How to Find More Topic Ideas Using Web 2.0
Written by Alexis Rodrigo · Print This Article
Last week, we discussed how you can find a long list of topic ideas by doing keyword research. It’s a strategy that will help you learn more about the topics your target audience is looking for online. This means your content will be relevant to them, and the chances are good that your target audience will find your content naturally through the search engines.
But what if your topic does not show up in the search engines? It’s possible that your target audience doesn’t use Google or other search engines to find solutions to their problems.
In this case, you can and should use Web 2.0 properties to do market research. The techniques you’ll learn below will give you plenty of insights about your target market – how they really feel, what problems wake them up in the middle of the night, what frustrations they have regarding your niche or market.
You’ll find plenty of Web 2.0 properties and it’s easy to get overwhelmed and confused about where to even begin. Find out which sites and online networks your target market uses the most and start there.
Here are some tips for specific Web 2.0 sites:
1. Twitter
Twitter is a micro-blogging tool, but it has also been called “real-time market research.” By using Twitter, you can quickly find out many things about your target market. The easiest way to do this is by doing a Twitter search. I use Tweetdeck and when I search a particular keyword, Tweetdeck creates a column for that search. Here are the columns of topics I monitor all the time:
This column gets updated in real time whenever a new Tweet is posted that contains my search word. So at any given time, you can see what Twitter users are saying about your topic. Keep the column open and you can monitor the stream anytime you like.
2. Google Alerts
Google alerts automatically Emails you links to websites that mention your topic. This can really save you time and keeps you on top of new developments in your niche.
Setting up a Google alert is easy. Go to http://www.google.com/alerts and fill up the “Create a Google Alert” box:
Type in your search term (you can type several keywords at once), then select the type of sites you’d like to monitor, how often you want to receive an Email alert, how many results you want in each Email. Finally, enter your Email address.
That’s all there is to it!
3. Online Forums
Another way to keep track of what your target clients are saying about your topic is to visit online forums. You can easily find them by entering “[your topic] + forum” in Google or another search engine.
Pick a couple of forums that look active. That is, it has plenty of recent posts and a fairly large number of members, say, a few hundred.
By registering in the forums yourself, you can interact with other members and ask them questions – something that can come in really handy when you’re doing in-depth research.
4. Facebook
Facebook is another way to do market research, if your target market is active there. Check out the most active Facebook Groups around your topic or where your target customers are members. The biggest groups aren’t always the most active. Look at current discussions. To interact with members, you’ll have to become a member yourself.
I know of a marketer who actually added specific members as friends, explaining that she’s conducting market research in their industry. This way, she was able to conduct a Facebook focus group discussion and gain the insights she needed to create an infoproduct for that market. Take note that she was transparent about her intentions from the very beginning.
5. Social Bookmarking Sites
Social bookmarking sites, like Delicious, StumbleUpon and Digg will tell you which web pages are perceived as most useful and valuable. It can take time to sift through the results and find real gems. However, if you have the time, the results can be worthwhile.
What to Look For
So you’ve got all these sites and data to monitor. What exactly are you looking for? Keep an eye out – and make lists – of your target clients’:
- Frequently asked questions – What questions keep coming up consistently? Make a list of FAQ and provide your own answers – you’ve got new content!
- Frustrations – What does your target market hate about your topic? About your competition? Make sure to address this in your own product/service as well as in your copy.
- Solutions that aren’t working – What have your target customers tried that didn’t work? Why did they not work? Write about these in your blog or articles.
- Solutions they should know about, but don’t – What solutions do you know of but your target customers don’t? Preferably, these are solutions you offer yourself. Again, create content around these topics.
By using Web 2.0 sites, you should come up with more content topic ideas. They’ll even give you fresh ways to improve or come up with products/services for your target market. And you’ll definitely be able to write with more empathy for them, because you understand them better. It can take a lot of time, but it’s necessary in order for you to become a market leader.
Share Your Web 2.0 Experience
What has your experience been with Web 2.0? Has it helped you gain a deeper understanding of your market or niche? Or has it been just a major time suck?
Do you have any other Web 2.0 tips you’d like to share. Please post them in the comments below.
About the Author
Visit Lexi Rodrigo Online at: TheSavvyFreelancer.com
Need a way to get your target market to pay closer attention and buy more stuff? - The Target Market & USP Blueprint includes practical tips and a workbook to better reach the people who want to buy your products. To get yours, click here
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Theody says:
Alexis, your posts are always so informative. I really do not understand how twitter works, but you’ve done a great job of explaining. Thank you.