Working on an online project can be a rollercoaster ride. One moment, you might have a hundred ideas at once and not know which ones to implement first, the next moment, you’re at a complete loss for inspiration. Don’t panic if you’re suffering from a creative drought; we all hit that wall now and then. That’s why there are so many websites and online tools dedicated to helping you get those creative juices flowing. No matter what kind of website or blog you’re working on, there’s something for you out there. Let’s dive straight in.
Content
If you’re a blogger, generating ideas for fresh, exciting content every day can be tough – sometimes it can feel as though you’ve exhausted every possible topic. Luckily, there are some wonderful free tools out there that allow you to combine relevant topics, explore growing trends and discover new themes.
Take Google Trends for example. This tool allows you to monitor which topics are currently growing in popularity online. By observing these patterns, you can ensure your website stays ahead of the curve, rather than jumping on the bandwagon. This method of discovering new trends is especially helpful for those who are looking for general inspiration, and don’t have a specific starting point.
There’s also a great range of tools available for those who write for a specific target audience or have a particular niche. Hubspot and Portent are two of the most popular applications for generating titles and topic ideas; using in-depth algorithms and analyses of trends on content, these programs can drive additional traffic to your site by coming up with topical ways to combine your website’s central themes.
Comprehensive “How-To” Guides
Are you trying to develop your website into a more far-reaching project, but don’t know where to begin? Or maybe you feel you lack the technical know-how required to implement your vision. You don’t have to feel lost. The internet is home to a number of web guides, ranging from snappy YouTube tutorials to simple “how to” guides written in plain English so you aren’t forced to decipher technical jargon. No matter what your level of expertise is, there is an encyclopedic range of information available at your fingertips. For example, this video series gives beginners everything they need to know to adapt a website. Using this, you can find inspiration for exciting ways to build, extend, and customize your website. Another benefit of consolidating all this helpful information into a web series of short, easily digestible videos is that you can save a little time trawling text on the internet for the information you need.
So, exactly what kind of videos can be found here? These web series contain a wealth of the most up to date information on everything related to coding, server side scripting, and graphic design. Whether you want to code your own webpages, start your own YouTube channel, or just want to know how to get a unique font, channels like these provide you with a wide range of relevant tutorials and information. However ambitious your project, you’re sure to find the inspiration you need here.
Web design
If your website’s layout is looking a little uninspired and in need of an update, or you’re just starting out with your website, wireframe tools are a great way to visualize your new project before you implement anything. These have the added benefit of being wonderfully simple to use; you can play around with various concepts and experiment with designs thanks to the smart drag-and-drop feature. For users just starting out, this means that you don’t have to struggle to get to grips with complicated coding languages. More experienced webmasters can also benefit from the time-saving element of these functions, and build on the sophisticated wireframe features when implementing your own design later on.
Graphic designers can also benefit from a great number of websites dedicated to collecting and showcasing rising talents in the world of digital art. This comprehensive guide includes a thorough list of some of the best sources of inspiration for budding designers. Featured among them are many websites that regularly present awards to outstanding featured artists, such as the official CSS Design Awards website, which shines a light on fresh, innovative designs by exhibiting a selected “website of the day”, as well as regular contest winners.
One Page Love is another interesting example of a website that exhibits inspiring and beautiful work by a community of digital artists. What makes One Page Love unique is its focus on websites that contain all of their content on a single page – this unusual starting point makes for some one-of-a-kind concepts and greatly inspiring work.
FlatDSGN is another great platform for web designers to find a source of inspiration. With a specialized focus on sleek, minimalistic formats, the website offers a vast range of designs that boast all kinds of up-to-the-minute layouts and templates that could help you to form ideas for your own.
