| Are you stuck in a rut with no ideas for an article | | | | through it and transform it into a springboard for |
| topic? Read on! Don't consider your next article a | | | | ideas. No pet bird? After reading, throw the |
| near impossible task like climbing Mount Everest. Good | | | | unwanted mail into the recycle bin. Recycle bin? |
| article ideas are nearby. Best of all, they are gratis - | | | | Maybe you can write an article on recycling or |
| complimentary - kostenlos - FREE! | | | | composting. Environmental concerns are a hot topic |
| Use the Search Engines | | | | nowadays. |
| Many search engines generate lists of what people | | | | 4.) Books |
| are looking for. The topics may be popular keyword | | | | Thumb through any book on your bookshelf, select a |
| phrases for a certain time interval, or actual searches | | | | random page, and begin reading. Stop once in awhile |
| in real time. | | | | to reminisce or daydream. Before you know it, an |
| 1.) Ask IQ | | | | article idea will pop into your head. Sometimes a book |
| Ask IQ shows the top searches for the last week, | | | | title alone will reawaken your 'article muse'. |
| what people are looking for in the news, and the | | | | Search for Your Article Ideas Online |
| most popular movies. You can write articles on any | | | | Once you have a few prospective topics, see how |
| of these topics. | | | | popular they are by hunting for them online. Make |
| 2.) Google Zeitgeist | | | | note of the number of pages produced for each |
| Google Zeitgeist provides a weekly list of top | | | | phrase. The searches generating the highest number |
| searches. You can also access information for | | | | of results are the most popular. |
| previous months or years, or a list of popular | | | | How to Use This Information |
| searches by country. | | | | The most commonly used keywords and phrases are |
| 3.) Dogpile Search Spy | | | | likely to attract the largest number of readers and |
| With Dogpile Search Spy you can choose filtered or | | | | generate the highest clickthrough payments for |
| unfiltered search results to see what people are | | | | Google AdSense and other pay-per-click programs. |
| hunting for in real time. The words and phrases will | | | | However, if you don't know anything about a |
| represent a cross section of people's interests, rather | | | | subject, avoid it. As a writer, you must use your |
| than a list of most popular subjects. | | | | expertise, experience, research capabilities, and |
| 4.) Google Trends | | | | writing finesse to produce articles that will be useful, |
| Google Trends shows a new list of keywords every | | | | interesting, and popular. |
| time you refresh the page. Like the Dogpile interface, | | | | Did you notice the words 'useful' and 'interesting'? Do |
| these are generic searches occurring while you are | | | | not write articles that are simply advertising hype or |
| sitting in front of your computer. | | | | fluff. They are useless to readers. Take the time to |
| 5.) Webcrawler Search Spy | | | | write material that people will want to print out, |
| Access either a filtered or unfiltered list of real time | | | | bookmark, or publish on their websites. If you write |
| search results. These searches are sometimes | | | | excellent articles, readers will remember you. Over |
| amusing; you get to see all the typos that people | | | | time, you will become known as an authority on each |
| make. Misspellings and typos can be included in article | | | | subject you tackle. |
| keywords for more targeted results. | | | | Don't Waste Your Time if You Can't 'Write Right' |
| And Some Unconventional Sources | | | | If you write articles filled with spelling errors and |
| 1.) Crosswords | | | | incorrect grammar, readers will not trust the |
| Any kind of printed material can spark ideas in the | | | | information you are presenting - no matter how |
| brain of a perceptive writer. Grab a crossword puzzle | | | | accurate and good it may be. A poorly written article |
| book and start filling in the blanks. Keep an open mind | | | | is a black mark on your reputation as a writer and |
| as you work, and jot down article ideas as they | | | | the website or business you are writing for. |
| occur to you. | | | | URLs for the Resources in This Article |
| 2.) Yellow Pages | | | | If you can't find the internet sites mentioned in this |
| Pick up the yellow pages and start looking at display | | | | article, please visit the link in the author's resource |
| ads. Do you see unusual business names or unique | | | | box. |
| services? Does one of the ads remind you of | | | | See you online! |
| something comical that once happened to you? | | | | ©Copyright Kathy Steinemann: This article is |
| Funny articles make good reading copy. | | | | free to publish only if this copyright notice, the byline, |
| 3.) Junk Mail | | | | and the author's note below (with active links) are |
| Before papering your bird cage with junk mail, read | | | | included. |