When the Ideas Dry Up: How to Get Unstuck

You open your laptop, crack your knuckles, and stare at the blinking cursor.

You should post something, right? But your brain’s giving you... elevator music.

Welcome to the creative rut. Population: all of us.

The good news? You don’t need divine inspiration or a full rebrand to crawl out of it. You just need a little curiosity, your favorite caffeinated beverage, and your old pal Google.

Here’s how to get your content ideas flowing again (without spiraling into another “I hate marketing” moment).

1. Ask Google Like a Customer Would

Pop your industry into the search bar and see what autocomplete suggests.

• “How do I [insert what you do]…”

• “Why is [your industry thing] so [confusing/expensive/important]…”

Those suggestions are pure gold. They’re not random, they’re pulled from real questions people are searching right now. And guess what? That means they’re literally asking you what to post about.

Pro tip: Scroll down to “People also ask.” Screenshot that section. You just found your next month of content topics.

2. Dive into Reddit (aka: the Internet’s Group Chat)

Reddit is where people stop pretending to have it all together. It’s also where they ask the real, messy, “I don’t get it” questions your polished Instagram audience might never say out loud.

Search your niche and look for repeat frustrations, myths, or hot takes. If you see threads titled “Why do [people in your industry] always…,” you’ve struck gold.

Turn those rants into clarifying, myth-busting, or “here’s how we do it differently” posts.

3. Stalk Yourself (In a Healthy Way)

Scroll through your own content or analytics. Which posts got the most saves, DMs, or engagement? There’s your proof of what resonates.

You don’t always need new ideas; sometimes you just need to remix old hits.

Think: same topic, new angle. Or turn a high-performing caption into a blog, reel, or newsletter. Repurpose like a pro.

4. Use ChatGPT as Your Brainstorm Buddy

Plug one of those Google or Reddit questions into ChatGPT and say: “Give me 10 content ideas based on this topic.”

You’re still the creative director, but now you’ve got a free copywriter in your corner helping you break through the “I don’t know where to start” fog.

5. Keep a “Content Curiosity List”

Every time a client asks you something, a friend complains about your industry, or you have to explain your work (again) at a family BBQ - write it down.

Those everyday questions and conversations are content gold. Your audience doesn’t want a dissertation, they want the answers to what they’re already asking.

TL;DR: How to Get Unstuck When You’re Out of Ideas

• Google your industry and mine the “People also ask” section - it’s free market research.

• Lurk on Reddit for unfiltered questions and rants.

• Recycle your best-performing content; your audience won’t remember, promise!

• Use ChatGPT to spin one idea into ten.

• Keep a running list of FAQs and client rants… they’re marketing gold disguised as conversation.

When in doubt, don’t overthink it. Your next great idea isn’t hiding, it’s just waiting to be Googled.