Google and Bing Search Hacks to Brainstorm Content Ideas (Cheatsheet)

Content brainstorming is hard. The most obvious question we always face is: Where to start?

To me the answer is obvious: Whenever in doubt, go to Google!

This article describes my tricks searching Google to find what to blog next. It can be used in any niche (scroll down to the actual cheatsheet with the niche example)

Google

Google is my go-to search engine. No matter how much it freaks me out, I’ll still go to search Google. It’s like FireFox: I won’t quit it even though it gives me so much headache. It’s the matter of habit: I feel comfortable on FireFox searching Google 🙂

And yes, Google has some cool tools and operators I can’t live without:

1. [SITE:site.com] limits your search to that site

The scenario: Identify some site(s) that are awesome at featuring daily tools, hacks, apps and search it each time you need a tool in that niche.

Example: [site:teksocial.com christmas]

Additional reading: 2 FireFox addons to access SITE: search easier

2. [“word1 * word2”] substitutes * with another word (or a few words) in a phrase

Example: [“which * are you”]

3. [filetype:] limits your search to the document types you specify

It’s a very useful search if you are looking for eBooks, cheatsheets and booklets.

Example: [filetype:pdf beginner’s seo]

4. [related:URL] will find more pages of this kind.

Example: [related:http://home.snafu.de/tilman/xenulink.html]

The main factor Google uses to identify “related” pages is by co-citation, so it’s helpful when you want to find more tools that usually end up in one list. It’s a great search trick when you are looking for “roundup” content inspiration (“XX Best Tools…”)

5. [~word] will search and highlight the sysnonyms of the given word

That’s a nice one if you want to broaden your search a bit.

Example: [~money trends]

6. “Sites with images”

This is not an operator but a search option you can access by clicking “Search tools” above the search results. It will pull image thumbnails into the search results that is huge for brainstorming search:

7. “Related searched”

Another search option that allows you to broaden your brainstorming scope is by pulling more “”Related searches” above your search results:

Bing

Bing supports SITE: and filetype: commands listed above and it also offers a couple of unique interesting operators.

8. [contains:] shows pages that link to the files with specified filetype

Example: [guest blogging contains:pdf] – this search returns articles that link to related PDF documents: a good way to discover new linkable assets to spice up your own piece or brainstorm a linkable asset of your own 🙂

9. [inbody:word] limits the search to documents that mention your search term in the body

This operator is priceless when you want to find articles that *mention* the tool versus articles about the tool.

Example: [inbody:myblogguest -intitle:myblogguest]

The Brainstorming Cheatsheet

(You can download this table here)

Now that you tried the tricks from the cheatsheat, put it aside and start playing more. Real inspiration comes with random, yet smart searches!

Also, don’t forget to check my IMN column and this specific article: HOW TO: Create content brainstorming dashboard

Post image: smart photo stock

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Ann Smarty

I am Ann Smarty, owner of SEOsmarty.com. I've been in the SEO industry for two decades. I am the former Editor-in-Chief of Search Engine Journal and a contributor to Mashable. These days I am running Viral Content Bee and writing for Moz, Buzzsumo, Wix and many others!

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