Sitting down to “come up with content ideas” is the fastest way to waste two hours, hate your business, and suddenly decide cleaning out your fridge is a top priority.
I don’t do that anymore.
If I had to rely on “inspiration” to create content, I’d still be stuck back in 2016 hoping one viral post would save me. Instead, I use a system that reliably generates 100+ content ideas in under an hour.
And yes – really.
Step 1: Buckets Save You From Blank Page Hell
Trying to create content ideas without categories is like walking into Target without a list. You walk out with 17 things you don’t need and zero of what you came for.
That’s why I use content buckets.
Buckets are broad categories tied to your expertise and your audience. Mine usually look like this:
- Authority – frameworks, systems, methods
- Relatable – messy middle, family chaos, “real talk” moments
- Value – tutorials, how-tos, breakdowns
- Proof – testimonials, screenshots, case studies
- Belief-Shifting – myths, unpopular truths, reframes
When you sit down to generate ideas, you don’t start with nothing. You start with a bucket and ask: “What can I toss in here today?”
👉 Want me to hand you a system for this? Grab my Content Calendar Freebie here:
https://rachelpedersen.clickfunnels.com/optin1698247253715
Step 2: The Domino Effect
I don’t believe in “post once and move on.” If an idea is good, squeeze it.
That’s why I use my Domino Content Blueprint. One idea tips into another… into another… until you’ve multiplied your effort.
Example:
- Core Idea: “Batching saves me 20 hours a week.”
- Domino 1: Reel showing my batching setup.
- Domino 2: Carousel of “3 mistakes people make when batching.”
- Domino 3: Blog post breaking down the psychology of batching.
- Domino 4: IG Story showing my desk mid-batch day.
- Domino 5: Podcast episode or live stream on batching systems.
One domino knocks down five pieces of content. Suddenly you’re at 100 ideas way faster than you thought.
👉 Want the system? Grab my Domino Content Blueprint Freebie here:
https://rachelpedersen.clickfunnels.com/content-domino
Step 3: Steal Like a Scientist
I didn’t get my first viral posts because I was the most original creator on the planet. I got them because I studied what worked.
Here’s how:
- Look at 5–10 creators you admire.
- Don’t copy their words – copy their structures.
- Ask:
- What format did they use? (carousel, story, reel)
- What emotion did it tap into? (relief, outrage, curiosity)
- What framework underpins it? (list, myth-busting, story arc)
- What format did they use? (carousel, story, reel)
Then plug your own expertise into those same skeletons.
That’s how one of my reels made $10K in sales – not because I’m magical, but because I reverse-engineered patterns that already worked.
👉 If you want a shortcut, I put together 300 Content Ideas that you can swipe through immediately:
https://rachelpedersen.clickfunnels.com/300-content-ideas-tiktok
Step 4: Use Psychology, Not “Inspo”
When I’m stuck, I don’t go searching Pinterest boards for quotes. I run my knowledge through human behavior filters.
Ask yourself:
- Curiosity Gap: What surprising thing do you know that your audience doesn’t?
- Loss Aversion: What mistake is costing them money/time/sanity?
- Identity: What belief flips the way they see themselves?
- Social Proof: What story makes them say, “If they can, I can too”?
That’s when the floodgates open.
Books that helped me here:
- Made to Stick by Chip & Dan Heath
- Contagious by Jonah Berger
- Atomic Habits by James Clear
Step 5: Sprint, Don’t Stroll
Here’s where most people get it wrong: they wait for “perfect ideas.” Don’t.
Set a timer for 60 minutes.
Pick one bucket.
Force yourself to write 15–20 ideas before moving on.
No editing. No judging. Just brain-dumping.
When I run this with entrepreneurs live, they go from “I can’t even think of 10” to finishing the hour with 100–120 ideas. The difference isn’t talent. It’s pressure + process.
What To Do With Your 100 Ideas
Writing them down is step one. But the real leverage comes when you systemize those ideas, batch them, and actually get them posted.
That’s exactly what we do inside The Social Clique. It’s where you get my frameworks, support, and accountability to finally stop spinning your wheels and start scaling with strategy.
👉 Join us here:
https://www.cliqueforlife.com
Final Thoughts
Content isn’t about being endlessly creative. It’s about building a machine that turns raw thoughts into consistent, strategic output.
That’s how I keep my reach in the millions every month while raising three kids, writing books, and still having time to binge shows at night.
You don’t need inspiration. You need buckets. You need dominos. You need psychology. You need a sprint.
And you’ll walk away with more ideas than you know what to do with.
