Best tools to find topics (not keywords) to write about?

[nicole.healthline]

What are the best ways to find exact topics to write about? Tools? Forums? Any suggestions are welcome!

[connectiveWeb]

Google Trends is really handy for this. You can check what the "Hot Searches" are right now and find one that is related to your vertical. As others have said, Twitter is great for this as well.

[nicole.healthline]

They are a media site but not an on-demand media site.

[seanmccauley]

Which sector is your client operating in? Are they ecommerce?

[nicole.healthline]

Twitter & news sites wouldn't work for this particular client as they plan their editorial calendar months in advance. Any other suggestions? thanks!

[seanmccauley]

Twitter is a very useful tool for understanding what is of interest to the public. Check what is 'trending' in twitter and write about it early on. If the public are tweeting about it or searching for it then they will appreciate a well written piece. Digg, stumbleupon etc are also decent sources.

(I would also advise writing about what you know and love whenever possible)

[blackballonline]

The tried and true methods are keyword research and those you mentioned but to your question, I have always found that observation and opinion posts work very well for us. Whether you observe your industry, your city, your coworkers, your backyard, your commute to work, all are good idea generators. It pays to throw out the old preconceptions and just let it come. Sometimes the harder I try to create content, the harder it is. Forget the box let alone thinking outside of it. Reading is also very helpful. Read all you can about your field and your hobbies. Sometimes a connection happens when least expected. You could actually build out this Q and A and make it a topic to write about. Happy writing