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Content Generation Idea: Ask Your Email Subscribers

Content Generation Idea: Ask Your Email Subscribers
If you're a blog of any kind and you collect email addresses (subscribers) (which is something you absolutely should be doing), then you can use that list for more reasons than just sending them offers and products that they might be interested in. In fact, if you're thinking about ways in which to come up with content for your site or blog, then why not ask your list!?

Because email lists are perfect for this reason. They can be used in more ways than just sending them things you think they might be interested in. In fact, when you reach out to your list this way, it can strengthen the relationship you have with those subscribers!

Think about it, if you reach out to your subscribers to ask them for content ideas, that can and will make them feel important to you. That can also make them feel like they're a part of the process and feel valued for it too!

So, what you can do (if you have any kind of size of list) is literally to ask them for content ideas! And in case you're wondering what you can ask and how you can ask it, here's some basic questions to help with that.

You could ask something like:

  • What one thing or more do you struggle with on a daily, weekly, monthly or even yearly basis?
  • What is the biggest issue that your business struggles with today?
  • What sort of things would you like to see us writing and posting about?
  • What is it about our website/company that you like or even dislike?
  • What one thing in life related to x (where x is your product/service) would you like to see changed?
  • What sort of things inspire you to get up out of bed in the morning?
Those are just some basic questions you could ask as said, and from the answers given, you could use them to come up with content ideas.

You could go one step further and use Google Drive to create questionnaires and then collect all the responses given in a spreadsheet.

But as said, by doing this, you'll not only be able to come up with ideas for content but you'll also be able to foster and build a better relationship with your subscribers.

That way, when you do post something they are interested in, they'll be much more likelier to take you up on that offer!

Do you reach out to your subscribers in this way and ask them things you can use for content ideas?

What other sorts of questions can you ask people (your email subscribers) for this reason?

Responses (13)

  • fishmonk 0
    This is definitely helpful. I try not to lump too much stuff to my email subscribers. The content send should be short and simple. Coming up with great titles do help to get their attention. Hopefully, I can generate good questionnaires to get nice information.
    August 8, 2017, 8:38 pm
  • Barida 0
    Making it short and straight to the point can be a great way to pass the message to them. I think that is definitely how to do it.
    December 27, 2017, 11:24 am
  • stbrians 0
    That is exactly what it is. Always be courteous and with integrity
    September 27, 2018, 6:18 pm
  • DarthHazard 0
    It's a good idea but it's important not to annoy your email subscribers too much and it's also important that you don't look like you are out of ideas for your blog/website. If you start sending too many emails to your email subscribers then they may get annoyed and unsubscribe from your email list which could cost you some potential customers. And you also want to look like your website is doing well and not out of ideas because otherwise, they may decide to move over to a rival or competitor who they may think are doing better. The best way is to send out a survey that they can complete once every 6 months or so.
    August 21, 2017, 5:32 pm
  • Barida 0
    Having control of what we send to them is as important as anything in the sense that we should ensure that we don't send mails too often. That's the reason I feel we should do it one a week so as not to bore them with mails.
    December 27, 2017, 11:27 am
  • Baburra 0
    I think this is one of the best methods of coming up with topics, because it fulfills many duties as a content creator such as fan interaction and community cultivation while also generating ideas a little bit easier. This is definitely something that should be done and taken advantage of by anyone with an already existing fan base. The only thing I would say to watch out for is listening too much to the audience without adequate consideration for the bigger picture, as sometimes fans might be asking something that does not fit or will not work well with the overall goal, so sifting through the fan suggestions should be prioritized.
    August 22, 2017, 6:07 am
  • JoeMilford 0
    Great idea here! This really shows your readers and subscribers that you appreciate what they have to say, and it can generate content, so it is a win/win thing. However, you can't just kowtow to your subscribers, and you must stay true to your own voice and task, but feedback from an audience can be a great editing tool. As long as you do not overkill your email subscribers with too many posts, I think that this could be a useful method for bettering your writing and blogs.
    August 27, 2017, 7:41 pm
  • Barida 0
    It's great to read that we can take advantage of the members subscription on our website. I think that is the better way to go about sharing information and getting their thoughts on the said information.
    December 27, 2017, 11:29 am
  • jaymish3 0
    I actually don't agree with this idea. I also get asked by newsletter's I have subscribed to, for content ideas. I've always thought it was not cool. Why are you using other people to do our work?For content ideas just do your research, no one has the time, to fill out your questionnaires, especially since you expect them to do it for free. People are paid to take surveys. It's a bit shady for you to expect it for free.
    January 16, 2018, 5:08 am
  • Corzhens 0
    I have no email subscribers so maybe I can relate if I would use Facebook followers or blog readers. Anyway, asking your readers about their suggestions is still a good way of getting appropriate ideas for writing. At least the suggestions would likely be more relevant and probably interesting for your readers. When I was co-blogging, I would read the comments and for sure there were suggestions that I would pick up for future blogs.
    January 17, 2018, 7:25 pm
  • Martinsx1 0
    With individual differences comes different kind of thinking and reasoning as well. So there is no way two people would think alike or reason in the same manner in generating an ideas or topic for discussion. So, if you have good number of subscribers, you would be amazed at the extent of ideas you can get from them should you ask for their help with such.
    June 19, 2018, 6:18 am
  • jaymish3 0
    I agree @martinsx1 people search for content on the internet that provides them some sought of solution to their problem. While I would not necessarily ask my audience for content ideas( its recommended but I think that is lazy content searching) I would search the forums and the blogs to find out what my audience has a problem with. Sometimes you can create content to solve a problem your audience didn't even understand that they have. You are the authority on the topic so you have to reach further and deeper then your audience for problems/content.
    September 22, 2018, 2:15 pm
  • emiaj55 0
    A very helpful advised. This is one of the many ways of using the email that is usually overlooked. I myself seldom do this.
    November 22, 2018, 1:33 am