In this post, you're going to learn how to set up a content inspiration bank system so when it comes to creating content, writing copy, preparing marketing campaigns, you're always inspired!
Are you an ideas person? Me too.
I see an idea. My brain wheels start turning and then I can barely keep up with executing it (it’s a quickstart superpower).
But even if you don’t consider yourself to be an ideas person—this system will turn you into one.
In this post, I’m walking you through how to create a content inspiration bank to store, track and leverage your biggest (and smallest) ideas.
Struggling to come up with new content ideas? Feeling like you're running out of “good” ideas specific to your niche? Or just feeling a little blah when it comes to your business and inspiration?
As business owners, ideas are our currency, so obviously, we need some kind of a process to put them in, store them and ultimately use them.
Which brings me to one of the most important systems in my content arsenal – the Content Inspiration Bank. Since I started using this system in 2016, many a product, challenge and post idea have been born outta here.
And I spend a lot of time talking about another banking system – the Content Bank System where you put the content you've created, but the content inspiration banking system is just as important and will make just as much of an impact on your ability to uplevel and get consistent with your content.
So are you ready to get started with creating your own? Let’s get started with….
Step #1 – Pick Somewhere To Host Your Inspiration Bank
Before we can create you an inspiration hot spot, we gotta pick what that spot’s gonna be. And I find that the people who get the most out of the Content Inspiration Banking System are the ones who pick a tool for hosting it that they have the least resistance to actually using.
So prioritize tools you're already using or ones that you prefer to work with. Some options for this are Trello, Asana, Airtable, ClickUp, or my fave: Google Spreadsheets.
In fact, if you'd like to use my template as a base, head on down to the description of this vid and grab yourself a copy of it from the content shop!
Take Action: Pick one spot to try for storing your content ideas.
Step #2 – Design Your Content Inspiration Bank
Next up is decision time. What types of inspiration do you want to collect?
Here's an example:
In my content inspiration bank – I have tabs for general ideas, content topic ideas, email subjects, phrases I love, emails, social media posts and ads, gifs and misc. – so each of these lives in a separate tab in my content inspiration bank google sheet.
After you’ve decided on types – it’s time to get specific about the types of information that would be helpful to include for each idea.
It’ll differ a bit based on what the idea is. But for each, I usually include columns for title/text, category, how I could use it, link and notes. I also include a checkbox for whether it’s been used or not.
Finally, it’s time to build. Set up each tab of your content inspiration bank. And if you’re feeling inspired, even add a few ideas to get you started.
Take Action: Set up your content inspiration bank.
Step #3 – Design Your Inspiration Bank Process
Next up is to create a process for using your content inspiration bank.
The worst thing you can do at this point is to spend all this time setting up and populating your content inspiration bank and then never end up using it. This step is all about preventing that from happening.
And there are two sides to this equation:
Side 1 – Adding ideas to your inspiration bank
And Side 2 – Use your inspiration bank when you're looking for inspiration
When it comes to adding ideas to your inspiration bank, here’s how to create your process:
- Identify the spots where you usually come across inspiration – for example: maybe it’s Pinterest, or Facebook, or Instagram, or In Emails
- Then for each of these platforms – create collection points where you can easily save the idea to come back to later: For Pinterest – you might set up a secret board, for Facebook – there are Facebook saves, for Instagram – there are saves, when you're out and come across something maybe take a picture it or add it to a note in your phone, or in your email – setting up a folder
- Finally – pick how often you'll go through each of the inspiration collection points and move things into your inspiration bank – this might be as often as once a week as part of your Friday wrap up routine; or once a month
- Create a checklist of where to check when you're doing your “add to content inspiration bank” routine
On the other side of the coin – when it comes to using your inspiration bank, make it easy for yourself by adding it into your process for content planning, making the link to your bank really accessible and easy to find.
One of my best selling products – the Profitable Content Campaign Generator – came from an infographic I saw in a magazine about smoothie recipes. So it won't always be a direct connection to what the seed of the idea eventually becomes but you never know where you're going to come across your inspiration and what you're going to turn it into.
This is just ONE example of several where my inspiration bank has paid off for me.
Ready to Set Up Your Inspiration Bank?
Let's recap the steps:
Step 1 – Pick where you want to host your inspiration system
Step 2 – Design your inspiration bank
Step 3 – Create a process for using your content inspiration bank
And afterwards, get to planning out your content with the free Monthly Content Planning Kit:
