How do you generate new and relevant ideas for your content calendar?

. A content framework like the PASTOR model can serve as a guide to help focus your ideas and ensure that your content is aligned with your audience's needs and goals. It can also help you avoid getting stuck in a creative rut or producing content that is unoriginal or unfocused. Having a content calendar can also be beneficial in that it helps to ensure consistency in your content production and can prevent burnout or last-minute scrambling to come up with ideas. It allows you to plan ahead, allocate resources effectively, and ensure that your content is aligned with your overall marketing strategy. Dr. John L. Mack The Self-Publishing Strategist

Frameworks are the key to successfully engaging in new and innovative spaces. Once you have implemented a framework, you have some place to begin and build from. I particularly like the PASTOR model. It is a simple six step system to indentify and augment issues in such a way that creates Clarity and provides an anticipated end game. To proceed without an understanding of the exigencies that are incumbent in each dynamic is a fool's journey.

I agree, by being aware of what your competitors are trending with, you can stay relevant and ultimately stay in the game, if not ahead of the pack. To blindly operate in the vacuum of your own focus can limit you and cause you to miss out on the value of new ideas and current trends. It is therfore expedient that you look across the spectrum at all the relervant arenas that you are exposed to. To not do so could make you outdated and out of the influence loop.

It is a critical component of any content strategy and content planning, as it should be. Competitive analysis can offer insight on your weaknesses and advantages in your market. It also helps you improve your content planning. Two other great benefits of competitive analysis are that it sheds light on gaps in your content that need to be filled and gives you ideas on how to maintain your current advantage over your competition.

To create a steady flow of successful content, you need the keep a pulse on what your audience is looking for. Know what their pain points are and what questions are top of mind for them. If you plan content based on that, you’ll be meeting a need and meeting them where they are. If those needs shift, your content should too.

Don't forget your internal audience. Your organization's employees likely have great ideas for new content — ideas they may never share unless asked. Oftentimes, content calendar development is handled fully within a communications department, but I've found it valuable to engage other departments and speak with employees at every level of seniority. You never know where the next great story will originate. In addition, when the job market is tight and retaining talented team members is crucial, employees themselves are an audience worth intentionally addressing in a content calendar. What types of content will help them feel engaged and proud to work for your organization? The resulting content may resonate with external audiences, too.

In my experience, it is more important to know "How your audience wants to listen to your content" rather than "How you want them to listen to your content".

The point of a content calendar is planning ahead to avoid getting trapped in a cycle of deadline-pressure when creating. If you're still producing content under the wire, audit your process and tools – you should have time and space for cooling off: putting a piece of content on the shelf for a few days so you can review it with fresh eyes.

Think about content clusters rather than individual pieces. When you generate one good idea, brainstorm how it can be presented as a series of related articles or posts. Can you adapt it for different industries, or different geographical locations, or different times of year? Can you present a list of ten top points, then expand each one into a more in-depth piece? This is a good way to explore and respond to the topics your audience is most engaged with.