(Please enjoy this guest blog post from ANDREW T DRAUGHON)

Being world-class isn’t easy.

Take Ono Jirō.

The first sushi chef to achieve three Michelin stars, the subject of the smash 2011 documentary, Jiro Dreams of Sushi, and the guy considered by many to make the best sushi in the world.

How hard does Jirō work?

He’s 90 years old and his kids once mistook him for a stranger when they saw him home on a weekday (he doesn’t usually take days off).

So it goes without saying that Jirō brings his “A-game” every single day.

The 10 people he can seat at his restaurant fully expect an out-of-this-world experience every single time—he can’t fail to deliver and risk his reputation.

But what happens when Jirō is burned out, sick, or distracted?

What happens when he doesn’t have the luxury of inspiration?

What happens when obstacles present themselves?

Well, to be frank…

Nothing happens.

Nothing out of the ordinary, that is.

He continues making the best sushi in the world, just like he does every other day of the week.

How?

To understand that, you’ve got to understand what Jirō views as the key to his success…

Repetition

No matter how he feels, Jirō does what he does best—day in, day out.

When he inevitably encounters challenges, he moves forward.

(And let’s face it, the restaurant business is filled with challenges and frustrations—especially when you’re working with fickle, subject-to-availability raw ingredients.)

However, after 80+ years in the restaurant business (he started working at the ripe old age of 7), Jirō always has an ace or two up his sleeve for when nothing’s going right—you know, those “crowd-pleasers” that are guaranteed to impress, every time.

This is important to note, because in your own way…

You’re also a chef

Think about it: as a business owner, you “cook up” eyeballs for your offers from a basic set of ingredients…

Your blog posts, emails to your mailing list, branding videos, social media interactions, etc.

And sometimes—just like Jirō—you need to be on your “A-game,” but you just aren’t feeling it.

That’s okay…

You’re about to learn 12 proven content-creation ideas to fall back on when the need arises.

Ideas you can use to generate fresh content at the drop of a hat—no matter how you’re feeling.

These are time-tested templates that work on two levels…

First, they employ hard-wired psychological triggers to capture your prospect’s attention

Second, they provide tremendous value and position you as an authority figure

So if you need content ideas—and who doesn’t—dive in and start using these ideas to “chef up” something beautiful in your business!

According to a 2015 article in the medical journal, Digestion, 86 percent of people who think they’re gluten sensitive actually aren’t.

This won’t stop the “gluten-free” product market from being worth 7+ billion dollars by 2020, though.

What gives? Why are people spending so much money on products they probably don’t need?

Easy…

It’s because they’re scared.

Recently, the alternative health community has jumped on gluten for supposedly causing digestive problems, weight gain, low energy levels, etc.

Whether or not this is true, the mere suggestion of these negative side-effects has turned gluten-free food into a multi-billion dollar industry!

So, use this insight to your advantage!

People want to know what to avoid.

Let them know what they shouldn’t do, and they’ll flock to your content.

Sample headlines:

The #1 thing you must avoid if you want to make money with your blog
4 foods you always need to avoid—or risk gaining unsightly weight!

Some marketers say the brain can’t process “negative” sentences; ones with words like “not,” “no,” and “none.”

For example: if you tell someone, “don’t think of elephants,” guess what he or she is thinking about?

Elephants.

This might be why telling people what to do, instead of what not to do, is so commonly used.

What’s important here is really getting into the head of your prospects.

Generally, you’ll want to focus on the “big 3” benefit categories:

Saving time,
Making money, and
Having fun

If your benefit doesn’t fit into any of these, you might want to re-think it.

To know exactly what tips your readers might need, just ask them in your next e-mail or at the end of a blog post or video!

Sample headlines:

The fastest way to get 6-pack abs for your spring vacation
5 online marketing tools that will explode your sales

Case studies are great, because there are so many you can easily discover online…

And they require practically NO experience or creativity to write!

All you’ve got to do is find an individual or organization whose experience is useful or interesting, tell their story, and demonstrate the valuable lesson of the story.

That’s it!

To find a good case study, just use Google to find people who’re already where your prospects want to be.

So, let’s say I wanted to write for martial artists, I’d might search for “martial arts masters.”

Easy, right?

Sample headlines:

How Tim Erway made his first million online
The Mr. Peanut school of Facebook advertising

Now, it’s important to make one distinction…

Most think you need to be some hyper-successful “big shot” to write about your experiences.

Not true.

In reality, it works the other way around.

People BECOME big shots by writing about their experiences!

You’re already where a lot of people want to be.

Seriously.

If you’re reading this post you already have a significant amount of clarity regarding how to generate leads and customers online.

That’s huge.

So don’t stress about not being “there” yet. Your audience will learn a TON simply by following your journey. There’s absolutely no need to make anything up to sounds impressive or overthink this process.

Just talk, and people will listen—and move that much closer to buying from you!

Sample headlines:

A business breakthrough I had while walking my dog
You won’t believe this {insert marketing tactic} secret I discovered today!

Sometimes, readers want to relax a little and get information in bite-sized chunks.

Not every blog post has to be an essay!

There’s a reason “listicles” go viral more often than any other kind of content.

Besides, don’t we all like lists?

After all, there’s a reason you’re reading this list post right now, right?

You can turn any post type mentioned above or below into a list post.

You can list benefits, things to avoid, case studies…literally anything works.

Sample headlines:

27 places to go on your next vacation
12 ideas for generating fresh content your readers will absolutely love

See what I did there? 😉

In a way, the quote post is a “remix” of the list post…

Only instead of doing all the hard work yourself, you can basically “swipe” insightful thoughts from well-known folks.

The advantage is this…

People take ideas and concepts much more seriously when they’re coming from recognizable names.

The second advantage is that this doesn’t require a huge creative burden…

Just “google” a few memorable quotes on a given topic, collect ’em up, and post!

That’s it!

You’ve got shareable content in just a few minutes.

The third advantage is that you can easily match the quotes you find with your call to action, priming your readers to agree with your conclusions—using the authority and “celebrity” of recognized thought leaders.

Sample headlines:

10 things billionaires said about online marketing
15 quotes from the greatest salesmen in history

I don’t have to say you’ve got to intimately know your audience’s pains and offer solutions to them.

You already know that.

What you might forget is that the connection between reader and writer is a relationship.

Those clicks and conversions aren’t just numbers—they’re people.

And when you share yourself with them, they know and trust you a little better…

Even if you just rant about something that made you upset or excited.

After all, emotions are what make people buy, not logic.

Sample headlines:

Why Shark Tank is the greatest thing…like…ever!
Why I’m sick and tired of people who chase “shiny objects”

Remember the “…For Dummies” book series?

With 200 million books in print and over 2,700 titles, we definitely know “how-to” is popular!

Essentially, all you have to do is take something people want to know and tell them how to do it, step-by-step, in plain English.

Voilà!

All you have to do is find 5 previously-written posts and mix-and-match your favorite tips and tricks.

So don’t be shy about taking a page from the For Dummies books…

A how-to guide is the simplest way to provide value, and always a strong idea if you’re not sure what to write.

Sample headlines:

How to light a room on fire with your infrared pointer
How to eat all the dessert you want and still lose weight

People love secrets.

There’s just something delightful and ‘tingly’ about learning a juicy one, right?

Well, it’s not just you and me who feel this way—your readers think so, too!

Always remember:

What you already know—and take for granted—may be a HUGE revelation to your list.

I mean, they wouldn’t have signed up if they didn’t believe you know a few things they don’t, mmkay?

Just look back over your piles of notes. Seriously, how many webinars have you attended?

Believe you me, you’ve learned plenty of tantalizing insights that are going to be brand spankin’ new to your readers!

Sample headlines:

Ray Higdon’s secret to a “super-couple” marriage
Seven “hush-hush” traffic secrets of 8-figure earners revealed!

In the “olden days”—think cavemen and bears—knowing the dangers around you was imperative to survival.

That’s why, to this day, we’re so intrigued by the idea of danger.

Sounds funny, I know.

But there’s a reason so many blockbusters are in the horror, action, and thriller genres.

It’s hardwired in our genes.

So give your readers what they want.

Warn them about a danger (real or imagined) and watch your views and shares blow up like crazy.

Sample headlines:

Is your child safe from his or her school teacher?
10 warning signs that show you chose the wrong blog topic

Your following trusts you to guide them as an authority.

At the same time, many of them want to be where you are—and appreciate you sharing experience and knowledge.

This is especially true if you write about online entrepreneurship.

If you’re already generating leads or making money, you know things most people don’t…

And that includes trying new goods and services your list doesn’t know about.

Of course, you can use this in any industry.

If you run a fitness blog, for instance, you can post a Shakeology or Beachbody review and let people know about your experience of the product.

A lot of people don’t have the time, energy, or money to go out and try everything that’s on the market for themselves.

They’ll really appreciate you sharing what works.

Sample headlines:

My review of the world’s best chef knife
What you need to know about the Market Samurai keyword tool

It bears repeating—not everyone has the knowledge and experience you do (even if you’re new).

Just by reading our posts here on this blog, you’ve already got a “leg up” on most folks—especially when it comes to what does and does not make money online.

So share the everything new you learn with your audience.

It’ll be current, relevant, and engage your readers like “gang busters!”

The news doesn’t have to be from your specific industry, by the way—if you learn something juicy, share it!

It’s easy to “twist” current events into content—just add a perspective that’s fun or useful to your audience and you’re good to go.

Sample headlines:

Stephen Curry’s jersey selling for 800+$! Here’s 3 selling secrets can you learn from rabid fandom.
Leadership lessons from Donald Trump’s/Bernie Sander’s last speech

“Ingredient X”: a pinch of this makes it all come together

You don’t have to be a world-class chef to prepare fantastic content for your audience.

Use these templates and you’re sure to serve your audience a delicious treat they’ll enjoy!

Just remember…

Although everyone who’s anyone uses these exact ideas, your creativity is the secret ingredient that makes it all come together.

So don’t be afraid to let your personality shine through in your content.

Now, let’s talk big picture…

What’s the ultimate point of creating awesome content?

Why are you spending all this time and effort toiling away over a hot keyboard?

What’s your #1 goal with each and every piece of content you create?

Allow me to give you a hint…

You want people to come through the door, have a seat, take a look at your menu, realize you’ve got a special “something,” and immediately commit to ordering drinks and hors d’oeuvres…

Right?

You don’t want them to just glace over the menu, turn their noses up, and walk down the street to the next dining establishment.

So basically…

You want—and need—to convert your readers into subscribers!

This is, of course, how you get paid from the hard work of “cheffing up” your content.

And the single, most effective technique to convert readers into subscribers is through serving your prospects a compelling “free report,” “bribe,” or what we call a “lead magnet.”

So to make sure you’ve properly “set your tables” and prepared a welcoming atmosphere…

“Iron Chef” Tim Erway (and founder of Elite Marketing Pro), put together an exclusive free report that reveals how to quickly create lead magnets that effortlessly convert your audience into subscribers.

Click here and get started with the 7-Step Lead Magnet Quick-Start Guide today!

This is the EXACT technique we use to average 401 leads a day.

The best part is this method is totally hands-free…

You just set it up and go away, and your list grows all by itself.

It’s kind of like running a restaurant where the food prepares and serves itself!

Click here and get started with the 7-Step Lead Magnet Quick-Start Guide today!

‘Til next time,

Moni Arora’s Blog