The good folks over at www.ConstantContact.com just sent out a really solid piece of email marketing on their own … it was great to look at, it was loaded with links, and it also contained really outstanding content. It is exactly the type of e-mail marketing that I aspire to do for my business and for my clients’ businesses. Truly first-rate stuff.

The email was about coming up with content ideas, something that anyone who is asked to put out a regular newsletter knows can be a tough task. The occasional writer’s block is inevitable, no matter how talented you are.

Takeaways
Six questions you can ask yourself to generate content ideas:

What are the top five questions that customers or members ask you?

Who are some interesting customers, members, volunteers or employees? What makes them interesting?

What problems are your customers facing? What will you be doing to help them solve those problems?

What information do you have that would help your customers and members see you as an expert?

Have you been to any trade shows or conferences lately? What were the big news or trends?

Have any customers said nice things about you lately? (Get their permission to use their praise first!)

Great Resources
ConstantContact.com has some great resources you can use:

Their monthly Newsletter Makeover webinar

Articles from their Hints & Tips archive on compelling copywriting

Their customer examples page to see what other people in your industry say in their communications