For both planning the structure of the content of a new website and finding ideas for specific articles and posts, Nick Usborne recommends you buy some books, read and study.

Before I start any new website, I generally go to Amazon and buy a few books on the topic.

Specifically, I buy maybe three or more of the bestselling titles.

I do this for a couple of reasons.

First, it helps me broaden and deepen my knowledge of the subject. Read a few well written books - whether they be about coffee, cycling, forex trading, or anything else – and you’ll have a body of knowledge you can really share.

Second, I always look at the contents pages. Actually, I do this at Amazon without buying the books, and sometimes print out the contents pages from ten or more titles.

This helps me see how others have structured their books, and gives me some insights into the possible architecture of my new website.

Once I have read the books and taken some notes, I generally put them away.

But I have learned that it can be a good idea to take them back off the shelf from time to time, to find specific topics for new site pages.

The first time I read through them, I am looking for a broad education. I am seeing the big picture. I’m building a foundation of knowledge on which to build my site.

But when I come back, months or even years later, I find a lot of specifics I either missed the first time, or simply forgot about.

Some of the things I have found include quotes, case studies, tables, percentages and other figures, stories, dates, surprising facts, and more.

Whatever your business or topic, it makes sense to build up a library of related books.

Dig into them from time to time, and you won’t have to read for long before you find inspiration for a new site pages.

101 Web Content Ideas, Tips and Resources

No matter what industry you’re in, you can apply Nick’s techniques in his e-book "101 Web Content Ideas, Tips and Resources" to start generating useful and effective content that everyone wants to read right now. Find out more about "101 Web Content Ideas, Tips and Resources"

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About Nick Usborne

Nick Usborne is a leading authority on the subject of writing for the web, and has been since 1995. As a speaker, trainer and consultant he has worked with dozens of companies and organizations, including Yahoo!, J Paul Getty Trust, Intuit, Walt Disney Attractions, Merck & Co, the National Cancer Institute and many more.

In addition to writing and copywriting work for his clients, he is the author of numerous articles, programs and books. He also coaches freelancers who want to build a bigger and better business. You can learn more about his work on writing for the web, and freelancing, at nickusborne.com