Have you ever had that moment? You’ve carved out time in your busy schedule, you’ve got a fresh cup of coffee, you open your laptop ready to write that perfect blog post… and your mind goes completely blank. You stare at the blinking cursor. You think, “What do I even write about? Does anyone even care about what I have to say?”
If you’ve ever felt this way—and I think most of us have—I want you to know something important: you’re not out of ideas. You’re just looking for them in the wrong place.
For the longest time, I made the same mistake. I’d sit at my desk and try to be “creative.” I’d brainstorm topics I thought were impressive or comprehensive. I wrote posts that felt like lectures. And then I’d check my analytics and feel disappointed when no one seemed to read them.
The breakthrough came not from trying harder, but from listening better. I stopped trying to guess what my audience wanted and started paying attention to what they were actually asking. This simple shift—from broadcaster to listener—changed everything. It filled my content calendar, connected me with the right readers, and took the pressure off trying to be a “thought leader.” Instead, I could just be a helpful guide.
Let me walk you through how this works.
The Day I Stopped Guessing and Started Listening
A few years ago, I was helping a local baker named Elena with her website. Her pastries were incredible—flaky, buttery works of art. But her blog posts? They were stiff. She wrote about “The History of the Croissant” and “Butter Temperature Techniques.” Good information, but it wasn’t connecting.
One afternoon, while I was in her shop, I overheard a customer holding a beautiful, but slightly lopsided, muffin. She asked Elena, “This is still pretty, but why did it sink in the middle? Did I do something wrong?”
Elena’s face lit up. She launched into a warm, friendly explanation about oven temperature, batter density, and not over-mixing. The customer listened, fascinated. She bought two more muffins.
After the customer left, I turned to Elena and said, “That. Write that.“
“Write what?” she asked.
“Write ‘Why Did My Muffin Sink in the Middle (And How to Fix It Next Time).'”
That post became the most popular thing on her website. It was shared in local parent groups, it got comments from other bakers, and it brought people to her shop who said, “I read your article and had to try your muffins!”
That was the lesson: The best content doesn’t come from your expertise alone. It comes from the intersection of your expertise and someone else’s curiosity. Your audience is constantly asking questions. Your job is to hear them.
Your Three-Step Process to Endless Ideas (No Tech Wizardry Required)
You don’t need expensive software or an SEO degree. You just need a system. Here’s the one I use and teach. It takes 20 minutes and will give you more ideas than you can write in a month.
Step 1: The Kitchen Table Brainstorm (10 Minutes)
Find a quiet spot. Grab a notebook—a real one with paper. There’s something about writing by hand that feels different. At the top of the page, write this: “What are people confused about?”
Now, think about your last few conversations with clients, customers, or friends about your work.
The “How Do I Start?” Question: What’s the very first hurdle for a total beginner?
The “This Went Wrong” Question: What’s a common, frustrating mistake people make?
The “Is This Normal?” Question: What do people worry about that’s actually perfectly fine?
The “What’s the Difference?” Question: What two related things are constantly mixed up?
For Elena the baker, her list looked like:
Why is my cookie dough so sticky?
Can I use salted butter instead of unsalted?
My bread is dense and heavy. Help!
Do I really need a stand mixer?
Don’t edit. Don’t judge. Just write down the raw, simple questions. These are your seeds.
Step 2: The “Eavesdrop” on Google (5 Minutes)
Take one question from your list—pick the one you hear most often. Open Google and type it in, just like a curious person would.
Now, before you click anything, do two things:
Look for the “People also ask” boxes. Click on one. Then another. Watch as new questions appear. This is a live stream of the related questions real people are typing into Google. Each one is a headline. Write them down.
Look at the search suggestions. Google tries to finish your sentence as you type. Those suggestions are based on the most common searches. Those are also gold.
From Elena’s question “Why is my cookie dough so sticky?” we found:
“How to fix sticky cookie dough”
“Cookie dough too sticky to roll”
“Does egg make cookie dough sticky?”
“Why is my chocolate chip cookie dough sticky”
In five minutes, one problem has given us four different angles for helpful articles.
Step 3: Find the “Hidden Door” Questions (5 Minutes)
This is my favorite part. The internet has corners where people ask the questions they’re almost embarrassed to ask in public. These are the super-specific, sometimes oddly-worded questions that big websites can’t be bothered with.
To find them, go to where your people hang out and talk honestly:
Reddit forums (subreddits) about your topic
Facebook groups for enthusiasts or beginners
Amazon reviews for related products (read the 3-star reviews—they’re often the most detailed about problems)
Niche forums for your industry
Search for phrases like “help with,” “problem with,” “why won’t my,” “how do I deal with…”
Elena found gems like:
“Help! My shortbread cookies spread into one giant blob.”
“Problem with my gingerbread men—the arms keep breaking off after baking.”
“Why won’t my macarons develop feet? Tried 5 times.”
These questions might only get searched 30 times a month. But listen: The person who searches for something this specific isn’t just browsing. They have a real problem, they’re frustrated, and they need an answer NOW. If you provide that answer, you don’t just get a visitor. You make a friend. You become their hero. That person is ten times more likely to remember you, trust you, and buy from you.
Why Answering Questions is Better Than “Creating Content”
We’re taught that we need to have “big ideas” and “original insights.” That’s exhausting. Most people don’t need a manifesto. They need a solution.
When you answer a simple, honest question:
You write faster and better. It’s easier to explain how to fix a leaky faucet than to write “The Philosophy of Plumbing.”
You build instant trust. You show you understand their world and their struggles.
You attract your perfect people. The people asking detailed questions are often your ideal clients or customers.
You never face a blank page again. The world is full of unanswered questions waiting for your expertise.
What to Write First (When You Have Too Many Ideas)
You’ll quickly have a list that feels overwhelming. Here’s how to choose without stress:
Start with the “Ouch.” Which question represents the most painful, frequent problem? Solve the biggest headache first.
Be the Welcome Wagon. Answer a beginner question. It has wide appeal and establishes you as patient and helpful.
Connect the Dots. Can answering this question naturally lead to how you solve bigger problems? (This must feel helpful, not salesy. “Here’s how to fix X yourself. If you’re tired of fixing it, we can handle it for you.”)
Elena’s first month of “question-based” blogging looked like this:
The Ouch: Why Are My Cookies Flat? (The 5 Most Common Reasons) – Solves a huge frustration.
The Welcome Wagon: Baking 101: Your Guide to Common Baking Tools – Perfect for beginners.
The Deep Dive: The Real Reason Your Bread is Dense (It’s Probably Not the Yeast) – Shows deep expertise.
Let’s Answer Your Real Questions
I don’t have an audience yet. Who am I supposed to listen to?
Go listen where your future audience already gathers. Find online communities, forums, or social media groups where your ideal people are asking questions. Lurk for a week. Read the comments on popular blogs in your space. You’re not stealing ideas; you’re learning the language of their problems.
How do I not sound like a robot when writing about a keyword?
Forget the keyword exists. Seriously. Write as if your favorite client just called you with this question. Explain it to them over the phone. Record yourself answering it, then transcribe that. The natural language you use will include the right phrases without you forcing them.
Is it worth writing an article if only a few people search for it?
Yes, if they’re the right few people. I’d rather have 50 visitors who are perfectly primed for my services than 5,000 who bounce away in three seconds. That specific post becomes a magnet for your ideal client and a showcase of your niche expertise.
What’s the #1 mistake you see people make?
They write the post before they check the intent. They see a keyword like “best project management software” and write a product review, when all the top results are “how-to choose” guides. Always, always look at what’s already ranking. What format is it? What angle does it take? Your goal isn’t to copy it, but to understand what Google thinks people want when they type that in.
How do I come up with a good title from a question?
Turn the question into a promise. “Why did my cake collapse?” becomes “Why Your Cake Collapsed (And How to Make It Perfect Next Time).” See the shift? It acknowledges the problem and promises a solution. It’s helpful and hopeful.
Your Very First Step (Do This Today)
I want you to experience this, not just read about it. Your homework is simple:
Set a timer for 20 minutes.
Write down 3 questions you were asked this month.
Pick one. Google it. Open 3 “People also ask” boxes.
Find one online community. Search for one “problem with…” post.
You will have at least 5 solid, real-world blog ideas in 20 minutes. The blank page wins when you’re shouting into the void. It loses when you’re answering a real person.
Your audience is talking. They’re asking questions every single day. All you have to do is start listening. Then, share what you know. It really can be that simple.