Where do you go when you are looking for inspiration? What site or people inspire your content marketing? If you are wondering where to turn when you are planning blog posts and the ideas aren’t coming, who helps to ease your writer’s block and get your writing flowing again?

One amazing benefit of being online is having accessibility to so much varied and diverse valuable content.

Whatever subject you are tackling, there will be hundreds of articles that will further your understanding and help you approach the topic from your own perspective.

In keeping with my blog post theme for January 2018, I have listed 18 websites where I go when I am in need of inspiration. I am hoping some of these will inspire your content marketing too. All the sites I list are written by fabulous people who unstintingly share and add value to their audience with every post. I really believe this is something we should all aspire to, regardless of writing subject.

18 valuable sites to inspire your content marketing

Far from an exhaustive list, this is a selection of those sites that I find are most useful, that most challenge my thinking, that most influence my approach and that I hope you will also enjoy.

I have also created a Twitter List – Content Superstars – including all these people and more. I would love to hear who inspires you, too.

Awe-inspiring thought leaders

1. Mark W Schaefer
Inspirational marketer, speaker and consultant who drives the latest thinking about content marketing. If you want to be challenged and developed in your thinking, follow Mark on Twitter and read his blog posts at {grow}.

2. Gini Dietrich
Gini Dietrich and her team at Spin Sucks provide expert information and advice with a PR spin.

3. Jeff Bullas
One of the top online influencers as listed by anyone who has an opinion, he is also a prolific sharer of other people’s content and a genius connector.

4. Jay Baer
Strategy and tactical advice on social media, content marketing, influencer marketing, and customer experience, from one of the original social media superstars.

5. Sarah Arrow
Fantastic home-grown talent with bucket loads of humour, skill and enthusiasm, Sarah is very generous with her time and her knowledge, making her posts always a delight to read.

6. Marcus Sheridan
A legend in the world of inbound and content marketing, ‘the sales lion’ provides extensive inspiration and guidance.

7. Heidi Cohen
Heidi’s actionable marketing guide is a comprehensive and consistently informative blog overflowing with relevant tips and insight.

Clued-up content companies

These companies all have products to sell to help with some aspect of content marketing, but what they also have in common is excellent use of and for the products they are selling. Each one offers content that adds insight and knowledge in their area, with generous sharing and dissemination of the latest content marketing ideas and trends.

8. Coschedule
Not only does Coschedule offer various exciting tools that improve your content planning and productivity, they also offer research-driven content on a wide range of areas.

9. Buffer
A favourite scheduling tool for social media, the buffer team are unstintingly generous when it comes to sharing knowledge and understanding of their market.

10. Postplanner
Content marketing thought leadership from the content recommendation guys.

11. Hubspot
The inbound marketing experts share daily insights on their sales, marketing and customer success blogs.

12. Marketo
A marketing automation company who supply guides, case studies, benchmarks and webinars across a range of content marketing topics.

13. The Content Strategist
This blog from Contently focuses on strategy and transformation.

14. Gathercontent
With guides, webinars and live masterclasses, Gathercontent shares content focusing on strategy and organisation for bigger teams.

Breaking news sources

15. Econsultancy
Ashley Friedlin’s established platform is a recognised industry source of knowledge and training, and will keep you bang up to date with the latest trends and developments, not just in content marketing.

16. Social Media Examiner
Everything you could ever want to know about social media best practice and then some, from Michael Stelzner and co.

17. Social Media Today
Dedicated to providing a bird’s eye view of social media to fuel your understanding.

18. Search Engine Journal
An excellent site on all things search, the content marketing section of the site has a wide range of experienced contributors.

Which of these sites do you visit to inspire your content marketing? I hope at least some of these are new to you and that you find something of value to help you.

If you are still struggling to find the right words at the right time for your customers, please get in touch to see how we can help with all aspects of your content strategy, planning, creation and distribution. Call us on 01491 614404 or email info@marketingondemand.co.uk and let’s have a conversation.