can become its own explainer or checklist.
- CPM: cost per thousand impressions. Formula: CPM = (Cost / Impressions) x 1000.
- CPV: cost per view, often used for video. Formula: CPV = Cost / Views.
- CPA: cost per acquisition or action. Formula: CPA = Cost / Conversions.
- Engagement rate: engagements divided by reach or followers, depending on platform norms. Example: ER by reach = (Likes + Comments + Saves + Shares) / Reach.
- Reach: unique people who saw content. Impressions: total views including repeats.
- Whitelisting: a brand runs ads through a creator’s handle, usually with permissions and time limits.
- Usage rights: how a brand can reuse creator content, where, and for how long.
- Exclusivity: creator agrees not to work with competitors for a defined period and scope.
Concrete takeaway: whenever you find a promising topic, ask “which metric or contract term does this touch?” If you can tie the post to CPM, engagement rate, usage rights, or exclusivity, it becomes more actionable and easier to rank for long tail queries.
Build an idea pipeline you can run weekly
Random inspiration is unreliable, so treat ideation like a lightweight analytics workflow. You collect signals, score them, and then convert the best ones into outlines. This is the same mindset you would use to evaluate creators: gather inputs, normalize them, and make a decision based on consistent criteria.
Run this five step loop every week. First, collect 30 raw ideas from the sources below. Next, cluster them into themes like “pricing,” “briefs,” “fraud,” “platform playbooks,” or “creator monetization.” Then score each idea for intent, originality, and effort. After that, write one outline per theme so you build topical authority. Finally, publish and measure, then feed performance back into the scoring model.
| Stage | What you do | Tool or source | Output |
|---|---|---|---|
| Collect | Capture questions, hooks, and formats | Search suggestions, comments, creator posts | 30 raw ideas |
| Cluster | Group by audience problem and funnel stage | Spreadsheet or notes app | 5 to 8 themes |
| Score | Rank by intent, uniqueness, and effort | Simple scoring rubric | Top 5 candidates |
| Outline | Write H2s, examples, and a checklist | Template outline | 1 to 2 outlines |
| Publish and learn | Track rankings, CTR, scroll depth, conversions | Search Console, analytics | Updated scoring rules |
Concrete takeaway: keep a single “idea backlog” with columns for source, keyword, audience, and proof. Proof can be “high search intent,” “viral creator post,” or “repeated customer question.” That one column prevents you from publishing guesses.
17 places to steal blog post ideas (and how to turn each into a draft)
Below are high signal sources that consistently produce publishable topics. The trick is to extract the underlying question and then add your own angle, data, and examples. To keep things practical, each source includes a conversion step you can do in under 15 minutes.
- 1) Google autocomplete: Type your core topic and record the suggestions. Conversion step: turn each suggestion into a “how to” headline and add a metric definition section.
- 2) People Also Ask boxes: These are pre validated questions. Conversion step: use each question as an H2 and answer in 120 to 180 words, then expand with examples.
- 3) Related searches: Found at the bottom of results pages. Conversion step: build a cluster post that links to future deep dives.
- 4) YouTube search suggestions: Video queries often reveal beginner pain points. Conversion step: write a companion post that includes a checklist and a template.
- 5) TikTok and Instagram search: Look for repeated phrasing in search results and captions. Conversion step: translate the hook into a blog headline, then add a “why it works” section.
- 6) Creator comment sections: Comments contain objections and follow up questions. Conversion step: collect 10 comments, then write a post that answers them in order.
- 7) Reddit threads: Great for raw language and edge cases. Conversion step: quote the problem statement in your intro and address the top three proposed solutions with pros and cons.
- 8) Quora and niche forums: Useful for long tail queries. Conversion step: build a glossary style post that defines terms and gives decision rules.
- 9) Customer support tickets: These are money questions. Conversion step: turn the ticket into a step by step guide and include screenshots or a template.
- 10) Sales calls and objections: Objections map to comparison posts. Conversion step: write “X vs Y” with a table and a recommendation by scenario.
- 11) Your own analytics: Find pages with high impressions but low CTR. Conversion step: rewrite titles and add a missing section that matches the query intent.
- 12) Competitor headlines: Use them for gap analysis, not copying. Conversion step: list their top 20 posts, then write the post they did not write, such as “pricing + contract clauses” instead of “pricing tips.”
- 13) Platform policy updates: Policies create urgent content. Conversion step: summarize the change, then add “what to do next” steps.
- 14) Tool changelogs: New features create tutorials. Conversion step: write a quick start guide and include common mistakes.
- 15) Industry reports: Reports contain stats that journalists cite. Conversion step: extract three stats, then write an analysis post with implications and actions.
- 16) Conference agendas: Session titles are pre tested topics. Conversion step: turn the session title into a blog post and add a template or checklist.
- 17) Your own content library: Refresh posts that are slipping. Conversion step: add new examples, update definitions, and improve internal linking to newer posts.
For more topic patterns that work in influencer marketing, browse the InfluencerDB Blog resource library and note which headlines match your audience’s current questions.
Use a scoring rubric to pick winners fast
When you have 30 ideas, the hard part is choosing. A scoring rubric keeps you honest and prevents you from picking topics just because they feel interesting. Score each idea from 1 to 5 across four factors: search intent, business value, uniqueness, and production effort. Then sort by total score and pick the top two.
| Score factor | What “5” looks like | What “1” looks like | Quick test |
|---|---|---|---|
| Search intent | Clear “how to” or “best” query | Vague curiosity topic | Do results show guides and templates? |
| Business value | Leads to a service, tool, or signup | No next step for reader | Can you add a practical worksheet? |
| Uniqueness | New data, angle, or audience | Same advice everywhere | Can you add an original example? |
| Effort | Draft in 2 to 4 hours | Needs weeks of research | Do you already have the inputs? |
Concrete takeaway: if an idea scores low on uniqueness, do not kill it immediately. Instead, change the frame. For example, “influencer pricing” becomes “influencer pricing with usage rights and exclusivity clauses,” which is both more specific and more useful.
Turn one idea into an outline with numbers, formulas, and examples
Ideas become posts when you can promise a result and show your work. For marketing topics, numbers are the fastest way to create trust. Add at least one formula, one worked example, and one decision rule. That combination makes the post feel concrete and also earns featured snippets.
Here is a simple example you can reuse in many influencer related posts. Suppose a creator charges $1,200 for a video that gets 80,000 impressions. CPM = (1200 / 80000) x 1000 = $15. If the same video drives 30 conversions, CPA = 1200 / 30 = $40. Now you can write a section that explains when CPM matters more than CPA, depending on whether the campaign goal is awareness or sales.
Next, add deal terms that affect pricing. If the brand wants whitelisting for 30 days, you can explain that the creator is taking on additional risk and should price accordingly. If the brand asks for six months of usage rights, show how to add a licensing fee rather than burying it in the base rate. Concrete takeaway: every time you mention a metric, include the formula and a one line interpretation, such as “a lower CPA means you paid less per customer.”
For authoritative definitions and measurement basics, cross check your terminology against Google’s documentation on metrics like impressions and clicks in Google Ads reporting. Use it as a reference point, then adapt the explanation to influencer campaigns.
Common mistakes that make “idea” posts flop
Even strong topics can underperform if the execution misses what readers actually need. One common mistake is writing a list of sources without showing how to turn a source into a publishable outline. Another is mixing audiences in the same post, such as speaking to creators and enterprise brands in alternating paragraphs. That confuses intent and weakens your internal linking strategy.
Writers also over rely on vague verbs like “leverage” and “optimize,” which hide the absence of steps. Finally, many posts skip the legal and policy layer when discussing creator content, such as usage rights, disclosure, and ad permissions. If you touch sponsored content, it helps to reference the FTC disclosure guidance so readers understand the baseline expectations.
- Listing sources without a conversion method or template.
- Copying a competitor outline too closely, which creates a thin “me too” post.
- Skipping definitions, so beginners get lost and leave.
- Ignoring deal terms like exclusivity and usage rights that change the advice.
Concrete takeaway: if your draft does not include at least one example calculation, one checklist, and one “what to do next” section, it will feel unfinished.
Best practices to publish faster and rank longer
Good ideation is only half the job. To keep posts ranking, you need a repeatable publishing standard. Start by matching the format to intent: “how to” posts need steps and screenshots, while “best tools” posts need comparison tables and clear criteria. Then, add internal links to related guides so readers can keep learning without bouncing back to Google.
Build a simple update cadence. Every quarter, refresh your top 10 posts by impressions and update examples, screenshots, and definitions. Also, add a short section that answers new questions you see in comments or sales calls. Over time, this turns one post into a living resource instead of a one off page.
- Write for one reader: pick “creator,” “brand marketer,” or “agency” and stick to it.
- Prove claims: include a formula, a worked example, or a mini case study.
- Make it skimmable: strong H2s, bullets, and tables that summarize decisions.
- Link with intent: add contextual internal links where they genuinely help.
Concrete takeaway: end each post with a single next step, such as “score five ideas using the rubric above” or “rewrite one headline using the intent test.” That increases follow through and makes your content more memorable.
A quick checklist you can copy into your notes app
Use this checklist whenever you need a topic in under 30 minutes. It keeps you focused on intent, originality, and usefulness. Because it is short, you will actually use it.
- Pull 10 queries from autocomplete and People Also Ask.
- Pull 10 questions from comments, support, or sales objections.
- Pull 10 angles from creator posts and platform updates.
- Score all 30 ideas on intent, value, uniqueness, and effort.
- Pick the top 2 and write H2s that match the questions exactly.
- Add definitions for CPM, CPV, CPA, engagement rate, reach, impressions, whitelisting, usage rights, exclusivity.
- Add one formula and one worked example.
If you do this weekly, you will never run out of blog post ideas, and your content will get more consistent because it is built from real signals rather than inspiration alone.
